True Crime: Streets of LA Xbox

As movies and video games continue to strengthen their ties, console owners typically emerge as winners in the ever-evolving games industry. Games such as The Getaway, Driver and Grant Theft Auto aren't rehashes of movie successes, but their style and presentation are comparable to a number of films. Next in the line-up of action film wannabes is Activision's True Crime for Xbox. In this latest adult-orientated adventure, players assume control of protagonist Nick Kang, a former member of the police, as he strives to overthrow vicious Chinese and Russian underworlds for the good of his home city, Los Angeles. Like The Getaway, Nick's adventure takes place both on foot and in top-spec cars, as players partake in some 100 missions in a compelling storyline that changes and branches according to the player's actions. In-car chases and combat make the best use of True Crime's 400 square miles of city, as players are charged with hunting down fleeing enemies and taking them out in Hong Kong Film-style action sequences. Missions on foot are a little more strategic. Using the best of Nick's martial arts abilities, players must often engage in close range combat with several other enemies simultaneously. On the other hand, find yourself a weapon and you're free to shoot projectiles into the hearts of your enemies for single shot kills. Just bear in mind that you're subject to the same level of attack. Everything about True Crime reeks of a Hollywood outing by the likes of - off the top of our heads - John Woo. That's no bad thing. It's one of Activision's biggest releases for 2003 and rivals anything The Getaway had to offer.