Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Review (PC)

  This game was such a surprise for so many people, including myself, back in 2012 when it was launched from developer United Front Games and publisher Square Enix. This open world action game puts you in the shoes of Wei Shen, an undercover police officer tasked with infiltrating the Chinese triad in hopes of bringing their whole operation down. We've seen this concept before in movies and even other games, but no game even comes close to pulling it off the way Sleeping Dogs has. With the definitive edition having just released, I decided to delve back into the open world of Honk Kong and see if the game still holds up in a post Grand Theft Auto 5 world. My answer in short is yes, it totally does.

  There has been a lot of controversy lately surrounding games getting the definitive edition treatment. Games like Tomb Raider, The Last of Us, Grand Theft Auto 5, and of course Sleeping Dogs. A lot of gamers are unhappy that developers are treading old territory when they should be developing new and interesting games that make the purchase of a PS4 or Xbox One worth it. All of the games that are getting the remastered treatment are still great games on last gen and not to mention pretty cheap by now. The only reason I support all of these next gen versions, is simply because of the exposure. Let's face it, a lot of people traded in or sold their old consoles last year when they picked up either the Xbox One or PS4. I know I did. Having a PC let's me go back and play mostly any last gen game, but unfortunately a lot of people don't have that option, and they're looking for a reason to play their new consoles. I think these new versions are a great way for these games to get more exposure especially if they didn't receive enough when they initially released. If you're not on board with these games, then don't play them. It's as simple as that. With the fall roster of games being so huge this year, you'll have plenty of new titles to pick from.

  Sleeping Dogs is a game that looked great back in 2012, and it's held up pretty well visually. It's not astonishing in any way, but sometimes it does look downright gorgeous. Racing through the streets of Honk Kong during a storm still looks great, and the handful of graphical improvements the definitive edition brings are very welcome. The character models are detailed and crisp and the "in engine" cutscenes are animated well and excellently acted by the cast. The definitive edition adds denser traffic and pedestrians that really bring the city to life. The virtual Honk Kong you explore is even more engrossing this time around and feels oddly unique to any other open world you'll explore in games. The presentation is handled well throughout the game and I was able to run the game maxed out with AA turned down to high, and I got a smooth experience nearly all the time. I have not played the PS4 or Xbox One versions, but from what I saw, they look just as good as the PC experience I had. Sleeping Dogs is a great looking game through and through.

  The gameplay is where Sleeping Dogs shines. There are tons of things to do around Honk Kong and the definitive edition brings even more activities to keep you occupied. The combat is focused around hand to hand encounters and it's one of the best parts of the experience. The combat is fast and brutal and easy to become accustomed to. Similar to the Batman Arkham games, the fighting focuses on pulling off awesome combos while countering enemies who attack you. I think it's executed just as well as the Arkham games while bringing depth in the form of unlockable moves and even the inclusion of melee weapons such as meat cleavers and tire irons. I found myself walking around the city just so I could come face to face with a rival gang. Once they see you, they immediately attack and the carnage ensues. The developers wanted to focus on martial arts so much that I didn't even fire a gun until about 7 hours into my playthrough. The fighting works so well though, that I didn't mind the wait. When the time came for me to finally pull the trigger, I wasn't disappointed. The shooting mechanics are solid enough to hold up to other third person cover based shooters, but they're nothing spectacular. In fact, I prefer the deep hand to hand combat system over the gunplay. The exciting thing about this edition of the game is that it comes with all the DLC previously released for Sleeping Dogs including Nightmare in North Point and The Year of the Snake. Along with those two expansions, you get all the guns, cars, outfits and bonuses you could want. For someone new to Sleeping Dogs, the 60 dollar asking price is a good deal for all the content you get in return. If you've played the game before, well then it depends on how much you enjoyed it the first time around, and if you're ready to give the game another shot. 

  The aspect that surprised me the most about Sleeping Dogs was how absolutely engaging the narrative is. Going into the game for the first time I didn't think that I would be so into the characters and the events that unfold around them. The story kept me hooked from beginning to end and I loved it. Recently, I've really been reminded of how important a good story is, and that it really does make everything feel more worthwhile. Sleeping Dogs is proof of that. No, the game isn't the masterpiece Grand Theft Auto 5 is, not even by a long shot, but what it does, it does extremely well. Having said that there are some minor problems that hold the game back. Most notably the wonky camera that almost always works against you while driving or even while fighting. It works well most of the time, but gets in the way enough to create some frustrating moments. I also encountered some minor clipping and audio glitches. A good example would be when I was driving my car through a crowd, using my horn to scare away pedestrians from my path and all of a sudden I stopped using my horn but the sound effect kept blaring. Even when I got out of the car it just kept going and it was so loud that  had to run 3 blocks away to escape the terrible sound. Other than those very minor issues, Sleeping Dogs is a great video game achievement that's a must play for anyone who's a fan of open world action games. Don't go into this game expecting a Chinese GTA 5 because that's not what's delivered here. The beautiful thing about this game is that it's not GTA 5. It's another open world game that's fully capable of standing on its own and making a name for itself. This game is worth your time and your money. You're bound to find something you like within the definitive edition of Sleeping Dogs.


+Great Open World
+Solid Gameplay All Around
+Engaging Narrative

-Disobedient Camera
-Some Minor Glitches


9 out of 10