Review: Struggling to crack latest shoot 'em up

Crackdown 2 may be an entertaining game but is ultimately too similar to its predecessor.

Gamers are amongst the few elite, super agents created to protect Pacific City. Your mission is to destroy "freaks", mutated zombie-like creatures which haunt the streets at night. During daylight it's no easier as the terrorist organisation "Cell" wreaks havoc trying to kill you.

Despite acquiring skills and discovering orbs that make your superhero agent a more efficient crime-fighting machine, but that's pretty much it for the storyline.

Unfortunately most of the game is spent doing the same nine missions over and over again which quickly becomes tedious while the Pacific City visuals are not easy on the eye.

It's only at the end of the game that players get to do something other than power up beacons while fighting off hoards of "freaks".

That said, the game play is surprisingly compelling, even if the combat does get slightly repetitive over time. This is largely because of the feeling of power achieved through your agent's superhero strength and agility.

The game offers a multiplayer feature but this is flawed in that there is no point marker in the new co-op system and the arena combat feels half made and unbalanced.

Overall Crackdown 2 can be fun and addictive, although it looks ugly and there is not much gamers haven't seen before.