The "Anti-GTA" Mentality
While other open-world crime games were busy trying to be The Godfather or a gritty HBO miniseries, Volition decided to go the opposite direction. They leaned into the absolute absurdity of a sandbox world. If you’ve spent any time in Steelport, you know the game doesn't just ask you to suspend your disbelief—it launches it out of a cannon.
The IGDB score sitting at a 78 feels right. It’s a rock-solid, polished experience that knows exactly what it is. It isn’t trying to win awards for its "poignant narrative." It wants to be a digital toy box where the laws of physics and social decency are optional. For a player who finds the slow pacing of modern "realistic" games boring, this is a shot of pure adrenaline.
The Three Flavors of Chaos
The game splits its focus between three rival gangs, and they aren't your standard street thugs. You’re dealing with the Morningstar (high-society criminals), the Luchadores (muscle-bound wrestlers), and the Deckers (cyber-punk hackers).
This variety matters because it keeps the gameplay from feeling like a repetitive loop of "go here, shoot that." One hour you’re dealing with a traditional shootout, and the next you’re effectively inside a virtual reality simulation or dealing with a city-wide riot. It’s this tonal whiplash that makes the game memorable. If your teen is used to the hero-shooter vibes of modern games where every character has a "power," the over-the-top nature of the Syndicate and its sub-factions will feel right at home, even if the themes are significantly more adult.
The Co-op Sweet Spot
If there is a "correct" way to play this, it’s in two-player co-op. The game is built for it. Having a second person to pilot the helicopter while you hang off a skyscraper or drive the getaway car while you fend off the police makes the entire experience click.
This is also where the "parental" friction usually happens. If your kid is playing this with a friend, the chaos factor doubles. The game encourages you to find the most ridiculous way to solve a problem. It’s less about the "crime" and more about the "spectacle." If you’re on the fence about a 16- or 17-year-old playing this, the co-op aspect is actually a decent way to gauge their maturity. Are they just enjoying the mechanical chaos, or are they getting weirdly invested in the more toxic elements?
Why the Remaster Matters Now
The original 2011 release was a bit of a technical mess on consoles, but the Remastered version actually does the work. It cleans up the lighting and the character models to the point where it doesn't feel like a "retro" chore to play.
More importantly, it’s a complete package. In an era where every game tries to sell you a seasonal battle pass or $20 character skins, having a game where you just buy it and own everything is a relief. You get all the weird outfits and extra missions without a single "limited time offer" pop-up. It’s a "buy once, play forever" model that feels increasingly rare in the genre. For a parent, this means you don't have to worry about your credit card being linked to a digital storefront that preys on FOMO. Once the game is in the house, the spending stops.
