I often wonder if the people behind the original DOOM knew what the game they were making would bring. One of the most iconic games of all time, but 30 years later we’re trading demons for more terrifying threats…bad fashion sense. Fashion Police Squad is the classic ‘Boomer Shooter’ It takes the formula of and splices it together with lots of personality to create a compelling new entry into the genre.
You assume the role of Sergeant Des of the Fashion Police Squad. This is an elite operation focused on tackling crimes such as wearing sandals with socks and drab and unattractive business his suit. In a four-hour campaign, hunt for clues to get to the bottom of the wave of fashion crime plaguing the city. As you can imagine, the game itself isn’t all that serious. All the references and visual gags are well placed throughout the adventure without relying solely on that type of humor.
Gameplay follows the classic FPS formula found in games such as Wolfenstein 3D. Blasting through his enemies, he battles through 13 stages looking for pickups and secrets, represented by posters of Des in various fancy costumes. However, certain enemy types can only be damaged by certain weapons. This is less of an issue on a PC with hotkeys for fast switching, but it’s a bit risky for controllers — although in theory it works as part of the fashion concept. There are interesting mechanics to exploit, such as the reliable Belt Whip doubling up as a very satisfying grappling hook.
Fashion Police Squad isn’t perfect by any means, but its strong personality and good ideas make it a worthwhile experience for any fan of the retro FPS genre. I can’t wait to see what this team does next.
