Orbs wind up being the game’s most intriguing items. Hidden amongst Pacific City’s nooks and crannies sits 500 Agility and 300 Secret Orbs, most of which reside atop hard to reach places. Finding them becomes an obsession as well as an excellent way to test the jumping mechanic and figure out short cuts. It also provides a nice break from the senseless killing, which gets old after a while.

Vehicles also play a huge role. Players may jack any vehicle, though The Agency supplies them with three cars, the Super Car, SUV and Truck Cab, all of which transform into much cooler rides as the Agent’s driving skills evolve. In addition, the more players drive, the easier it will be to perform spins and make hairpin turns. To offer them a quick means to level up, the developers include numerous races throughout the city, where players must (similar to the on foot challenges), pass through markers before time expires.

What a ruckus!

Rampaging in the solo game provides hours of fun, but multiplayer adds tons of replay value. Two people can complete the single player campaign through Xbox Live, eliminating bad guys together, splitting up, hunting for orbs or turning the guns on each other, blasting away and running people over. Setting up games takes a few moments and the game suffers from very little lag.

Crackdown also shines because the developers left the game open-ended from the beginning. Instead of having to unlock sections by completing missions, players can swim, drive and/or jump their way to wherever they want. High level gangs annihilate low level Agents (making it wise to eliminate the easier thugs before moving on), but the journey usually justifies dying, just to admire the gorgeous scenery; rolling mountains, bridges and skyscrapers. The game’s cell shaded graphics look phenomenal, but the amazing draw distance will shock people. Some objects pop into view when approached, but for the most part, the land stretches for, pardon the cliche, as far as the eye can see.