Thin Blue Line: The Precinct
Bring order to the mean streets of this action sandbox game.
‣ The Precinct
From: Fallen Tree Games Ltd, Kwalee
Platforms: PC
Release: Q4 2024
Steam Page • Demo Video • Developer Site
Soaking up Eighties cop vibes to deliver a standout open-world adventure.
The easy path into this game is to talk about how much it resembles the Grand Theft Auto games, especially the era of GTA 3. And if you want a general summary of what it's about, think GTA Cops. It's not entirely accurate, but it'll do. And it's fun to play.
But not everyone knows GTA, except perhaps by reputation, and not everyone likes GTA. These feelings might stop them from considering a pretty impressive sandbox action love letter to Eighties movies. Hmmm, wait, that still sounds like GTA. But don't worry—now you can do something about all that crime in The Precinct.
The Precinct's plot is straight out of a movie script. You play rookie Officer Nick Cordell Jr., fresh out of the academy, as a beat cop in the rotten town of Averno City, a corrupt place full of dirty streets and bold criminals. Officer Cordell will fight back, doing police work across the open game world. Each day starts with a briefing at HQ, and then you and your partner set out.
Sometimes, it's patrolling in a car. But it might also be patrolling on foot. You might be assigned a case to investigate or encounter scripted and generated crimes on the city's mean streets. Your day could start with writing parking tickets, but end up in a gunfight.
On the first day, while patrolling in a squad car, you enjoy some street food before rushing to ambush bank robbers, and then you end up in a car chase. The next day, you and your partner (a predictably cantankerous veteran) patrol on foot, writing parking tickets before arresting some vandals. For the demo's grand finale, you step into a police helicopter and help officers on the ground stop a fleeing vehicle, using your spotlight and bonus actions to change the situation.
These adventures happen in a well-crafted world that closes the deal with a distinct Eighties atmosphere, inspired by TV shows and movies that defined that era's fictional law enforcement tropes. The streets are full of retro cars and neon signage, reflected in rain puddles on tired streets and pavements. The Precinct has character, perhaps borrowed from other media, but delivered very effectively.
The developers Fallen Tree Games know what they are doing. They have made quite a few games already, including cult hit American Fugitive, also a standout nod to the classic GTA era. If anything, The Precinct is a spiritual successor to American Fugitive, taking its ideas and presentation to new heights in a completely new world and storyline.
📽 Demo Snapshot: Let’s go get a hot dog
The Precinct will be a very immersive and satisfying action game, even for the few who haven't played GTA (or the many who must still give American Fugitive a go). It soaks up the Eighties cop vibes, and it's being made by a team with both the experience and passion to deliver a standout open-world adventure.
Even though the demo keeps things on pretty tight rails, that potential is very evident. I didn't care for the dialogue scenes, which use a disappointing character ensemble presentation style. But in every other way, The Precinct's demo was great. If the full game delivers, it deserves to become a big hit and an instant classic.
The Precinct is due for release in Q4 2024.
Explore The Game with Youtube Chapters:
📽 00:00 Intro
📽 00:57 Welcome to Averno City
📽 03:05 First day on the job
📽 06:11 Going on patrol
📽 08:49 Someone's robbing a bank!
📽 09:44 Come quietly, or we open fire
📽 10:46 Of course there's a car chase
📽 14:05 Let's book these perps
📽 16:53 Day two on the job
📽 18:00 Read the officer's handbook
📽 19:17 Time to patrol on foot
📽 21:33 Chasing down vandals
📽 23:00 This guy wants to fight
📽 24:25 Some perps gotta run
📽 26:33 Day 3: Meet the detectives
📽 28:32 Let's go fly!
📽 29:50 Keep the spotlight on that car
📽 31:52 No escape
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