Beat Cop

Genre: Simulation / Action-RPG

Players: 1

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Review:

Beat Cop is a surprisingly unique game. Originally released in 2017 on PC and then ported in 2019 to mobile devices, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, this is a game that combines Simulation elements with Action-RPG elements, but honestly the game it most strongly reminds me of is the classic indie PC game, Papers Please. Much as that game did, Beat Cop places you in a fairly ordinary job that you’re tasked with completing on a daily basis within a limited amount of time, but the job requirements grow increasingly more complicated over time, and in the meantime, you’ll be tugged at in multiple directions due to a multitude of competing factions, and with multiple long-term goals to fulfill.

Players take the role of Officer Jack Kelly, recently busted down to the role of beat cop after an investigation of a home invasion goes awry, leaving the police force suspecting you of stealing a fortune in missing diamonds. You’ll be expected to meet various quotas each day of writing tickets and other minor tasks, with dispatch occasionally contacting you to demand other errands be fulfilled, like delivering donuts to the elderly lady who happens to be related to a VIP, or looking after a visitor from another country who turns out to be far more trouble than he’s worth.

Meanwhile, you’ll be approached by the local Mafia and black street gangs, looking for favors. While you may be disinclined to help, scratching their backs could help to get you connections you need to find the missing diamonds you’re suspected of stealing, as well as track down the killer of the cop who previously patrolled this neighborhood. And you’ll have to weigh the demands of your ticket quotas against the pleas of those receiving the tickets and hoping for a little leniency, or offering a bribe. Ah, and that brings me to the topic of money, which you’ll need a steady supply of for your alimony payment.

All of these varying factors, plus their associated ethical considerations, are constantly competing for you to prioritize, with the ticking clock limiting how much you can do each day, and with a calendar schedule limiting how long you have to complete your long-term goals. The game tracks your popularity with different factions as well, and ingratiating yourself to one or more of them may help you to access opportunities later… but at the same time you have to be mindful of the cost.

All of this is done via simple tasks – when writing tickets, you can inspect different parts of the car to see if the vehicle is in violation… or maybe you’re in a hurry and you just scribble something on the ticket to meet your quota. And you’ll need to walk the neighborhood to get to different places where crimes are called in, favors asked, or in some cases purchases are made, such as food to improve your stamina.

One of the things that really helps to sell all the different factions and dilemmas is the abundance of personality this game has, with lots of interesting characters and memorable storylines. There’s so much going on at any given time it really helps to build the impression that this street really is a living, breathing place.

This is also partly due to the presentation, which uses some detailed 2D pixel art visuals with lots of characters moving around at once. This is joined by some synthesized music, but there’s also just the various sounds of the street too. There’s nothing truly extraordinary here, but what’s here works very well.

When it comes to complaints, I think the game is a bit stingy with its stamina meter, especially with your standard walking speed so slow. The game also isn’t very kind about pointing out where you need to go, often forcing you to refer back to the notes Kelly takes, and in some cases not letting you reference them at all when you need the information most. With all the other demands this game places on you, this refusal to let you access pertinent information at crucial times really seems like it’s going a bit too far in terms of what feels fair.

However, overall I found Beat Cop to be a true delight that did a wonderful job making the simple job of walking your rounds as a street cop complex and ethically challenging. If you’re the sort of player who might be prone to stress when you can’t do everything, this game might not be for you, but if you relish the challenge of trying to balance numerous demands on your time, this game is well worth checking out.

tl;dr – Beat Cop blends Simulation and Action-RPG elements in a game where players must manage their time and try to be mindful of the many demands their job requires of them, both on-the-book and off-the-book, as well as both in the short-term and long-term. There are a few problems with the game not being forthcoming about information you need and a slow walking speed, but overall this is a delightfully varied game with lots of personality and some truly impactful choices to make in every in-game day. If you think you might enjoy tackling the ethical and logistical dilemmas being a cop can present you with, this is a game well worth trying.

Grade: B+

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