Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs is an open-world action game set in Hong Kong, where players set out to disrupt the Triad gangs as an undercover cop.

Similar to other open-world games like Grand Theft Auto IV and True Crime: Streets of LA, Sleeping Dogs offers an eclectic mixture of driving, shooting, fighting, and other interesting gameplay mechanics. With the criminal element working overtime and the streets of Hong Kong more dangerous than ever before, you have your work cut off for you. Luckily, thanks to a notably violent fighting system, richly detailed environments, and a plethora of bonus content, saving Hong Kong is a consistently enjoyable adventure.

Main Game Features:

• Four city districts to explore
• Open-world exploration
• Three distinct leveling systems

Story

In Sleeping Dogs, you control Wei Shen, an undercover detective working for the Hong Kong Police Department. After falling in with the Sun On Yee Triad group, Wei Shen must prove his loyalty as he attempts to dismantle the gang from within.

In order to do so, Wei Shen has to pull off a variety of crimes with his gang-members, including assassinations, car-jackings, and more. Of course, this creates conflict with his police superiors, forcing him to balance his actions without disrupting either side. Although Wei Shen starts off as a lowly enforcer in the Sun On Yee, he rises to power rather quickly, forcing him deeper into the shady world of organized crime. With his loyalties constantly called into question, Wei Shen must keep his cool, or risk being exposed or killed.

Gameplay

Playing as Wei Shen in the dense city of Hong Kong, there are tons of things to see and do. The game primarily plays a third-person beat 'em up, highlighting Wei's martial arts abilities. You can explore the four districts of Hong Kong while on foot or in your choice of vehicle, ranging from classic four-door sedans to motorcycles and commercial trucks. There are plenty of main missions to complete, mostly revolving around Wei's time infiltrating the Sun On Yee Triad gang. There are also additional missions to pursue as a cop, allowing you to bust drug deals, take down petty criminals, and even investigate a string of serial killings. In addition to these bigger, more focal missions, you can also complete a wide variety of side-missions called “favors”, forming relationships with various supporting characters.

As you complete missions and side-activities, you'll earn experience in three major skill-trees, including Cop, Triad, and Face. Cop experience points are earned by completing missions without killing civilians and causing damage, while Triad experience is rewarded for being as brutal and violent as possible.

Face experience is earned by completing favors and other side-activities, increasing Wei's popularity. Each skill-tree provides various upgrades, ranging from new attack combos to the ability to loot guns from police cars. Face experience unlocks new clothes and cosmetic options for Wei, letting you customize his look to your liking.

Conclusion

While Sleeping Dogs might feel very similar to other modern, crime-focused open-world games, there's a surprising amount of originality under the surface. Although the story itself is just passable, the gameplay dynamic of playing as an undercover cop is thoroughly exciting. There's a great variety of missions, some super fun mini-games, and a plethora of collectibles to find. The fighting system is also quick and satisfying, with a notable amount of shocking violence.

Pros:

• Exciting combat and gameplay
• Lots of activities and side-missions
• Engaging upgrade system

Cons:

• Some lackluster controls
• Mediocre story
• Occasional glitches