Retro Inspired
THE PRECINCT
New games that wish they were old
RETRO VIBES ABOUND AS YOU PLAY A COP TAKING DOWN GANGS IN THE FICTIONAL AVERNO CITY – FROM THE ISOMETRIC VIEWPOINT, TO FAMILIAR TRIBUTES TO AND ATTITUDES FROM SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES COP SHOWS. BUT MODERN TECHNOLOGY ADDS FRESHNESS, AND PLAYING A BEAT COP IS ODDLY COMPELLING
WORDS BY STEVE BOXER
IN THE KNOW
» PUBLISHER: KWALEE
» DEVELOPER: FALLEN TREE GAMES
» RELEASE: MAY 13 2025
» PLATFORM: PC, XBOX SERIES X/S, PLAYSTATION 5
» GENRE: ACTION/ADVENTURE
From the moment you first clap eyes on it,The Precinctmakes clear its desire to pay homage to the games and culture of yesteryear. Most noticeably thanks to its high-camera, near-isometric viewpoint. Then you look more closely at the streets of its setting, the fictional (but New York-inspired) Averno City, and realise they are neon-lit, shabby, steam-ridden and full of dodgy characters, instantly bringing to mind reminiscences of beloved cop shows of yore like Kojak and Hill Street Blues.
But while The Precinct makes its retro sensibilities clear, it also clearly avails itself of modern technology – eschewing the pixel-art route, for example, in favour of full 3D, so it’s no exercise in retro slavishness.