There is a thing called “gamifying”‘ in video games. This refers to the state of video games and the gameplay thereof. For example, when you fire a gun in a video game you pull the RT or R2 button, and possibly press B or O for reloading. However, to really fire a gun you need a degree to unjam it, and then write a thesis on field stripping it to clean the damn thing. Guns are complicated and video game guns are simple, this is called gamifying or gamification.

I say this because I’ve been playing Beat Cop for about a week now, and while there is a gamification aspect, everything feels boring? I should express that some sections are supposed to be, after all you are a Beat Cop.

We’ve seen several indie games move from Steam over to the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch . An understandable move when we hear how some developers prefer not to associate their games with often half-baked games promoting racism, homophobia, etc., among several other issues with Valve’s platform. Some are a perfect fit for these systems, and some are not. Beat Cop is a game of the former rather than the latter, a simple sidescrolling Beat Cop ’em up, if you excuse the play on the title.

Beat Cop is the 80’s sidescrolling adventure of Jack Kelly, a detective demoted to the title of beat cop after being framed for the theft of jewels and possible murder of someone at the governors’ mansion. You, playing as Jack Kelly, have to fight your way back to the top, and prove your innocence. A simple and harrowing tail that corresponds quite well.

However, there’s a disconnect between gameplay, the story (in the precinct), the story (on the beat), and the general mechanics. As you’d expect from 80’s cops there’s a lot of swearing and a lot of “…and your mother too!” in the dialogue. Which I wouldn’t mind providing the aggressive nature of the NYPD being depicted in every piece of entertainment, general cynicism of police characters, and the nature of writing in video games. I will go as far to say I’m partial to swearing in my own right, though it is of every third word. This is New York, not Australia.

Aside from constant F–ing and blinding by characters, the story is as said above. You, as Jack Kelly, have been demoted onto the beat and you must move on back up the ranks. With this, you are caught between the stereotypical black gang, the crew, on the far right of your beat and the mafia on the far left. Both are at each other’s throat with many stores and residents caught in between this conflict.

If you side with the mafia, you will find yourself earning extra money for your alimony payments, trips to Mexico, and further expenses. If you keep your head down and work as a straight cop, you will find yourself struggling with said payments. Meanwhile, the crew (the black gang) who run the pawn shop on the right, don’t really get too involved early on, other than the given faction wars between them and the mafia.

The story on the beat is often between yourself, the stores, and the residents. You’ll find Kelly being forced into doing the fecal matter shoveling jobs as you help someone’s grandmother with odd jobs, speak with the owner of the diner, and sometimes, talking to the priest. What becomes an issue is the longevity of these conversations, some of which include talking to huge roaches the size of people.

With some conversations being played for humorous reasons, and others on the severity of the crime, there is a strange balance between them all. The point where the game had flown over the metaphorical shark was said human-sized roach. One minute depicted as a worrying moment for an acquaintance on the beat, the next you’ll be speaking with a roach about… well, I don’t know, as I decided that was the section to skip.

In conclusion, if you enjoy a simple little humorous game with a focus on frivolous conversations over gameplay, you’ll relish Beat Cop. However, if you want a game with a great balance of gamification to keep the pace up and your enjoyment, you may detest Beat Cop. Personally, I am torn as I find the gameplay to be fine in short bursts, but I find the story gets in the way.

A Xbox One review copy of Beat Cop was provided by 11 bit studios for this review.

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Beat Cop

$14.99

6.5

Score

6.5/10

Pros

• A Nice Art Style
• Great Transfer of Controls
• Interesting Factions and Interactions

Cons

• Disconnect Between Story and Gameplay at Times