2.5/5 ★ – peacebrendanp's review of Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition.

I played this game originally when it came out, back in 2012. At the time it was one of my favorite games. I thought the free-flow-combat mixed with a martial arts flair was awesome, and the general open world I remember being pretty cool. Fast forward to 2015, I replayed the game, and I remember liking it then as well. I don't know if games have spoiled me, but I found the game more annoying this final time around. The game shines with it's combat. I love "free-flow" combat systems, where you are able to fight multiple enemies at once, and manage different types of enemies with grapples and counters. Returning to this here, in 2024, the combat still feels pretty good, but more clunky than I remember it being. The counter button sometimes feels like it doesn't work, and animations look a little outdated. That being said, this is the most fun aspect of the game. However, playing through this game's combat scenarios, it really just made me want to play Sifu. This game's combat walked so that Sifu's could fly, or something like that. Other aspects of the game are hit-or-miss. The main story is interesting enough, though executed at a mid-level. There are moments that hit, and story beats that I liked. But, there is a lot of jumping around when moving from beat to beat. Many details throughout the story make little sense, though they lead to an overall satisfying ending. I like the idea of an undercover agent infiltrating a Hong Kong crime syndicate, and if the game were to be remade from the ground up, I think there could be some compelling stuff here. I'll just rattle off some of the things I did not like about the game, because there are quite a few. The cutscenes are choppy at times. The driving feels serviceable, but not always enjoyable. Money felt mostly useless to me, unless you are buying cars or outfits. The hand-to-hand combat is great, until they introduce guns, and then it all starts to fall apart for me. The aiming feels very arcade-like, but not necessarily good. There is a lack of variety in weapons. The side content is very lack-luster. I could continue to go on, but I think that conveys the point well enough. The main-game DLC was pretty engaging; both the super-car missions and the Zodiac Island missions were pretty fun. I enjoyed unlocking new abilities and moves for Wei Shen, but I wish it was based more on experience, and not on collectibles that you could miss (though I got all of them but one). Towards the end of my playthrough, I was ready to be done. At around 13-16 hours to complete the main game I was ready to put it down. I started both of the DLC's, but could not stomach to finish them. The "zombie" DLC was too goofy and felt lack-luster to me. And the "Year of the Snake" DLC, while employing some new arrest and taser mechanics, still felt like filler. I appreciate what this game was at the time that I originally played it. I think it's pretty unique for the time it released, and there is definitely still some fun to be had with it. I just don't think many aspects of the game have aged that well. I'm excited to re-play Sifu now, however. I see many people clamoring for this IP to be utilized again, and I do think there is potential there; either with a remake or a full sequel. This game is probably still worth a first-time playthrough for some, but I mostly feel that we should let sleeping dogs lie. Console Played On: PC (Steam) Game Played: 06/2024 - 06/2024 Review Written and Published: 06/08/2024