For many designers, one of the biggest goals when creating a game is crafting a believable world for the player to become immersed in. We've all gotten completely wrapped up in certain games, to the point that we actually lose track of time and what's going on around us. Although most developers create completely original settings that won't be found on any real-world maps, others take a different path, striving to re-create actual locations. Perhaps the best example of this was 2003's True Crime: Streets of L.A., a game that allowed players to cruise down every street and get on every freeway the real-life City of Angels had to offer. Now, the team behind that game is turning their attention eastward, toward the city that never sleeps: New York City.

The game tells the story of Marcus Reid, the son of one of New York City's biggest crime lords. When Isaiah "The King" Reid is sent to prison, he asks his childhood friend to watch out for his son, lest he head down the same path as his incarcerated father. The friend, Terry Higgins, is a police officer (isn't it funny how often buddies end up on different sides of the law?) and he does his best to steer Marcus clear of the city's more unsavory elements. The game's first level, however, shows us that Marcus has made some poor choices, as he's infiltrating a crack den to take out some former friends who tried to have him killed.

We were told that the level ends with Terry saving Marcus' life, then talking him into becoming a cop. Marcus enters the police academy and graduates, and he believes that his life has finally headed in the right direction. However, Terry is soon mysteriously murdered, and it's up to Marcus to find out why. An FBI Agent tells him that he'll need to take down four of the city's biggest crime families if he wants to find out the truth behind his friend's killing.


Like the first game in the series, True Crime: New York City features a geographically accurate representation of the titular town. Using GPS technologies, the team mapped out every street found in the Big Apple, and you'll be able to travel anywhere you could in the real-life Manhattan. Denizens of Brooklyn and Queens might be bummed that the outer boroughs didn't make it into the game, but being able to travel everywhere from Harlem to Central Park to Tribeca is still pretty impressive. Granted, you won't see all of the real buildings (although most of the major landmarks have made it into the game), but I was still amazed that I could easily find my way around my old stomping grounds.

Of course, what good is re-creating a huge city if there isn't anything to dor Like the real thing, the New York City in the game offers plenty of action, both outdoors and inside some of the buildings. You'll be able to enter most of the structures, including subway stops (which can be used to get from place to place) and some shops. If you want some new tunes, you can hit the record store, while restaurants and bars are the perfect places for a little rest and relaxation. Like any game world of this size, you'll need plenty of ways to get around, and in addition to the aforementioned subway, you can catch cabs and commandeer taxis.