Averno City Never Sleeps – And Neither Do You
The Precinct, developed by Fallen Tree Games, is a top-down, retro-styled action sandbox that ditches the usual life of crime to put players behind the badge. Set in a neon-soaked 1980s metropolis called Averno City, this indie title offers a novel twist: you’re the law. As rookie officer Nick Cordell Jr., you’ll patrol, pursue, and police your way through a city teetering on the edge of criminal collapse.
What The Precinct offers is a clever homage to police procedurals, complete with mullets, mustaches, and mayhem. It doesn’t always execute cleanly, but it definitely knows the vibe it’s chasing—and sometimes, it catches it.
Welcome to the Force
Nick Cordell Jr. isn’t just another beat cop. He’s the son of a legendary (and mysteriously deceased) police chief, thrust into a job where criminals run wild and the justice system runs on fumes. From the first shift—featuring a dramatic takedown and a trail of gang violence—it’s clear you’re not here to write parking tickets (though you absolutely can).
The story is straight out of a dusty VHS tape: corrupt city, explosive gang wars, and a family legacy to unravel. Characters include hard-nosed sergeants, grizzled partners, and crooked officials. The writing veers between campy fun and flat exposition, but the tone remains consistent—a pulpy action drama with a side of chaos.
Gameplay: Serve, Protect, and Probably Crash a Few Cruisers
Gameplay revolves around shift-based patrols. Each session, you can choose your zone and focus—responding to crimes, pursuing gangs, or just roaming in search of infractions. You’ll do everything from routine stops and sobriety tests to full-blown shootouts and car chases through crowded streets.
The highlight here? Freedom.
You can patrol on foot, in squad cars, or even helicopters. Traffic stops include checking licenses, searching cars, reading Miranda rights, and booking perps with proper charges. You’re rewarded for following protocol, and XP gained during shifts can be spent on perks, gear, or vehicle upgrades.
It’s immersive in a way that few sandbox games bother with anymore. For a moment, you really do feel like a cop in a TV drama.
Combat and Driving: A Mixed Bag
Driving is one of the game’s strengths. Cars feel weighty and responsive, giving chase scenes the heavy, dangerous momentum they need. Crashing into traffic or lining up a suspect for a pit maneuver is genuinely satisfying, especially when chaos ensues.
Combat, on the other hand, is hit-or-miss. The shooting system is cover-based, but clunky—especially with a controller. AI enemies are laser-precise, while your own backup barely functions. Combat animations and gunplay often feel stiff, and movement lacks the fluidity you’d expect from a modern action game.
That said, chaos often wins the day. When things go wrong—and they often do—the game becomes unintentionally hilarious. Cars launch off ramps, suspects fly through walls, and backup officers get trapped inside buildings.
Policing With Depth (and Repetition)
The procedural system is robust: every action matters. Choose the wrong charge? Lose XP. Use force too quickly? Get docked. Pull someone over and find contraband? Build the case correctly to get credit. There’s real thought baked into how you interact with the world.
But after several hours, the gameplay loop starts to drag. Arrests blur together. Missions repeat. The novelty of frisking suspects fades when you’re doing it for the 30th time that day. Gang takedowns and major story events break the monotony, but between those beats, the job can feel more like a checklist than an adventure.
Presentation: A Retro Cop Show You Can Play
The Precinct nails its aesthetic. The isometric camera and toy-like visuals evoke classic GTA, while rain-slicked streets and neon signs sell the 1980s setting. It feels like a playable episode of Hill Street Blues—if Hill Street Blues let you demolish 10 cop cars an hour.
The soundtrack, complete with pulsing synths and era-appropriate cues, helps immerse you further. Voice acting is inconsistent—some lines hit the campy sweet spot, others fall flat—but the overall tone is pitch-perfect for what the game’s aiming for.
What Holds the Game Back
Despite the charm, The Precinct has some clear technical shortcomings:
- Bugs and glitches are frequent. Characters clip through walls, arrest prompts vanish, or suspects glitch into oblivion.
- AI is unreliable, both for enemies and allies. Backup often fails to engage or gets stuck in scenery.
- Performance issues crop up even on solid hardware. Expect to fiddle with settings to get a stable frame rate.
- Controller support is weak in combat. If you’re on console or using a gamepad, expect frustration.
On-Duty Highlights and Letdowns
🔷 The Good Cop Gear (Pros)
- Immersive patrol mechanics with actual police procedure
- Satisfying car chases with weighty vehicle physics
- Strong 1980s aesthetic with detailed visuals and sound
- Open-ended sandbox freedom to play your way
- A surprisingly deep arrest system with charge-based XP rewards
🔶 The Cop-Outs (Cons)
- Clunky and repetitive combat
- Bugs and technical issues that break immersion
- Repetitive mission types and thin mid-game content
- Some stiff dialogue and voice performances
- Lack of post-game content or long-term progression
The Precinct: The Precinct doesn’t reinvent the sandbox genre—but it does turn it on its head. Playing the cop instead of the criminal is a smart twist, and for a few glorious hours, it feels like a fresh take on old-school open-world chaos. The detail in procedures, the wild chases, and the sheer charm of the 80s aesthetic make this a memorable ride. But it's not without its problems. From bugs to repetitive systems, there's a rough layer that could frustrate more detail-oriented or single-player-focused players. The game shines brightest in its first act—and if Fallen Tree Games continues patching and expanding it, there’s a real gem buried beneath the jank. – Obsidian
