Crime Boss: Rockay City review - A Rollercoaster of Frustration with Moments of Fun

Prepare to enter Rockay City's seedy underworld, where power, violence, and a great amount of questionable fashion choices reign supreme. The payday-inspired game promised us an epic gangster experience complete with a star-studded cast and intense gunplay. However, as we explore the gritty streets, we find a mix of highs and lows that will have you screaming in frustration and occasionally uttering words of satisfaction. Strap in as we break down the good, the bad, and the downright infuriating aspects of Crime Boss: Rockay City.

The Clone Army attacks

With such a large budget for actors, you'd think the game would have a diverse cast of enemies. Unfortunately, the creators appeared to believe that an army of identical, cookie-cutter goons would suffice. It's disheartening to face wave after wave of indistinguishable foes, depriving encounters of the variety and immersion we expect from an open-world crime game. Was there a budget crunch that forced them to cut back on diversity?

Guns Blazing

Despite its flaws, Crime Boss manages to deliver on the gunplay front. The weapon mechanics feel tight and responsive, with each shot delivering a visceral sense of impact. Getting a good headshot is undeniably satisfying, providing a brief moment of triumph amidst the chaos and repetition.

Cringeworthy Conversations

Be prepared for a cringe-fest of epic proportions. Crime Boss' writing is a train wreck, with dialogue so painful that it would make a seasoned actor question their career choices. Character interactions are frequently forced and lack any semblance of authenticity, leaving us yearning for more engaging and believable exchanges.

A Symphony of Horrors

We can't entirely blame the actors because the voice acting in Crime Boss is an auditory nightmare. Many of the characters sound plucked from a community theater production, delivering lines with all the emotional depth of a cardboard cutout. It's a shame that such a talented cast couldn't save the dreadful voice performances.

Stealth Frustration

Stealth gameplay should be exciting, but Crime Boss drops the ball when it comes to guards. Dispatching them quietly only causes immediate trouble, making stealthy takedowns a tedious chore. It's difficult not to compare it unfavorably to Payday, the heist-centric masterpiece that managed to strike a better balance in this regard.

Dumb and Dumber

Expect an AI team that shares a brain cell with a pringles can. Their incompetence knows no bounds as they randomly get stuck, fail to shoot back when under fire, and even watch you bleed out while enemies are nowhere in sight. Their ineptness becomes painfully obvious, tainting what could have been an immersive and cooperative experience.

Repetition and Redemption

Crime Boss falls into the same pattern, but there is a ray of hope beneath the surface. Things become surprisingly bearable once you start skipping cutscenes and getting into the gameplay loop. The turf war aspect adds a dash of excitement while also providing a sense of progress and achievement as you level up and earn permanent rewards.

Aesthetically Acceptable

While the graphics in Crime Boss will not blow your mind, they will also not make you recoil in horror. The visual quality is merely mediocre, neither impressing nor disappointing. It's a missed opportunity to make the criminal playground more immersive and visually stunning.

watching paint dry

Oh, the dreaded Wiz level. It is a testament to poor game design and a severe lack of enjoyment. Tossing chess pieces into a laundry cart from a jail cell feels like a pointless and poorly executed "action break." The slow pace and lack of excitement make it one of the worst gaming experiences ever.

Crash and Burn

Prepare for a whole new level of frustration as Crime Boss crashes its way into your gaming nightmares. Numerous crashes and instability issues plague the game, disrupting the already shaky immersion and testing your patience. Five crashes in 5 hours? Seriously, what the fuck is going on?

Overwhelming Odds

The Crime Boss difficulty curve can feel like a punch in the gut, especially during the larger story missions. The game doesn't hold back, pelting you with hordes of ridiculously powerful foes, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and cheated. It's a shame that a well-designed challenge turned into a frustrating exercise.

Conclusion

Crime Boss: Rockay City is a game that flirts with greatness but ultimately falls short due to a slew of issues. While the core gameplay is entertaining, it is overshadowed by the game's numerous flaws. Character diversity is lacking, as is the writing, which is cringeworthy, as is the voice acting, which is abysmal, incompetent AI teammates, and technical blunders mar what could have been a thrilling experience.

Despite the chaos, there are moments of amusement and the possibility of redemption. The gameplay loop, turf war mechanics, and the concept of earning permanent rewards all hint at the possibility that Crime Boss could have been something more.

The crashes, on the other hand, are unforgivable blunders that cannot be overlooked. Despite the occasional pleasure, the frustrations and shortcomings are simply too numerous to ignore. With a heavy heart, we must give Crime Boss: Rockay City a 4.5 out of 10 rating. It's a game that could have been so much more, but it ultimately collapses to its own flaws, leaving us yearning for a more well-executed crime spree.

We at NLM received a key for this game for review purposes; this, however, hasn’t affected our review in any way.