If you're really into complex strategy games that really emphasize strategy and tax you mentally, This is the Police might be too simple. But as a casual strategy gamer, there was enough there for me to scratch that kind of an itch without overwhelming detail. You not only have to prioritize which calls to send officers to, you have to balance how heavily to invest in crisis situations when there could be another emergency across town. Which investigations need to be pursued, whether to arrest or flip a suspect to take down a gang, who to back between two feuding mafia operations. It kept me busy but still didn't overload me, which helped me appreciate the game a little more.
My favourite part of the game was the character development of main character Jack Boyd and the hard choices he has to make. I love games where you get to make choices and they have weight. Boyd is cranky, disillusioned, corrupt and his patience with the criminals in Freeburg has run out (you decide how corrupt he is, choices run from casual bribes to ruthless assassinations) but he still has the makeup of a tenured official who tried to do his best to keep law and order. The game allows you to alter how he handles the twilight of his career as the police chief (insert poem about raging against the dying of the light) and once again, the creative team knows how to walk the morally grey line between making Jack a scumbag or a beaten down and forgotten hero.
This is the Police also boasts a different style of animation. Its minimalist enough to be different and but vivid enough to be pretty in its own way. I also really enjoyed the voice acting from Jon St. John as Jack Boyd. His performance was reminiscent of an alcoholic private detective in a black and white noir film, building off his well written dialogue which helped you sympathize with Jack even in his worse moments.
The low point of This is the Police is the downer of an ending. I get what they were going for and I think if you're not a Jack sympathizer, I think you'll find it fitting. But Jack goes through so much and to just slam to door shut on his legacy and his work was a tough pill to swallow. The ending missions are difficult and while it may be more realistic considering his actions, it felt like a let down.
I wasn't crazy that I didn't get to play all of the days in the game but if one of my negative points is that I didn't get to play more, that may tell you something. I really enjoyed this game, it hit a harmonious balance of decent game play and an involving story. It doesn't break new ground but it is a fun entry in the genre. If you're interested, get it on sale through Steam or on your preferred video game console.
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