Urban Chaos

Developer Mucky Foot * Publishers Eidos Interactive. Released 6th October 2000.

Urban Chaos is a third person action/adventure game based in the fictitional Union City, which is for the most part free roaming allowing you to go almost anywhere. In the beginning you play rookie cop Darci Stern, a no nonsense police officer who believes in getting the job done. (Don't they all, these young kick ass lawmen? Or woman in this case.) Later in the game a partner appears called Roper, who is a bit of a mystery ex military chappie who sports a cool beard in a tramp kind of way.
Union City is being plagued by a gang going by the seriously naff name The Wilcats, who are being run by Bane, the games big baddie. You and your cop buddies are out to turn the cats into kittens by using a bit more than stern words and a rolled up newspaper. (Or is that for dogs? Cats never listen anyway.)
I first played this on the Playstation because it was released a few months earlier on Sony's console and I just couldn't wait to start arresting perps or running them over in my squad car. Police brutality? You betcha!
Having only just got a copy for my Dreamcast I was expecting some fond memories to come flooding back but alas the memories were replaced by shock as soon as I got in control of Darci. Guiding her through the training level assault course was a frustrating affair due to the joystick nub being ultra sensitive, making simple obstacles a nightmare to get over. Add the fact that the camera has a mind of its own and contol of that requires use of the D pad while STILL attempting to manoeuvre Darci and you can understand how bad it gets. I don't recall it being like this on Playstation and as that joypad didn't have a joystick nub it couldn't have been.
Its a shame too because the game itself is quite good and with better contols Id be all over it with praise. I mean when a game allows you to slide tackle pedestrians then leave them handcuffed on the road in front of oncoming traffic it gets a BIG thumbs up from yours truly. Honestly, I spent WAY too long doing this.
There is a decent list of fighting moves on offer too, ranging from straight forward kicks and punches to back roundhouse kicks and grabs. As well that awesome sliding tackle! Also bats, batons and of course firearms can be picked up. But once again the controls mess it up because targetting a hoodlum is a point and hope system and you can't aim at specific people like say in Grand Theft Auto IV. You simply walk into a gang with gun drawn and hope the target cycle lands on a gun wielding thug. Not very confident in missions then.
Looks wise its okay, the cars are a little blocky and pedestrians are almost all clones (hookers and thugs mainly) but thats how games were ten years ago so those blips can be forgiven.
I tried to enjoy Urban Chaos because it has some neat touches but I cannot recommend it because the control system is so flawed and frustrating. In all honesty if I wasn't going for a complete Dreamcast PAL collection I would have chucked this back up for sale. I still go back to it but only when I feel like abusing innocent city dwellers, which is a dubious kind of plus.
Another plus was that I only paid £1 for it which is all its worth if you still really fancy a punt on it. 4/10