Square Enix, having already double dipped this year with Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, is back with another attempt to squeeze fresh cash from an old game, imaginatively titled Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition. Still, it was gorgeous, had some terrific driving controls, and the unique Hong Kong setting lent it a flavor missing from most “me too” action games. Its inventory system was insensibly restricted, its combat felt stodgy in comparison to the fluid systems it was aping, and the story failed to do much for me with its fairly paint-by-numbers structure. I don’t consider it the second coming of Christ like some reviewers did when it first released in 2012, however.
This is a must-try sandboxer for any self-respecting gamer.Sleeping Dogs was a pretty good game. GTA fans will enjoy it, the sights and sounds and combat add some fresh perspective to the genre. Sleeping Dogs is a surprise package from Square Enix, one that takes you on a memorable ride across fictional Hong Kong and leaves you with a satisfied smiled at the end. It’s unlike any other game you’ll play this year, bringing so many elements together and executing it with flying colours. Add to that an assortment of side missions - hacking, bugging, tracking subjects - and the allure of exploring Hong Kong, and you start to marvel at Sleeping Dog’s largesse. Wei Shen’s character develops differently while he undertakes Triad missions vis-a-vis his cop missions. Ultimately, what makes the game unique is its good-guy bad-guy balancing act. Stealing cars and driving around the city is great fun, the arcade experience a nice and simple touch. Sleeping Dogs’ soundtrack cuts across various genres, adding to the overall mood and tone of the game. Wandering through crowded farmer’s market gives you a realistic sense of Hong Kong, and the cut-scenes mixing English and Chinese dialogues heightens the sense of realism even more. Step out of your safe house to find the fictional Hong Kong a constant presence - the city’s alive and abuzz pretty much all the time and very well put together. Graphics of the game overall are very good, although character modelling could’ve been better. Sleeping Dogs incorporates multiple layers and depth to its gameplay to very good effect. As you progress through the game, you can unlock Wei Shen’s skills through an RPG-like skills tree, yet another interesting twist to the tale. Apart from the central storyline, the game has various mini games and side quests to keep you busy. The combination of elements derived from the GTA and Batman games work really well for Sleeping Dogs - landing a bone-bashing punch or kick on your opponent is pretty cool. Sleeping Dogs relies heavily on martial arts and close combat, with the system deployed similar to the one used in Batman Arkham Asylum and City games. Controls and game mechanics are pretty much what you expect for the game, nothing out of the ordinary. Sleeping Dogs’ gameplay is like GTA’s, third-person open-world environment to explore. You meet many interesting characters as the story develops, encountering situations that never border on boredom, and the central plot unfolds quite fast. It’s an interesting plot, Shen’s required to gather information and pass it on to his handler, but he’s also expected to break rules and do the bidding of the underworld.
He’s just returned from a brief stint in the States, and his undercover assignment in Hong Kong takes him deep into the underbelly of the city’s Triad gangs. The story of the game reminds you of The Departed (or its original inspiration, the Hong Kong-based Infernal Affairs), where you play a cop called Wei Shen. It’s thoroughly enjoyable, an action-adventure game that provides loads of fun. Even if its sandbox feel is similar to GTA IV, its combat similar to Batman’s Arkham Asylum, its story similar to a Hollywood blockbuster, Sleeping Dogs is more than just a sum of its parts. Several games have so faltered, but not Sleeping Dogs. However, often a game that takes inspiration from various successful games, it runs the danger of falling short of expectations and not delivering on its promise. Sleeping Dogs reminds you of several games, all very good in their own right. Sleeping Dogs detailed review Introduction