“Crackdown”: Microsoft’s answer to GTA for the PS3?

First details of a new game called “Crackdown” by Scottish software developer Real Time Worlds are now emerging. “Crackdown”, known in Japan as “Riot Act”, has been described by IGN as a “futuristic, next-generation, online Grand Theft Auto.”

The comparison with GTA should come as no surprise, considering that Real Time Worlds was formed in 2003 by David Jones, a former Grand Theft Auto developer.

In “Crackdown”, gamers will play as a super-human agent given the mission of ridding the city streets of crime. The only way to do this is to take out the bosses of the city’s 3 major gangs: Cai-Shen, an Asian gang, Russian gang The Volk and La Muerta, a group of car-loving Spanish criminals. Apparently, “Crackdown” will feature an ultra-realistic game world which can be explored freely, containing thousands of characters both good and bad.

The character selected will also evolve as game play progresses, building up skills in gun handling, running and driving technique as the game goes on. “Crackdown” will also be playable in two online modes: co-operative play and multi play. Using co-operative play, two gamers can work together over Xbox Live to complete the mission. To date, details of the multi play mode have been kept strictly confidential. Screenshots are as yet unavailable, but we’ll be sure to publish them as soon as they come to hand.