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US Gold’s world of drugs, sabotage and espionage blows its way onto the home computer. The intricate web of drug dealing forms a hierarchical empire. At the bottom, you have your carriers and your corner-shop dealers. Then you move up to the big dealers, exchanging large amounts of illegal substances for even larger amounts of cash, and at the top you have your Mr Bigs, who sit on the dosh and gloat. These nefarious masters of crime need somewhere to hide out and stash the ‘stuff’. They think they have got away with it. They think. But you are no ordinary cop. You may be called Ben and your partner called Andy, but there is nothing mundane about your work – as you go undercover and blow up the villains’ bases.

In a nutshell, Crackdown is a high quality, split-screen Gauntlet clone, with great graphics and a generous dollop of playability. Travel around each building, represented by a top-view, eight-way scrolling play area, planting time bombs.
Ammo is extremely limited, so you have to pick your targets carefully. Some are unarmed, so it is often a good idea to get in close and dispose of them with a well-placed kick.

Without a doubt, the graphics are intricate, although it is a little too hard at times to pick out certain detail. But even though the split-screen playing area is small, the scanner ensures there is no problem with things off screen killing you before you get a chance to see them.

Approach this game as a piece of light entertainment with just the right difficulty to keep you playing for a while. It is definitely worth a shot.
Tony Dillon