Wei Shen has been through so much since the “Sleeping Dogs” main story ended. Wei has battled the undead in order to save his girlfriend in the Nightmare in North Point downloadable content (DLC) and has been in a major martial arts tournament in the Zodiac Tournament DLC but the player has never really seen Wei Shen take responsibility for his undercover exploits, until now.

In the latest DLC, The Year of the Snake, Shen’s bosses are very upset at all the property damage and casualties that were caused during his time working undercover and demote him to a regular officer. Here, Shen must follow orders, help citizens and even give out traffic tickets. While amusing to see Shen’s aggravation at being demoted, is the DLC worth the money and more importantly the time?

The Year of the Snake is the first of the DLC packs to actually promise to follow Wei Shen after the initial story, unlike Nightmare in North Point which could have easily taken place in the middle of the main story. This story begins before the Chinese New Year and Shen has been called to investigate some strange happenings going on around Hong Kong. Several bombings have been taking place and it is up to Shen to find out who is behind it and why, before the New Year.

The Year of the Snake contains roughly six missions along with new collectibles, trophies/achievements and weapons. For each mission accomplished, the clothes, weapons or vehicles that are unlocked may be used within the main story. As Wei Shen must settle down as a regular cop, so too must the player. You cannot simply beat down assailants as an officer, but you can tase them or beat them with a baton before arresting them. Moreover, if a riot starts Wei Shen can tear gas the entire crowd to gain back control. These weapons provide a new experience to an already great game.

Despite becoming an officer in Hong Kong and having the ability to tase criminals, there really is not much else to this DLC. Seeing Wei Shen punished for his handling of his undercover work was satisfying but that is all there is to it. As a final ending for the “Sleeping Dogs” main story, it is lacking but then again the main story’s ending was very anticlimactic as well, so you get what you pay for. There aren’t any twist ending or surprises, just Wei Shen dealing with being demoted.

Rating – 4/5: The Year of the Snake is a short but sweet DLC which provides a realistic consequence for Shen’s actions during the main story and gives the player a new angle to play from after tormenting Hong Kong as a gangster. This DLC is worth the money for the liberties one can take as a cop, however in the end, you will want to go back to being undercover because being a member of the Triad is still much more fun. The Year of the Snake is available for the PlayStation 3 ($6.99 USD), Xbox 360 (560 Microsoft Points) and Steam ($6.99 USD).

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In many games, especially those in the action, adventure and role playing genres, character growth, mission variety and storytelling are two critical components of the game. It is what draws players towards a character and enhances gameplay experiences.

The storyline is one of the essential positive marks of the “Sleeping Dogs,” bringing to life characters that are relatable and memorable. The Son On Yee is a brotherhood; those that betray it are likewise treated to lethal punishments. Already suspected of a traitor in their midst, Wei Shen is tested time and time again for his loyalty and skills. Players will sweat through initiation fights as well as early missions, struggling with little money or respect.

The player’s journey as a cop and triad living dual lives will draw them further and deeper into the life of a triad gang member than ever before. In the triad, nothing is as safe as it used to be and the gamer gets a sense that change is coming. As one character in the upper echelons of the Son On Yee remarks, there were days when honor and brotherhood meant much more than it does now.

His rise in the Son On Yee hierarchy feels organic and yet also scripted. The journey feels pretty natural for a man to return to his hometown and reconnect with people from his past. Wei Shen had a past with the Son On Yee through the death of his sister and another member before he left for America. Still, due to an eventual power vacuum, Wei Shen has the chance to rise quickly in status and favor. He makes allies where he can and takes out the competition of a rival triad gang, even against the orders of his superiors.

The story does feel a tad scripted, since his rise to fame is fast for gamers who play through the main storyline missions one after the other without doing any of the side missions. Not long after Wei arrives and starts making waves, he has a chance to prove himself. What is not expected is that there aren’t harder ways to test for Wei Shen’s loyalty than for him to kill a man. This seemed too easy, which is why the side missions add immensely to the overall gameplay of “Sleeping Dogs “as well.

The side missions themselves offer a great deal of variety. There are the aforementioned street races, but also favors for other members of the Son On Yee to gain face or Cop points as well. These optional side missions are fairly standard but are still entertaining since they add to the length of gameplay. They add to the Triad and Cop points that can help open up the later abilities on the skill tree. The triad points are, thankfully, easier to attain and much more useful in a fight.

The gamer can also go about the city of Hong Kong to retrieve either lockboxes full of cash, visit the various health shrines to increase the overall health bar of Wei Shen, or look for the Jade statues to upgrade melee attacks. These side missions show the game to be an intelligently designed game. For example, the health upgrades don’t happen at a certain level, you control when that happens by finding the health shrines. A few of these shrines are locked behind areas that have to be opened during the main storyline but many of these shrines are available during the early stages of the game.

Additionally, the game shows the same level of dedication when upgrading melee attacks, leaving the player free to access most of the Jade statues. Many of these 12 Jade statues, shaped to follow the Chinese Zodiac, will be open to early retrieval by the player. The last three attacks on the melee skill tree are a life saver in combat.

Getting at those lock boxes are also fun. Many of them are guarded, including cops or gang members. Some of the lockboxes, especially those with higher denominations, will have a combination lock that needs some finesse and patience to open. Gang members will be guarding these lockboxes on foot most of the time while the cops will chase you down in their cars if you steal an armored truck full of money.

The most important side missions are the ones that increase Face, or respect. As the gamer explores Hong Kong, certain sections will yield nicer clothing and cars to purchase; some of these items are locked behind a prerequisite amount of money and face. Some of these items have melee or monetary bonuses and enhance the players overall gaming experience. There is sufficient variety to keep the player entertained for 12 plus hours of side mission gameplay outside of the storyline’s 31 main missions.

As the main storyline continues, the player finds themselves drawn into the ending of this story and the sense of divided loyalty. As a cop Wei Shen should have been glad that he’s taken down key members of the Son On Yee, but at the same time he knows that those who replace the Son On Yee will be worse people. Likewise, as a triad Wei also knows the value of brotherhood and feels a sense of responsibility for them.  This wonderful psychological dilemma is what plagues gamers as they come to the close of the game. In essence, the player has become Wei Shen, fully stepping into his shoes after spending so many long hours with his character and mannerism. Excitement mounts as the last cut scene is played and all questions are answered. The game has a lot of potential, almost all of it achieved.

“Sleeping Dogs” has flown under the radar for much of its launch. Fans that have followed it since the announcements taut its awesome gameplay while newcomers to the game marvel at the authenticity. “Sleeping Dogs” becomes more than just the sum of its parts, growing into a life changing and enriching experience for gamers. There is a storyline that tugs at the heartstrings while also showing gamers the wealth of cultural differences that exist in the Chinese speaking world. More than a game, this is an expression of true life.

Rating: 4.5/5 For an enriching experience that is eye opening and inspiring. Graphics and combat may be run of the mill but the storyline and overall gameplay are outstandingly well crafted. Replay value is good, which gives this game that extra push into the almost perfect category. 

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“Sleeping Dogs” is an undercover criminal versus cop adventure set in open world Hong Kong. It features a liberal dose of Cantonese Chinese with subtitles and English with subtitles as well. You play as Wei Shen, an undercover operative from the Hong Kong Police Department freshly returned from America. Sent to infiltrate and rise in the Son On Yee Triad, you gain the loyalty of past and present friends while battling against rival gangs across the four sections of Hong Kong.

United Front Games and Square Enix London Studios teamed up to create an open world gaming experience that has some of the best gameplay elements for this generation of consoles. United Front Games itself is made up of staff that has worked on games such as the “Need for Speed” series, the “Max Payne” games, the “Prototype” games and the “Saints Row” series.

The Chinese language is, thankfully, exceptionally well translated, with social and slang terms used correctly. Players who speak Cantonese will find familiar vocabulary throughout the game, with nearly the entire stable of Chinese curses included to get out the aggression. However English is still the primary language for nearly 90% of the entire game, foul language included. Needless to say, this is not a game to play around anyone with sensitive ears.

Breaking a bone, meanwhile, isn’t quite as easy as expected. It’s a hit against “Sleeping Dogs” that there is only one attack button, one counter button and one grappling button. Combined with the sprinting button, the layout of the combat usually revolves around these four buttons plus the lock on feature. The combat system is just interesting enough to keep gamers entertained with bone crushing maneuvers, but they aren’t the easiest to pull off. There isn’t much room for button bashing here if you want to play it smart.

Do just that, though, and you’ll be awarded with exciting finishes and slow motion action sequences that excite the mind. Destructible elements during combat further enhance the gameplay experience in an otherwise routine and frustrating combat system. The first time a bad guy is dumped into a meat grinder or crushed by an engine bay is an equally jaw dropping and body cringing experience. This game is certainly a shade on the bloody side but in a game with cops and gangsters, it’s expected.

The armed combat, which rolls seamlessly between armed vehicle combat and unarmed combat, is easily accessible and only requires a small learning curve to get the buttons down for shooting. Takedowns against an opponent holding a weapon is easy fun, as is sliding over an obstacle to jump down onto an armed assailant while under fire. Cover action is liberally encouraged for gamers lest they die a frustrating bullet-riddled death.

The sound effects are fairly standard, even the ones when you break someone’s elbow. But one of the most unique features of this game is the rotation of satellite style radio’s that are included whenever a car or motorcycle is in use. This has a great mix of tracks for the player to select from, depending on mood and gameplay action. Some is interesting enough to search the internet and add it to your MP3 player.

Because United Front Games has staff from the “Need for Speed” series and now defunct EA “Blackbox Vancouver,” the street racing is exciting and has a suitably arcade-like response and feel. Anyone who has ever raced a “Need for Speed” game in the last 10 years will find familiar territory here with the GPS system and the sprinter style races through a crowded city.

The general level design of Hong Kong is good, with each of the four sections of Hong Kong having a different fit and feel. While the streets have basic layouts, the buildings in each of the sections are noted for having different stores as well as a variety of construction materials. In Central you’ll find cars and clothing stores that are more upscale and posh while North Point has cheaper cars and older buildings. In actuality, there is a particular section of real life Hong Kong that is shaped just like the Hong Kong in “Sleeping Dogs.”

One hit against the game is that the graphics are pretty standard for this generation of consoles and do very little to elevate the look of the game. On par with many other games of this type, the weather affects in the game do have a physical impact on the game but they are limited. Gamers who have played “Prototype” will remark on a few similarities with the cut scene designs and some of the gameplay design as well.

Still, the level of detail in this game is commendable. The depth of level design is fairly intense; for example, a motorcycle crash sends Wei Shen into a second story balcony where he took physical damage upon landing. Many other games of this kind would have the character falling endlessly through digital limbo after such a crash or splatter against the building like a bug against a wall rather than landing on an actual ledge. That is the level of detail that this game possesses.

Be on the look out for Toonari Post’s review of “Sleeping Dogs” as this two part review continues.

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Deserving of perhaps the most anticipation, the Hong Kong cinema style game play of Sleeping Dogs should have some pretty good martial arts combat. By now many have seen the 6 minute and change combat video about Sleeping Dogs. What is less known for the general populace is the background of some of its key developers and contributors.

If some of the basic movement from the game “Bully” looks familiar, it’s because Liberty Walker, one of the combat designers for “Sleeping Dogs,” worked on that game as well. The transition between opponents is certainly smoother and much more polished in this Chinese undercover crime game, but at the foundation it works the same as it did in “Bully.”

There is a good bet that some of the buttons will have a similar lay out as well. Having said that though, only an actual release of the game will reveal just how similar the two are. While “Bully” is much older and far more dated, its roots are the same, and so “Sleeping Dogs” reflects the genesis of years of game designing experience.

Likewise, Sota Yuyama is another known key figure in the combat design of “Sleeping Dogs.” One of his notable works is SSX, the snowboarding game series that has reigned supreme for many years with its crazy body contortionist tricks and flips. It’s most recent iteration from 2011 features some of Yuyama’s work; players can see that fluidity of movement reflected in “Sleeping Dogs” as well. His skill in martial arts includes years of study at the Shito-Ryu school of Karate.

Research into this style of martial arts reveals that its roots in physical strength and stances grounded in the earth for balance. Yet its many diverse branches also feature sweeping multi directional attacks as well. Combine these two aspects with the style of gameplay from “Bully” and you reveal, in many ways, the combat system in “Sleeping Dogs.”

Measured between these two gentlemen, a wealth of gaming and fighting experience comes together to create a seamless transitioning fighter. Video and gameplay footage so far shows that Wei Shen has incredible dexterity and overall fighting prowess. His movement is smooth and powerful, using some of the best martial arts techniques with great speed. Mixing many styles of martial arts together, Wei Shen can punch, kick and grapple with his enemies for that much-vaunted special take down move.

To add plausibility and authenticity to the combat in the game, UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre was also brought in to consult and add his expertise in the octagon to the world of “Sleeping Dogs.” St. Pierre himself, as a Mixed Martial Artist, is trained in multiple disciplines ranging from Jui-jitsu, Boxing, and Muay Thai to Gymnastics. It is perhaps a lucky coincidence then that St. Pierre fights in an octagon and Sota Yuyama’s training probably featured octagonal movement. Thus far, the combat in this game screams authentic, with a slice of gruesome on the side for good measure.

To say that gruesome would describe some of the combat in this game would be an understatement. This game is certainly not for the faint of heart, as special take downs from the demo game play reveal computer opponents being slammed between car doors, turned into soup in a grinder and forcefully ejected into oncoming traffic from atop flaming motorcycles. This is the edge of realism, and the octagon fighters in real life only wish they could do this in the iron ring.

Combat from video footage for “Sleeping Dogs” appears so far to be fun and exciting, never leaving a moment to consider what to do next. Evidence points to an almost instinctual combat play style that a player may eventually develop.

Whether it be shooting from cover and transitioning to an aggressive takedown with a chair or combat transitioning to a car chase, much of the game seems to meet the hype that is fast growing with its August 14 release. There is a lot of hope amongst the gaming public that this title will rise above the stigma of being Grand Theft Auto meets Kung Fu and so far, United Front Games and Square Enix London Studios seemed to have succeeded.

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Sleeping Dogs brings you into the undercover life of Wei Shen, an undercover cop operating in the criminal underworld in Hong Kong. The enemy is the Triad gang and you are placed in an open world where the line between cop and gang member blurs constantly.

The internet is abuzz with key words like ‘potential’, ‘sleeper hit’ and ‘underrated’ as the days countdown to the August 14th release of the game. Preview videos have fans creating increasing hype about the greatness of the game. Across the board, all aspects of the game appear to be very solid additions to the core storyline.

Canadian developers United Front Games has a decent track record despite the relatively young group of developers being drawn together from the ashes of several defunct game developers such as EA Black Box, Rockstar, Volition Inc. and Radical Entertainment. Co-developer Square Enix London Studios has also been credited with games such as Just Cause 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum. Gameplay footage proves that they have seemingly crafted a world of violence centered on the decisions of one man with morale issues and a sense of duty. Who he saves or kills will determine everything from the rating of missions to the amount of respect that Wei Shen garners as he walks the streets of Hong Kong.

The combat and choreography looks and feels pretty organic since UFC fighter George St. Pierre was on hand to add his own mixed martial art style to the game. Beyond the expected levels of ass whooping surely to be handed out, the developers wanted the violence to be understandable. That is to say, they wanted gamers to sympathize with the choices that Wei Shen has made in his life.

This way, every punch or kick that the player completes through Wei Shen draws gamers further into the reality of Sleeping Dogs. Additionally, the environment is also a key player in the game, allowing Wei Shen to use doors and garbage cans as handy tools of destruction.

Open world is the gameplay style for Sleeping Dogs and it should not come as a surprise given Rockstar and Radical Entertainment’s finesse with creating large city size maps. The producers of Sleeping Dogs determined that Hong Kong was the best choice for a vibrant city atmosphere that would be familiar enough to gamers but also set in a rarely experienced culture that kept things fresh and exciting.

One side of a street would be designed with stone buildings featuring Asian inspired concept art while the other side included western style British influenced buildings that are in keeping with Hong Kong’s history. One side beautiful form, the other perfect functionality meshed together.

The racing and automotive aspect of Sleeping Dogs is almost expected, once readers know that members of United Front Games also includes EA Blackbox whom worked on many of the recent Need For Speed games. The open world aspect plays right into the racing as Wei Shen drifts across lanes of authentic left side driving traffic in search of his next target. Expect to experience nice cars that provide a fast rides down short cuts of the Hong Kong side streets as you go bust some heads.

Undercover aspects of the game come into play from Hong Kong cinema influences such as the 2002-2003 “Infernal Affairs” trilogy film series. American audiences will be interested to know that this trilogy has been adapted into the Martin Scorsese film “The Departed”. This film series and its American counterpart play a key role in the gritty feeling of the game with the cops vs gang gameplay.

Additionally, from that Infernal Affairs series, original actor Edison Chen is also voice talent on the Sleeping Dogs voice cast. Notable voice actors included in the game are Emma Stone (The Amazing Spider Man), Tom Wilkinson (Mission Impossible 4), James Hong (Kung Fu Panda), Kelly Hu (X-Men 2), Will Yu Lee the voice of Wei Shen, Chin Han (Dark Knight) and Yunjin Kim (Lost TV show). Otherwise, in game voice acting is in authentic Cantonese and English, giving gamers the experience of living and breathing on this Chinese island.

Like the city of Hong Kong itself with its interwoven quality of criminals vs cops and new high rises vs old Buddhist temples; Sleeping Dogs is a meshing of many concepts and game play aspects. Hopefully this weaving of ideas has created a game that can bring Square Enix out of its funk and give United Front Games some much need gamer credibility. With anticipation building and the gamer community waiting for the arrival of this game, this summer seems to have just gotten a whole lot more exciting.

Look out for Toonari Post’s Sleeping Dogs review, coming soon.

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