Originals

09/20/2012

Dissonant Reviews: Sleeping Dogs

A look at rift between the praise of Sleeping Dogs and its considerable failures.

By: Drew Dixon

Filed Under: Action Editorial Review Story-driven

Sleeping Dogs is a fun video game with an incredibly absurd story. Driving frantically around Hong Kong never gets old and the game’s many brawling sequences succeed in capturing the feel of the kung fu movies they were styled after. These elements understandably resulted in a slew of positive review scores. However, the game also boasts of being a tension-filled crime drama that blurs the lines of “truth, loyalty, and justice.” And yet, much like the sandbox games Sleeping dogs pays homage to, most of what the player does is patently absurd.

Consequently, when I perused it’s reviews, I kept observing critics claim that its “story is by far its strongest quality.”

Colin Moriarty of IGN said:

Playing Sleeping Dogs kept me on the edge of my seat, but not for the reasons you might expect. … at the end of my nearly 20-hour experience, none of that mattered to me as much as the story did.

Brandon Justice of Electronic Gaming Monthly said:

Sleeping Dogs‘ story serves as the perfect wrapper for the wealth of game mechanics, offering up memorable characters and moving tale of vengeance, betrayal, and conflicting loyalties.

Tina Amini of Kotaku said:

I loved it even more for having a complex storyline that made me feel every ounce of emotion Wei felt. I was Wei Shen. And life is a mess. But if anyone can handle it, it’s me.

Sleeping Dogs tells the story of Wei Shen, an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating and taking down the Sun on Yee, the most prestigious branch of the Triads. Unlike early GTA games and the Saints Row series, Sleeping Dogs set out to confront the player with dramatic moral tension. The game attempts to get the player in the head space of Shen as he balances earning the trust of his gangster peers and collecting damning evidence against various gang members.

I understand why Sleeping Dogs has received so much praise for its story. In between missions we are treated with wonderfully voice-acted cut scenes in which Wei and his handler fiercely debate whether he is emotionally stable enough to continue his investigation. Wei has nightmares recounting his many misdeeds and the words people spoke about and against him. These instances recall movies like Donnie Brasco and The Departed that dramatically illustrated the emotional toll of going undercover. These movies, however, do something that Sleeping Dogs utterly fails at. Such movies posit the question of whether the ends justify the means while never definitively answering it.

I never felt such tension playing as Wei Shen.

To keep his cover, Wei Shen murders hundreds of cops, smashes rival gang member’s faces into spinning air conditioner blades, and hits civilians with his car while running from the police. For anyone with a moral compass, the ends cannot possibly justify the means for Shen.

Of all the reviews I linked above, I think I enjoyed Tina Amini’s the most because it reminded me of how I used to play video games. She embraced the power fantasy of Wei Shen:

I hijack cars by jumping off motorcycles to land on them. I shoot out of speeding vehicles. I ram police cars off the road. I sweet talk the ladies, and make them feel safe around me. . . . And when I fight, I smash people’s faces into AC vents and meat grinders. I throw them off roofs. I chase them down alleys. There’s nothing I won’t do. There’s nothing I can’t do.

I wanted to throw myself at Sleeping Dogs like this and there was a time when I surely would have. When I played Red Dead Redemption, I believed John Marston when he said he wanted a new life and I hated the men who stole that from him. I felt for Nico Belic, confident that in different circumstances he’d be a stand up guy.

Meanwhile, Wei continues to get his associates in the Sun on Yee arrested—he plants evidence and provides the police with video surveillance of drug deals, and informs the SWAT teams of exact locations of illicit activities. And yet he only receives mild accusations of being a snitch and continues to climb the ranks of the Triads. I cannot believe these sequences are intended to make me think that Shen is anything other than a sociopathic monster. As Alex Navarro pointed out, “Wei’s status as a Hong Kong police officer makes it kind of hard to process the visual of him shooting out the tires of a cop car and watching it explode into a ball of fiery death.”

After each mission, you get a cop score and a Triad score based on how you played. Avoid damaging property and hurting civilians and you get a higher cop score. Savagely brutalize your enemies and you get a higher Triad score.

I quickly found that hitting a civilian at 80 mph results in a rather negligible subtraction from my cop score. I also found that getting a higher cop score astoundingly allowed me to unlock the ability to use a slim jim to steal cars instead of breaking their windows. These mechanics attempt to illustrate the tension Sleeping Dogs’ various cut scenes would have us believe Shen is facing. Unfortunately these “scores” are never recognized by the game’s larger narrative. Avoid killing any civilians or kill 200, it doesn’t matter, Shen’s cohorts continue getting arrested while he climbs the ranks of the Triads.

I recognize that Sleeping Dogs is styled after Hong Kong action cinema which is equally absurd in its narrative and there is a certainly a place for such games. I don’t, however, remember ever praising any of those films because of their dramatic plots and convincing characters. The real tragedy with Sleeping Dogs is not its absurd story, but that so few critics acknowledge this. Consequently, I was encouraged to find Justin McElroy reflecting on these elements in his review for Polygon:

Remember when I said the player will question what side of the legal fence Shen is on? That’s in no small part due to him becoming the most prolific murderer in the history of mankind over the course of the game.

I know, I know, it’s a video game. But there was a chance here to explore the story of the gangster who somehow has to avoid killing – a far more interesting tale, I’d argue, than the cop who killed 200 people that one time, but at least we got some arrests out of it . . .

If Sleeping Dogs possesses a good story, it is only good in comparison to dozens of similarly absurd game narratives which happened to have lower quality cut scenes and voice acting. I had a blast playing it, but much of that enjoyment can be contributed to my learning to laugh at the game’s ridiculous attempts at creating narrative tension and its healthy doses of ludonarrative nonsense.

Perhaps Sleeping Dogs is a good story for a video game but I dream of the day when such qualifiers will no longer be necessary. A day when an under cover cop game will succeed in confronting players with dramatic moral tension. I also recognize that such a day is unlikely to come as long as we keep talking about how much we love such stupid stories.

Filed Under: Action Editorial Review Story-driven

About the Author:
Drew Dixon is editor-in-chief of Game Church. He also edits for Christ and Pop Culture and writes about video games for Paste Magazine and Think Christian.

8,110 Responses to “Dissonant Reviews: Sleeping Dogs”

  1. Skybane

    I felt as though the objectives of the triad missions got more aggressive as the game went on, and that tied into the fact that he was getting deeper and deeper into becoming one of the triad rather than a cop. It is still a game though, so I still don’t expect realism.

  2. Drew Dixon

    Yeah sure I mean I think that happens.

    I didn’t expect realism–that wasn’t the point of the article. The point was that the game wants you feel all this dramatic moral tension–I couldn’t feel that because of the absurdity of what I am actually doing in the game.

    Consequently, I felt the reviews that were so impressed with the game’s story were off base.

  3. JMZoss

    The all-but-forgotten Splinter Cell: Double Agent did a good job of making you feel like you were playing both sides – you never found yourself mass-murdering your agency buddies just prove your loyalty to the criminals you’re embedded with (although you do have to do some nasty stuff). Sadly, no one other than myself seemed to enjoy the undercover element of that game, as it hasn’t returned in another Splinter Cell and likely never will.

  4. Drew Dixon

    @JMZoss:disqus OH MAN–I totally played and enjoyed that game. And I agree, I remember no one else really liking that game. The missions where you had to sneak around the terrorists base were brilliant.

    On the other hand, everyone seemed to love the latest Splinter Cell game, conviction or whatever it was called. I thought it was dumb–it felt like they basically turned my beloved Splinter Cell series into a derivative action game.

    … so sad!

  9. cheap flights

    Right here is the perfect web site for anybody who really wants
    to find out about this topic. You know a whole lot its almost tough
    to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa).
    You certainly put a brand new spin on a topic that has been written about for many years.
    Wonderful stuff, just excellent!

  10. cheap flights

    Hi! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs!
    Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog
    and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the superb work!

  11. cheap flights

    I’ll right away seize your rss as I can not to
    find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service.
    Do you have any? Please let me recognise in order that I
    may subscribe. Thanks.

  12. tinyurl.com

    Asking questions are genuinely nice thing if you are not understanding anything fully, but this article presents fastidious understanding yet.

  13. cheap flights

    I am not sure where you are getting your information, however great topic.
    I needs to spend a while learning more or working out more.
    Thank you for great information I used to be looking for this information for my
    mission.

  14. tinyurl.com

    We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our
    community. Your website provided us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable job
    and our entire community will be thankful to you.

  26. http://tinyurl.com

    hello!,I really like your writing very a lot! proportion we communicate more approximately your article
    on AOL? I need an expert on this house to
    solve my problem. Maybe that is you! Looking forward to peer you.

  64. free porn video

    I am not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for great info I was looking for this info for my mission.

  65. gamefly

    I was very happy to find this website. I need to to thank you for your time for this particularly fantastic read!!
    I definitely really liked every part of it and i also
    have you bookmarked to check out new things on your website.

  67. coconut oil

    Hi! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which
    blog platform are you using for this website?
    I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and
    I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome
    if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
    ps4 games allenferguson ps4 games

  73. ps4 games

    What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled
    upon this I’ve found It positively helpful and it has aided me out loads.
    I hope to contribute & assist other users like
    its helped me. Great job.

  74. tinyurl.com

    Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful
    & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help
    others like you aided me.

  77. web hosting

    Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you are
    a great author.I will remember to bookmark your
    blog and will eventually come back someday. I want
    to encourage one to continue your great writing, have a nice day!

  79. tinyurl.com

    What’s up to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this web
    site, and your views are fastidious in support of new visitors.

  81. web hosting

    Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a leisure account it.
    Glance complex to far delivered agreeable from you!
    By the way, how could we keep up a correspondence?

  84. tinyurl.com

    It’s going to be ending of mine day, but before
    end I am reading this impressive piece of writing to improve my experience.

  106. 0mniartist

    This article will assist the internet people for building
    up new webpage or even a weblog from start to end. asmr 0mniartist

  108. asmr https://0mniartist.tumblr.com

    I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is
    required to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
    I’m not very web smart so I’m not 100% sure. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Cheers 0mniartist asmr

  113. bit.ly

    I know this web page gives quality dependent
    content and additional data, is there any other site which provides such information in quality?
    asmr 0mniartist

  115. http://bit.ly/3gd1bLg

    Howdy I am so excited I found your website, I really found you by mistake, while
    I was researching on Digg for something else, Anyhow I am here now
    and would just like to say thanks for a marvelous post and a all round interesting
    blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at
    the moment but I have bookmarked it and also
    included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be
    back to read much more, Please do keep up the awesome work.
    0mniartist asmr

  143. gamefly in

    Awesome things here. I am very happy to look your article.
    Thank you so much and I’m taking a look forward to touch you.
    Will you please drop me a e-mail?

  147. asmr off

    I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this site.
    I really hope to see the same high-grade content from you
    later on as well. In fact, your creative writing
    abilities has encouraged me to get my own, personal website now ;
    )

  159. an gamefly

    hi!,I really like your writing so much! proportion we keep in touch more approximately your post on AOL?
    I need an expert in this area to resolve my problem.
    May be that’s you! Looking ahead to see you.

  161. but asmr

    It’s going to be finish of mine day, but before ending I
    am reading this great piece of writing to improve my experience.

  169. asmr our

    I know this if off topic but I’m looking into
    starting my own weblog and was curious what all is needed to get
    set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
    I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100% certain. Any tips
    or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

  185. j.mp

    scoliosis
    You could definitely see your expertise within the work
    you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe.

    At all times follow your heart. scoliosis

  188. j.mp

    scoliosis
    Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog
    and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog
    posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon! scoliosis

  190. http://j.mp

    scoliosis
    I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
    Did you create this website yourself or did you hire
    someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to
    know where u got this from. appreciate it scoliosis

  200. asmr this

    Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website?

    The account helped me a applicable deal.

    I were a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided brilliant transparent concept

  222. scoliosis where

    Amazing things here. I am very satisfied to
    peer your post. Thanks so much and I am taking a look ahead to contact you.
    Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?

  225. it dating sites

    hi!,I like your writing so a lot! proportion we keep in touch extra about your post on AOL?

    I require an expert in this area to unravel my problem.

    May be that is you! Taking a look ahead to see you.

  229. tinyurl.com

    Hi, I want to subscribe for this weblog to take most recent updates, so where can i
    do it please help out.

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

The Latest:

  • Originals

    Swan Song

    This is a tough one to write. For those of you who know me, in person, by my writing, or…


  • Originals

    The Fool and the Villain, Part II

    (Warning: In Second Life, pixelated tits and dicks abound. Abandon all hope, all ye who enter this article at work.)…


  • Commentary

    The Edge Of The Ocean

    The problem is to plot the map. My sense of geography is spotted with black holes. There’s the Chinatown and…


  • Originals

    Play Everything

    Play everything. No, I’m serious, play everything. Play that game of hopscotch those kids drew up on the sidewalk with…


  • Commentary

    Genre In Question

    Why are there so few video game comedies? At least twice in the past year I’ve bumped into conversations trying…