The Precinct Review – A Siren Call to Retro Crimefighting That Runs Out of Steam
Long before Grand Theft Auto exploded onto the scene in 1997, DMA Design’s early cops-and-robbers prototype nearly made us all play as police officers instead. History veered toward the criminal, and the rest is a chaotic, profitable legend. But nearly three decades later, The Precinct revives that shelved vision, asking: can playing by the rules be just as thrilling as breaking them? I was so excited when I first saw The Precinct announced, the graphics looked amazing and the gameplay looked fun. Does it live up to the hype?
Introduction: Justice, Redux
Developed by Fallen Tree Games and drenched in an ’80s VHS cop show vibe, The Precinct tries to answer that question by putting players in the squad car (and chopper) of a rookie cop fighting to clean up the grimy, crime-infested streets of Averno City. Available now on PC and thus our ROG Ally X handheld, we played across both platforms to bring you the full rundown on this neon-lit police procedural.
Setting & Story: Blues and Badges
Set in a pre-digital 1983 where shoulder pads are large and morals are binary, The Precinct casts you as Nick Cordell Jr., a rookie cop and the son of a murdered police hero. As expected, you’re teamed up with a grizzled veteran and tossed into the thick of it almost immediately, starting with a bank robbery, of course.
Averno City is equal parts grimy and cartoonish. Think Hill Street Blues by way of Driver and Vice City. From shady back alleys to sleazy strip clubs, it nails its aesthetic even if its story fizzles. The murder mystery subplot involving Nick’s father feels undercooked, mostly serving as an excuse to move the action along. Most characters are lifted from genre clichés, and while there’s a charm to the cheesy one-liners and exaggerated police-chief barks, the script often feels overwrought and hampered by spotty voice acting. We had some audio bugs in our early version, which we believe were patched on the launch day, as we could not reproduce, but this still won’t fix the lackluster presentation of the story. This occurs mostly with characters standing in a frame, and going line by line, which is a fine style, but I found myself skipping most dialogue to get back to the game.
Gameplay: Badges, Bureaucracy, and Burnout
At first, The Precinct is a blast. You’re issued a badge and a cruiser, and sent out to chase perps, book suspects, and restore law and order. Patrols mix on-foot beat-cop work, squad car action, and even airborne chases in a chopper. Dynamic events like robberies, assaults, and carjackings keep your days busy and exciting, for a while.
But the cracks show early. Arrest mechanics are shallow: ID the suspect, frisk them, charge them, rinse, repeat. The game penalizes improper procedure (e.g., using force too quickly or issuing bogus citations), which sounds interesting but lacks teeth. XP deductions feel minor, and once you’ve arrested your 20th jaywalker, tedium sets in. Everything is like this, it all feels way too restrictive when most of it could have been automated as your progressed – maybe even a skill tree to automate some of this tedious work once the player understands the “day to day” of a police officer – but alas, you must do it for every single arrest.
There’s an upgrade system, but it’s basic: more ammo, more stamina, better vehicle handling. No “bad cop” path, no moral dilemmas. This is policing by numbers, and it eventually feels like you’re checking boxes on a clipboard rather than engaging in meaningful simulation or arcade fun. There is no system to become corrupted or anything like this for player freedom – you are mostly linear, which is the opposite of what made GTA so popular.
Action: High-Speed Fun Meets Procedural Fatigue
Where The Precinct shines is in its vehicular sequences. Car chases are satisfyingly chaotic, and the handling is surprisingly responsive, especially on ROG Ally X, where the analog stick precision makes evasive turns and tactical rams a joy. With sirens blazing and multiple units in hot pursuit, the game channels Driver more than GTA, and we loved that. Driver was one of our first PC games, so that holds a special place in our hearts, and we loved these sections.
Gunplay, however, is clunky. The isometric view hampers aiming, particularly with a controller, and combat lacks feedback. Enemies barely react to getting shot, and cover mechanics feel stiff and punishing. The firefights are functional but rarely fun, and the AI doesn’t help—suspects often stand still or flee aimlessly.
Aesthetic & Performance: VHS Tape Dreams
The Precinct nails its style. The visuals evoke a hand-illustrated look, with rain-slick streets glowing under neon lights, vandalized phone booths dotting the cityscape, and squad cars screeching through intersections. The era-correct vehicle designs—from fake Mustangs to faux Vanduras—are a joy for muscle car nerds. The retro synth soundtrack (featuring Gavin Harrison and Sleepless Nights) absolutely slaps.
Performance was solid across both platforms. On PC, the game ran flawlessly at max settings. The ROG Ally X handled it well, too, holding a consistent frame rate with medium-to-high presets. We didn’t experience any crashes, though a few minor bugs (floating badges, jittery animations, occasional sound crackle) reminded us this is a slightly janky experience.
Quirks & Quibbles
- Voice Acting: Serviceable, but often corny or flat. Occasionally, lines sounded like TikTok text-to-speech overdubs.
- AI Teammates: Your partner’s pathfinding is inconsistent, sometimes failing to engage with suspects at all.
- Helicopter Missions: A cool concept made dull by sluggish mechanics and clumsy backup AI.
- Repetition: Even the most fun patrols wear thin after several hours. There’s not enough mission variety or procedural randomness to keep things fresh.
Verdict: Order in the Court (Of Public Opinion)
Rating: 6.5 / 10 – Decent
The Precinct succeeds in channeling the charm of ’80s cop dramas, complete with neon-lit streets, synth-heavy soundtracks, and satisfyingly chaotic car chases. It offers a refreshing spin on the classic GTA-style formula by placing players on the right side of the law, creating a nostalgic and occasionally thrilling sandbox experience.
However, beneath its stylish veneer, the gameplay struggles to maintain momentum. Shallow progression systems, repetitive patrol mechanics, and uneven tone limit its staying power. While it’s a commendable effort from Fallen Tree Games and a decent weekend diversion, The Precinct falls short of becoming a standout in the genre.
Tested on:
- ROG Ally X (Z1 Extreme, 1080p, Performance Mode)
- PC (Ryzen 7 7800X3D, RTX 4070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1440p Ultra Settings)
Pros:
- Rich ’80s aesthetic with strong art direction
- Satisfying car handling and chases
- Dynamic patrol structure
- Excellent retro soundtrack
Cons:
- Repetitive gameplay loop
- Weak gunplay and AI
- Shallow upgrade system
- Voice acting and script issues
The Precinct is available now on PC, Xbox, and PS5. Happy gaming!