The Precinct Reviews
Capturing the feel of old-school Grand Theft Auto, especially from a law enforcement perspective, isn't easy, but The Precinct's core gameplay only barely passes muster.
The Precinct offers solid entertainment in chasing criminals and delivering justice through action-packed pursuits. However, the majority of its content is revealed right at the beginning of the game, making it easy to experience fatigue from repetition, which is definitely not helped by an uninteresting narrative.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
The Precinct is not a perfect game, nor does it pretend to be, but for fans of this type of proposals it can become a pleasant surprise. The title manages to make you feel like a real law enforcement officer, combining routine tasks with other more exciting ones. The chases are dynamic and entertaining, and although the combats are simple, they manage to be intense and satisfying. The story, although somewhat superficial, keeps you interested until the end.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Precinct has a wonderful unused premise and utilises it very well for the most part. You really feel like a guardian of the law during the many patrols with the police manual under your arm. Sadly, the messy controls and the repetitive nature of the game don't quite do enough to help the title achieve a higher rating
Review in German | Read full review
The Precinct’s focus on proper protocol eventually wears a little thin, but its gorgeous, top-down take on GTA-inspired action from the right side of the law is undeniably arresting.
The Precinct is a lukewarm dish served after waiting for 2 hours. I don't hate it, and I'll still eat it because I'm hungry, but every bite reminds me of how good it could have been if they'd just done it right. As it is now, you're better off chasing your cop fix elsewhere.
The Precinct goes beyond offering a police simulator and offers an entertaining cycle of work days while we clear the streets of criminals and unravel the mystery of their history. The chases are fabulous and worth a try for just that, although its shootouts and other on-foot mechanics aren't as polished. A very enjoyable and addictive 1980s open world.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It's a shame that The Precinct ends up being an uneven title, perhaps due to some archaic systems, its predictable story, and its repetitive gameplay loop, because there was potential for so much more here. Still, fans of the GTA formula can find something to entertain them for a few hours, as long as they don't expect anything on the level of Rockstar.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The moment-to-moment gameplay feels just like watching those cop shows from the 80’s; running perps down on foot, getting into crazy shootouts and exploding cars, even your partner telling you how close to retirement he is; everything about The Precinct is so deliciously 80’s and I thoroughly savored and enjoyed every moment of it.
The Precinct ultimately fails to make walking the beat feel immersive or rewarding. Routine patrols quickly become repetitive, with minor offences dragging down the game’s pacing. Even the main story missions, while more substantial, are formulaic and add little excitement.
An action cop game that winks at Miami Vice, Hill Street and other historical detective series from the 80s. The game structure is interesting, the chases intense and challenging and the tasks to be performed quite varied, but in the long run repetitiveness makes itself felt and a few technical glitches break the magic. Technically we are close to average, but a few corrections are needed to put right the less than perfect fluidity and a few too many glitches.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Precinct is an impressive sandbox romp. Fueled by a dynamic crime system that offers up hours of fun, bite-sized objectives, it's a very difficult game to put down. Every patrol is different, and although tedium does start to set in as the campaign approaches its conclusion, it's still easy to appreciate the intricate and tight design of this ode to old cop movies.
The Precinct effortlessly blends simulation, sandbox, and silliness. Imagine being a cop in one of the early top-down GTA games, but with modern game design and accoutrements. It's not perfect, but it nails the core gameplay loop that inspired it.
The Precinct met all my expectations and fulfilled that wish I've been longing for since the days of the original GTA, although I think it still has some elements to polish, such as the bugs I already mentioned, and maybe add some more mechanics so that it doesn't become so repetitive after a few hours.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Precinct has everything it needs to put on a great show, but it forgets the most important thing: entertainment.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Unfortunately, The Precinct won't be unpexected gem that some players were waiting - it's even far from it. While some will undoubtedly appreciate the homage to the old GTAs, but from the other side of the fence, and the mechanics linked to that, the game's limitations in terms of narrative, repetitiveness and gameplay approximations betray its ambitions. In the end, despite an interesting basic proposition, the game is quickly overtaken by all these major flaws, which prevent it from delivering the “fun” experience promised by the studio.
Review in French | Read full review
The Precinct takes a welcomingly sober approach to videogame policing, focusing as much on the mundane as the action-filled aspects of the job. But this isn't enough to make enduring hours of its repetitive mission design and poor writing worthwhile.
The Precinct is set in Averno City, an amalgam of New York and Detroit. The time is the early 1980s. Trash is in the streets. The walls are raw with g...
The Precinct is a campy love letter to '80s cop dramas, blending street-level patrols with high-speed chases in an open world. While it nails the tone with stylish set-pieces, exciting car chases, and a synthy soundtrack, the clunky implementation of mechanics and shallow upgrades hold back its more simulated gameplay. The Precinct may not always follow protocol, but it sure knows how to throw a siren-blaring good time.
As long as we accept that we are not playing the role of a super cop, but a regular street patrolling policeman, which involves a certain routine, we get a great little game that offers a lot of fun. What's more, The Precinct sometimes surprises us with random, unscripted events, as well as references and easter eggs from many 80s films and TV series.
Review in Polish | Read full review