Game/Publisher/Developer
Sleeping Dogs, Square Enix, United Front Games
The Trailer
My Reaction
This is a forgotten gem that got completely overshadowed by GTA V’s release. The gameplay is incredibly fun and innovative, and even today it holds up better than a lot of sandbox and action games that came after it.
Overview
Sleeping Dogs is a 2012 action-adventure game developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix, released for PlayStation 3, Windows and Xbox 360 that August. Set in contemporary Hong Kong, it follows Wei Shen, a Hong Kong-American police officer and martial artist who goes undercover to infiltrate the Sun On Yee Triad. Gameplay centers on Shen’s martial arts, gunplay and parkour, along with gadgets used for both combat and exploration, all set within an open world that can be freely roamed for both legal and criminal side activities. Development began in 2008 under Activision Blizzard as part of the True Crime series, but the project was canceled in 2011 due to delays and budget issues. Square Enix picked up the publishing rights six months later and relaunched it as Sleeping Dogs, with United Front staff traveling to Hong Kong to research the city’s look and sound firsthand.
What I Liked
- The open world is dense and full of life without being buried under map icons.
- Martial arts combat feels tactile and satisfying in a way few open-world games manage.
- The city itself is visually impressive, especially considering its age.
- Great variety across both story missions and extracurricular activities.
- The storyline is wonderfully acted, arguably my favorite in the sandbox genre.
What I Didn’t Like
- The narrative is a little thin in places and holds the game back from true greatness.
- Some systems feel rough around the edges and don’t push much new ground.
Verdict
Sleeping Dogs is a remarkable game that would be a near-perfect 10 if the narrative carried a bit more weight. What’s here is executed well, backed by genuinely great acting and a strong sense of place, even if it doesn’t always break new ground. It deserved far more attention than it got.
Rating
83/100