True Crime: New York City
| True Crime: New York City | |
|---|---|
| File:True Crime- New York City.jpg | |
| Developer(s) | Activision |
| Publisher(s) | Luxoflux |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube,Windows |
| Release | November 15th, 2005 March 24th, 2006 (PC) |
| Genre(s) | Action |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
True Crime: New York City is an urban adventure video game published by Activision and developed by Luxoflux for the Xbox, PlayStation 2,and GameCube consoles. It was released to Windows-based computers on March 24th, 2006. It is a sequel to True Crime: Streets of LA.
Voice cast
- Avery Waddell: Marcus Reed
- Laurence Fishburne: Isaiah Reed
- Esai Morales: Victor Navarro
- Traci Lords: Cassandra Hartz
- Christopher Walken: Gabriel Whitting
- Mickey Rourke: Terrence Higgins
- Mariska Hargitay: Deena Dixon
- Redman: Himself
Story
Template:Spoiler The storyline follows Marcus Reed, a gang member who inherited his father's criminal empire in New York when he was taken to jail. After several years of being in control of what his father established, Marcus is betrayed by a friend and assumed dead after an ambush. Covered in blood and injured, Marcus shows up unexpectedly at the betrayer's house to exact revenge. After a bloody, running gunfight with gang members that want nothing more to do with Marcus, he corners the betrayer in a building basement and guns him down. Dropping his empty Uzi, Marcus is almost shot and killed by a gang member that was hiding during the fight before he is saved by a detective in the NYPD named Terry.
Isaiah Reed (Marcus' father) and Terry have been friends for a long time. Terry tells Marcus that he should be ashamed of the level he's sunk to. Although Marcus willingly offers to allow Terry to arrest him, Terry refuses. He says that he's going to cover up Marcus' involvement in the shoot-out, but this will be his final chance to clean up his act before he's left to the mercy of the NYPD. Marcus agrees, and shuffles off to tend to his injuries. As he does so, Terry looks around at the carnage and sighs.
Flash forward five years and Marcus is now an officer of the NYPD, having worked the beat for four years to become one of the precinct's best street cops with Terry's mentoring and guidance. At the urging of Terry, he applies to test for his Detective's badge and a transfer to the Organized Crime Unit. After passing the test with flying colors, Marcus is issued his badge and is now a part of the OCU as a plain-clothes detective. To celebrate, Terry takes Marcus out onto the streets to teach him some of the basics of his new job. After completing a few tasks and breaking up a bar fight, Marcus and Terry go to the jail cell where Marcus' father is incarcerated. There's some animosity between Marcus and his father, but Isaiah and Terry get along quite well. The visit is cut short by a phone call to Terry. A contact for a case he's working on has called a meeting in another part of town. Marcus and Terry hurry to the contact point. Before getting out of the car, Terry instructs Marcus to come in guns blazing if he's gone for too long. As Terry walks into the building with a briefcase (it is not specified if the briefcase carries cash or drugs), Marcus leans over to pick up some of Terry's cigarettes that have fallen out of the glove box. A heartbeat later, a massive explosion sends the undercover squad car flying through the air.
Back at the precinct, a somber Marcus is informed that Terry was killed in the explosion. Due to his lack of experience, and with Terry no longer there to help him out, Marcus is transferred back to the Street Crime Unit under the command of Lieutenant Deena Dixon. She informs Marcus that he will be going back out on the street as a plainclothes cop while the department investigates Terry's murder. As Marcus resumes his duties, he is contacted by a member of the FBI named Gabriel Whiting, who requests a meeting in a parking garage downtown. When Marcus arrives at the garage, he is greeted by Whitting. The FBI agent informs Marcus that a member of the OCU is a mole and likely organized Terry's death. Whiting doesn't know who, but does know that Terry was working with four major crime syndicates - The Magdalena Cartel, The President's Club, The Palermo Mob, and the Shadow Tong. Whiting wants Marcus to investigate these four crime groups to determine Terry's killer. After being given a folder with information on the Magdalena Cartel, Marcus sets off on his mission of revenge while attending to his street cop duties at the same time.
Cops and gangsters
- Marcus Reed:
Marcus Reed is a former gangster-turned-cop, whose father is a jailed Kingpin. He is a street-hardened detective, who has experience on both sides of the law, giving him the edge he needs to enforce it, his way. Marcus grew up in the Bronx, following in his father’s footsteps. After his father’s childhood friend Terry saved his life, Marcus decided to go straight. Mentored by Terry, he eventually became a plain clothes police detective and joined Terry as his partner. Maintains a conflicted relationship with his father, Isaiah ‘The King’ Reed, who continues to run his criminal enterprise from prison and hopes to utilize his son’s newfound influence to foster his own goals.
Voiced by Avery Waddell
- Isaiah "The King" Reed:
The King” grew up on the streets and was best friends with Terrence "Terry" Higgins, and grew into a notorious kingpin running a large portion of east coast extortion. Terry took the other road, going into law enforcement. Even though their paths diverged, Terry and the King’s respect and friendship never wavered, and when the King went to prison, Terry promised to look after his son, Marcus, becoming his mentor, ushering him into the Police Department and covering up Marcus’ shady past.
From his prison cell, "The King" runs his business, living a life of relative luxury and watching over his son Marcus' "strong arm of the law" as best he can, taking full advantage of Marcus' position as a cop... and waiting patiently for the day he will be released.
Voiced by Laurence Fishburne
- Terrence "Terry" Higgins:
Always willing to bend the law to take down criminals, Terrence has been patrolling the streets of New York for twenty years, busting the bad guys by any means necessary.
Terrence has made friends and enemies on both sides of the law. He grew up on the streets and was childhood friends with Isaiah Reed, who grew up to be “the King,” a notorious kingpin running a large east coast narcotics distribution racket. Terrence took a different road, going into law enforcement. Even though their paths diverged, Terrence’s and the King’s mutual respect and friendship never wavered, and when the King went to prison, Terrence promised to look after his son, Marcus Reed. Terrence became Marcus’ mentor, ushering him into the police department and covering up Marcus’ shady past.
After Terrence is killed while bringing evidence of departmental corruption to the Feds, Marcus vows to avenge his mentor’s death and refuses to let anything stand in his way.
Though at the end of the game Marcus finds Terrence (Terry) faked the death to escape from the Feds shaking him down for protection. Marcus is angered that Terry gipped him into doing his dirty work so Marcus chases him onto a subway train. After getting to the final train car, Terry unlatches the rest to escape. Marcus, enraged, fires blindly at the train car and knocks it off the track, causing the rest of the train to crash into it. Marcus runs and escapes the crash, barely. At the end of this mission, Terry's dead body is carried away on a stretcher. Marcus walks off the scene after talking with Whitting and Dixon.
In the Bad Cop ending, Marcus shoots Terry in the head for betraying him.
Voiced by Mickey Rourke
Special Agent Gabriel Whitting
Working in the shadows of Federal Law Enforcement, Gabriel Whitting has been on the fringes of law enforcement and government shadow ops for the better part of 40 years. More comfortable with clandestine meetings in back alleys than with public interaction, Whitting’s used to pulling the strings and then disappearing.
He’s currently investigating police corruption in the New York Police, specifically a crime syndicate mole high up in the ranks. Marcus Reed is fresh to the force, and has just lost his partner and mentor, Terrence Higgins; he’s perfect for recruitment by Whitting for his investigation. Whitting feeds Marcus information to go out on the street and take down the syndicates, with the hope that this will produce enough evidence to bring down the mole.
Whitting has loyalty to no one, except his secret agenda, which only he really knows.
In the bad cop ending, Navarro kills Whitting with a bullet to his heart after being wrongly accused of being a traitor.
Voiced by Christopher Walken
Fareed Abdul Salaam
Fareed Abdul Salaam a.k.a. "Freddie" is a veteran NY taxi driver, who gives new meaning to the expression "Customer is King" -- his resourcefulness is legendary and his knowledge of the city is second to none. Unlike most cabbies, he isn't one to discriminate and there is no address within Manhattan he refuses to go, becoming the cabbie of choice for many a crook.
Working hard to pay off his gambling debts and feed his bountiful brood of 9 wives and children, Freddie has taken to capitalism with a vengeance -- running favors, serving as a go-between, and helping his fares make things happen in any way he can. His cab is his home, cruising Gotham's streets 24/7, with few naps in-between.
He sees an opportunity with Marcus to further his ability to ‘make things happen any way they can’.
Voiced by Brian George
Redman
Not only will Redman be headlining our NYC-inspired soundtrack containing over 80 songs by leading artists, but he'll also be an unlockable character in the game.
Voiced by Redman
Madam Cassandra Hartz
Hooked into New York’s elite on both sides of the law, the Madam has her girls gathering information from all sources in order to protect her position as the number one runner of call girls in the city. Shrewd and potty-mouthed, Madam Cassandra runs Gotham's finest brothel out of her luxury penthouse, frequented by who's-who in NYC and beyond -- high-society figures, politicos, entertainment stars, and the kingpins of crime.
Cassandra is an insatiable voyeur and gossip junkie and her beauties are not only trained to please, but also to memorize what's spoken between the sheets... her establishment is peppered with hidden cameras and microphones and no information escapes her, especially of the controversial kind.
Madam Cassandra is the queen of dirt and she knows how to wield it to her benefit -- an unsavory quality, which has allowed her to prosper beyond belief.
She’s all business, but keeps it friendly, especially since being friends with a cop like Marcus couldn’t hurt. Her main headaches come from a pair of vice cops, Bickell and Padilla.
She’s done favors for Special Agent Gabriel Whitting in the past, which has helped her immunity immensely.
Voiced by Traci Lords
Captain Victor Navarro
Marcus’ chief antagonist on the force, Navarro is a by-the-book old fashioned cop who’s thoroughly unimpressed, if not downright suspicious, with Marcus. Only his trust of Detective Terrence Higgins’ judgment allows him to accept Marcus, the son of the notorious (and imprisoned) crime boss “The King,” as one of New York’s finest.
Victor and Terry are friends as well as fellow officers, and Terry can get away with more insubordination than Victor would allow from anyone else... especially “a punk” like Marcus.
Voiced by Esai Morales
Lieutenant Deena Dixon
One of the first females in her class to make detective, Deena Dixon’s had a harder time than most proving herself in the testosterone-driven environment of New York’s toughest precincts. Her soft side shows through, though, in her mentoring of officers that show potential. Marcus Reed is the beneficiary of this mentoring, with Dixon getting him out of a few tough spots, helping with his training, and generally watching his back.
Her professionalism and toughness make her respected through the department, most importantly by Victor Navarro, head of the Organized Crime Unit. It’s Dixon who shields Marcus from the brunt of Navarro’s aggression, but the promise she sees in Marcus makes her confident of her time invested in him.
Deena’s role in True Crime: New York City is to be sort of a den mother to Marcus. She shows a side of compassion to Marcus that she doesn’t show to everyone in her unit. She can be lenient when she wants to be and stern when she has to be. Make no mistake - at the end of the day, she makes sure that Marcus gets his duties done. Deena functions throughout the game in the pivotal role of Marcus’ boss.
Voiced by Mariska Hargitay
Magdalena Rojas
Magdalena is the widow of the infamous drug kingpin Umberto Rohas, former leader of the Magdalena Cartel, a major drug empire. After Umberto was killed by CIA agents, Magdalena took over the Cartel in his place. She first appears in the game as Teresa Castello, aka "Mother Teresa", a benefactress famous in New York for setting up homeless shelters and mental wards. Marcus meets her outside one of her clinics, where she, pretending to be a police informent sets him off after the "leader" of the Magdalena Cartel, Rey. After Marcus catches Rey, however, Rey tells Marcus that he is not the leader of the Cartel. He is in fact the kingpin of the Latin Lords, a gang in a war with the Magdalenas. Marcus realizes that Teresa tricked him into disposing of her main rivals, and tracks her down to an opera house. After a fierce gun battle, Marcus arests Magdalena, who is able to conferm that there is a mole in the OCU. Marcus sends Magdalena to prison, and sets off after the next big gang, the Shadow Tong, President's Club, or the Palemero Mob.
Voiced by Socorro Santiago
Leeland Shen
Leeland is the stepson of "Uncle Benny" Tong, the first leader of the New York gang, the Shadow Tong. Leeland's mother (name unrevealed) married Benny, apparently for his money. Leeland and his mother did not get along with Benny or his daughter, Vivian. A few years ago, however, Benny disappeared, and Vivian was left to fend for herself against Leeland and his mother. Vivian, upset with her famliy problems, left home and ran off with Herman, a goth. Marcus Reed, in an attempt to get close to Leeland (now the leader of the Shadow Tong), tracked down Vivian and returned her (fighting off the angry goths). Leeland was distrustful of Marcus (going under the false name of "Jimmy Mac"), and with his henchman Lin, attempted to kill Marcus. Marcus defeated Lin, and after arresting Jing (another henchman) and shutting down Leeland's slavery operation, went after Shen. Leeland abducted Marcus, however, and brought him to a secret lair in the sewers. There, Leeland showed Marcus the corpse of Uncle Benny. Benny had been the only one who knew about the lair (orginaly a hideout for Chinese immigrants suffering from racism), but Leeland and his mother tortured Benny into revaling the location. Leeland tries to kill Marcus too, but Vivian frees him. Marcus defeats Leeland in battle, and forces him to reveal more info on the mole. Leeland had made calls to the mole, and, although the mole's voice was masked, Leeland was able to reconize that the mole had a Spanish accent (or gives the location of the meeting spot depending on the order of cases Marcus takes). Marcus arrests Leeland, putting an end to years of family trouble.
Voiced by Jerry Ying
"Benjamin"
The mysterious "Benjamin" is the leader of the President's Club, a group of rival gangs working together for the best profits. They are so called because the major leaders are all named after a U.S. president or patriot. There's Lincoln, Hamilton, Jackson, and Grant. Not much is known about Benjamin, the "eye atop the pyramid", but this is what is known. His real name is Lionel Jones and he first appeared in 1998 in Japan. He met the current leader of the Yakuza, Kobi, and fell in love with her. He trained in the Samurai arts with her, and she secretly confided in him a new drug she invented, "Pop". "Pop" is 10 times more addictive the cocaine or meth, and sells for more than 100 times as much. Benjamin left for America with the secret and founded the Presidents. However, Kobi tracked him down and a gang war began between the Yakuza and the Presidents. Marcus eventuly tracks Benjamin at his music studios, where Benjamin kills Kobi in a battle in his rooftop Zen gardens. Marcus, although with no Samurai skills, picks up Kobi's sword and mannages to defeat Benjamin. At Marcus' mercy, Benjamin quickly gives up more info on the mole. Marcus slaps the cuffs on Benjamin and brings him in.
Vincent Tuzzi Tuzzi is the don of the Palemero branch of the Mafia. He is the successor of the first don, Al Palemero. Palemero was arrested by a famed F.B.I. agent in 1993 and was sentenced to life in prison (some have said Palemero was arrested because he nobly refused to kill any cop). Recently, however, the feds have noticed a growing number of money laundering cases in New York. Gabriel tells Marcus that their has to be a new don, but he dosent know who. Marcus tracks down someone who might; Gino DeLuca, an old friend of Palemero who has been refusing to give his share of his money to the Mob (as Gabriel says: "In the old days, the Mob would cut off his testicles and feed them to a goat... but there are no goats in New York.") Marcus interrogates Gino, who points the way to Alfie, a mortician who works for the Pearly Gates, an old Mafia front. After a car chase, Alfie gives up more info, eventually leading the way to Tuzzi's new office building, the Tower of Piza. Once the building is finished, Tuzzi plans to collect the money the many tenants will generate. Marcus chases Tuzzi through the unfinished tower and finally catches him on the roof. Although Tuzzi does not know who the mole in the O.C.U. is, he does know where to find the evidence needed: he had just made a drop to the mole's locker at Grand Central Station. Marcus arrests Tuzzi and tells Gabriel to meet him at Grand Central.
Voiced by Fred Berman
Good Cop Ending Victor Navarro comes to Grand Central Station to find Marcus and Gabriel Whitting waiting at his locker. Gabriel tells Navarro that he has a warrant and tells him to open his locker. Victor does so... revealing a clothes bag and some golf clubs. As Victor taunts Marcus, however, the bag falls down, revealing millions of dollars in cash. Whitting arrests Victor on the spot. As Navarro is carted off, Whitting tells Marcus to get some rest. Down in the subway station, however, Marcus is greeted by the one he least expects: Terry, alive and well. Marcus realizes the truth at last: Terry was the mole the whole time! He knew Gabriel was on to him, so he faked his death and framed Victor for his crimes. When Marcus arrested the crime heads, he had unwittingly proteced Terry from gang vengeance. Terry atempts to get Marcus to join him and enjoy the money in Mexico, but Marcus is angry with Terry for tricking him. Struggling between repaying his debt to Terry and doing what's right, Marcus tells Terry to surrender. Terry escapes onto a train and Marcus follows in hot pursuit. Chasing Terry, Marcus corners him in the back of the train. Terry unhooks the train cars and starts to make his getaway. Angry, Marcus shoots wildly at the train car, eventuly causing it to flip over, causing the rest to crash into it! Marcus runs, barely escaping with his life. Later, Marcus talks with Whitting and Dixon as Terry's dead body is pushed away on a hospital bed. In return for catching Terry, Whitting promises to give Marcus' father another chance with the D.A. Marcus walks out of the station, wondering if he did the right thing.
Bad Cop Ending Victor Navarro comes to Grand Central Station to find Marcus and Gabriel Whitting waiting at his locker. Whitting tells Navarro that he has a warrant and tells him to open his locker. Victor does so... revealing a clothes bag and some golf clubs. As Victor taunts Marcus, however, the bag falls down, revealing millions of dollars in cash. Whitting arrests Victor on the spot. As Navarro is carted off, Marcus taunts Victor. Infuriated, Victor grabs a gun from one of the officer and shoots Whitting, killing him. Marcus chases Victor onto a run-away subway train. After a brief gunfight, Victor ambushes Marcus, making Marcus lose his gun. Marcus and Victor have a fistfight, and Marcus wins by throwing Victor off the train. As Victor's body is carted off, Dixon is disgusted knowing that Victor may have been an asshole, but not a dirty cop. Dixon tells Marcus to get some rest. As Marcus sits on the bench, Terry shows up, with Marcus telling Terry that he knew it was him all along. Terry asked him why did he arrest Victor. Marcus replied that he hated Victor's guts. Terry congratulates Marcus saying that they both are alike, and tells Marcus to come with him to Mexico. Marcus, however, gets enraged at Terry for being used like a tool. Terry hands Marcus a bag full of cash, with Marcus threatening a gun at Terry's face. Terry asks, "After all I've done for you?" Marcus replies with his line from his gangster days, "Motherfuckers with no loyalty don't deserve to live." Marcus shoots Terry. Marcus attempts to walk away with the cash, but sits back down on the bench looking at his badge with shame.
Features
True Crime 2 has all of the features of the previous game, namely a "sandbox"-style of gameplay, option to fight crime, different endings, and the choice to be a good cop (fight crime, take down perps non-lethally, give out tickets when necessary, etc.) or a bad cop (kill innocents and fellow officers, using lethal force, damaging property, accepting bribes, and causing chaos in general). The game is also said to have upgraded old features and added new features, along with better graphics and sound including the use of motorcycles, and new weapons. NYC also has noticeably more blood and gore than the first one. For example, the player can take a Katana and completely dismember an innocent civilian on the street. The civilian screams horrifically and, armless and legless, falls to the ground bleeding excessively. The limbs will still sit on the ground bleeding and the player can pick them up and use them as weapons, with blood still spouting out the top. The player can also completely decapitate people and use their skull as a weapons, or slice the top half of their head off and visibly see the brain inside.
Reception
The game received mixed reviews from critics; some admired its vast depiction of Manhattan and improvements in gameplay, but others derided its graphics, story and numerous bugs. Its sales fell short of Activision's expectations. [1] Issues such as the very low framerate kept an average game from making any splash in the already long list of GTA knockoffs. Many say that low sales of the game were due to bad frame rates, technical issues, frequent lockups, and the fact that the game's production appeared to have been rushed for a Christmas release.
Original score
True Crime: New York City has a new feature in the audio department. An original score produced by Sean Murray brings out the urban sound of New York. It sets apart the licensed tracks in the game..