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Rebel Cops, the third installment in THQ Nordic’s This Is The Police series, borrows heavily from the tactical and management simulation gameplay of This Is The Police 2. While Rebel Cops boasts a unique and compelling narrative that sets it apart from its predecessors, persistent gameplay issues from the second game significantly impact the overall experience.

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A Captivating Narrative

Set in a fictional town within the This Is The Police universe, now under the control of a powerful criminal network, Rebel Cops follows a group of rebel police officers waging a guerrilla war to reclaim their town. The narrative’s strength lies in its unconventional approach to the crime genre: the police operate like criminals, and vice versa. Each mission serves a specific purpose, moving the player closer to liberating their town. This unique premise and compelling storytelling make Rebel Cops engaging and keep players invested.

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The distinctive visual style of This Is The Police is adapted to fit the narrative and atmosphere of each mission, creating a fresh and varied experience. The soundtrack, inspired by 90s cop movies, further enhances Rebel Cops‘ distinct identity.

Gameplay Falls Short

Despite the impressive narrative and audio-visual presentation, the gameplay of Rebel Cops is disappointingly weak. Drawing inspiration from turn-based strategy games like XCOM (most recently XCOM 2: War of the Chosen) and Invisible Inc., the borrowed mechanics feel shallow, while the attempted innovations weaken the game considerably.

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The most significant flaw is the level design, which doesn’t suit the hybrid turn-based tactical and stealth-action gameplay. Most levels are divided into two sections: one encourages a cautious, stealth-focused approach, while the other requires direct combat. The problem is that these sections often feel designed for only one playstyle, with the hope that they’ll somehow work for both.

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For example, stealth sections feature ample cover, but this becomes a hindrance during combat, obstructing movement and grenade usage. While a few levels are specifically designed for a single playstyle and are quite enjoyable, they are unfortunately too few. This constant shift between stealth and combat within a single mission can become tedious and detract from the otherwise engaging story.

The second major issue is the game’s reliance on precise aiming and cover mechanics, hampered by the inability to rotate the camera. This limitation significantly impacts the tactical depth and player experience.

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Finally, similar to XCOM and Invisible, Inc., Rebel Cops features a permadeath mechanic. However, its implementation lacks the emotional impact of similar games. The rebel cops are faceless characters without personalities or interactions, making their loss a mere reduction in manpower rather than a meaningful event.

Conclusion

Rebel Cops presents a compelling narrative and atmospheric setting, but its flawed gameplay ultimately holds it back. While the game’s unique premise and story are captivating, the poorly designed levels, clunky camera controls, and lackluster permadeath system detract from the overall experience. If you’re primarily seeking a strong narrative experience, Rebel Cops might be worth considering. However, those looking for engaging tactical gameplay might find themselves disappointed.