*Sleeping Dogs*' development history is pretty well known. Developed by
United Front Games and scheduled for release through Activision, the game was
cancelled and brought back to life by Square Enix. Visually, Sleeping Dogs
contains both the clean and dirty look of Hong Kong. The on-foot level took
place in the streets and back alleys off the main street. With a lot of
non-playable characters (NPC) bringing the area to life, it was possible to
hear a lot of background chatter and noise. The environment felt real. There
was a lot of detail and background action, making the area feel alive. The
actual graphics of Sleeping Dogs are *stylized reality*. Featuring an Asian
protagonist, Sleeping Dogs had the possibility of using character models that
were cut and paste with slight variations. But from playing the game, all the
characters do have unique appearances. It was hard to tell with NPCs, but the
primary and secondary characters all have a great amount of detail. One
aspect of the level that stuck out was the lighting of the game. The darkness
was cut with streetlights or neon signs and they reflected off surfaces in
realistic ways. *Combat* The first section of the Sleeping Dogs demo featured
a chase sequence ending in two fights. Chasing the target through the back
streets required avoiding NPCs or barreling through them. When it comes to
jumping over gates or vendor booths, the action is fast-paced and not that
difficult to complete, but the experience is satisfying. Combat gameplay is
influenced by Batman: Arkham Asylum. Square Enix's London Studio assisted
with Batman: Arkham Asylum and are helping United Front Games. Combat is a
mixture of weak and strong attack combinations and counters. But Sleeping
Dogs' *combat felt a lot more organic*. The enemies still crowd and wait to
take cheap shots, but it isn't as predictable. The rooftop level also
allows you to use the environment. There were a lot of options on the roof
like an air conditioner or trash chute. The animations are slightly
over-the-top, but the action is satisfying. Sleeping Dogs may be influenced
by Batman: Arkham Asylum, but feels independent and adds more martial arts
into each attack. It's also possible to jump kick. Jump kicking felt really
gratifying! *Racing* The other part of the Sleeping Dogs demo was a race.
Developed by part of the team from Black Box who developed Need for Speed,
driving was supposed to feel like a racing game. The race was a simple
mission. Drive through checkpoints and come in first. The racing level was
impressive. *Handling was smooth* and the car controls were responsive. The
*driving aspect felt like a driving game*. The control scheme also includes
being able to shoot from the car and steal cars, but I didn't get to see
that part of the game. The two level preview of Sleeping Dogs shows *great
potential*. The controls for on-foot missions and driving are both solid, and
hopefully United Front Games have an immersive story to go along with
Sleeping Dogs.Download *Sleeping Dogs Preview* in Softonic
