Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
Release Date: October 8, 2014
Action, TPP, gangster, sandbox, Police, TPS, remasters/remakes, singleplayer
Steam
A dynamic, open-world TPP action game inspired by John Woo's films. Sleeping Dogs was created by United Front Games, and the player takes on the role of a police detective who tries to infiltrate the structures of a dangerous crime organization. The experience is filled with spectacular melee combat sequences, shootouts, as well as car chases taking place on the crowded streets of Hong Kong.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for PC, PS4 and XONE is a TPP open-world action game featuring a melee combat system, which is significantly more complex than in other games of this kind. Originally, the project was to deliver the third installment for the True Crime series (with the subtitle Hong Kong), but due to legal issues, it was necessary to change the name of the product. Sleeping Dogs was developed by United Front Games – a Canadian studio founded in 2007.
Plot & Mechanics
The player is taken to the Far East, and the game is set in Hong Kong. While creating the plot, the developer was heavily inspired by Asian action films made by John Woo, such as Hard Boiled. The player assumes the role of Wei Shen – a police detective who tries to infiltrate the structures of a dangerous crime organization known as Sun On Yee. In order to gain the trust of mobsters, Wei has to fulfill their orders, climbing the mob hierarchy. The path leads through a lot of smaller and larger assignments. While completing those, the player engages in melee combat, drives fast cars, jumps across rooftops, takes part in shootouts, etc.
The aforementioned elements constitute the main contents of the game. The protagonist quickly learns martial arts, as well as how to use different weapons and a lot of other destruction-causing techniques. The open world of the virtual Hong Kong is divided into a few diverse districts, such as the splendid Central HK or Aberdeen, where the poor live. Obviously, the game world offers a lot of side missions and challenges that make the experience more diverse.
The moral element to the work of an undercover cop (heavily inspired by Splinter Cell: Double Agent), is an important feature of the game. The player has to balance their actions in order not to become an evil figure, and neither to lose the trust of the protagonist's new employers.
Countless American and Asian action films inspired the creators, and this can be seen in the game's overstylized, expressive visuals. Sleeping Dogs does a good job of presenting the atmosphere of an eastern metropolis. The original version made quite a good visual impression, but this Definitive Edition introduces a lot of graphical improvements – above all, they encompass the characters' faces, particle effects and the draw distance; also, more environmental objects can be destroyed in this version. Certain changes were also brought to the mechanics, as for instance the difficulty level in challenges was rebalanced – previously, they were either too easy or too difficult.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for PC, PS4 and XONE includes all the 24 expansion packs, which came out earlier for the edition released on the seventh-generation systems. The two largest DLCs for Sleeping Dogs were included as well (Nightmare in North Point and The Year of the Snake).
Last updated on January 29, 2018
Videos and Screens
[1:52] Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition launch trailer
[3:15] Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition trailer #2 (PL)
The main pros of the game
- Engaging Storyline: The narrative about Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the Triads, is well-crafted and keeps players invested.
- Fluid Combat System: The hand-to-hand combat is praised for its smoothness and variety, often compared to the combat in the Batman: Arkham series. Players enjoy the ability to use environmental elements in fights.
- Authentic Setting: The recreation of Hong Kong is vibrant and immersive, with attention to cultural details, making the city feel alive.
- Diverse Gameplay: The game features a mix of main missions, side quests, and mini-games (like karaoke and street races), ensuring varied gameplay experiences.
- Graphics and Atmosphere: Even years after its release, the graphics are considered good for the time, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.
- DLC Content: The Definitive Edition includes all previously released DLC, adding more content and replayability.
The main cons of the game
- Driving Mechanics: Several reviews mention that the vehicle handling is not as polished as other games in the genre, often described as clunky or imprecise.
- Repetitive Side Missions: Some users feel that while the main story is engaging, the side missions can become repetitive over time.
- Minor Bugs and Glitches: A few players reported experiencing bugs, including issues with AI behavior and occasional game crashes, although these were generally not game-breaking.
- Limited Fast Travel Options: The fast travel system is criticized for being cumbersome, as players must wait for taxis rather than directly fast-traveling.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Cloud Save Functionality: Users noted the absence of cloud save support, which led to concerns about losing progress.
- More Robust DLC Options: While the DLCs are included, some players wished for stronger, more integrated expansions that added significant value to the main game.
- Improved Vehicle Customization: There were calls for a more in-depth vehicle customization system, similar to what is seen in other open-world games.
- Enhanced Climbing/Traversal Mechanics: Some players expressed disappointment with the limitations of the parkour system, feeling it could have been expanded for better exploration.
Summary
- Overall, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is highly regarded for its story, combat, and immersive setting, despite some criticisms regarding driving mechanics and minor bugs. The game is often recommended, especially when on sale, highlighting its status as an underrated gem in the open-world genre.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 1701 votes. 28 players anticipated the game.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Summary
Game Series: Sleeping Dogs
Platforms:
PC / Windows October 8, 2014
PlayStation 4 October 10, 2014
Xbox One October 10, 2014
Developer: United Front Games
Publisher: Square Enix
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core i5 2.3 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB (GeForce GTX 560 or better), 20 GB HDD, Windows Vista/7/8 64-bit
Actor on Sleeping Dogs: Movie Will be a Breakthrough
The work on the Sleeping Dogs movie, based on the game under the same title, is to start soon. The main role will be played by Donnie Yen, known from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
movies & tv series
Karol Laska
July 7, 2020