I can't express how nice it is to have the 30 minute time-restraint lifted. AHH! Freedom!

I was WAY happier with my first night with Crackdown than Victor seems to be. After spending about 4 hours with the game and finally turned it off when my eyes wouldn't stop watering (I think it's an allergy thing, I wasn't crying).

While the game-play does seem shallow, it's the ridiculous number of things you can do (to keep yourself entertained) that really has me hooked.

Here's a list of things that made me smile:
• Collected a nearly a hundred orbs to help me power-up (I love jumping from building to building)
• Stacked gas barrels in a busy intersection and waited for gang members to drive by... then set off a huge explosion.
• Set up a chain reaction of gas barrels in order to blow up a gas station with gang members perched on top.
• Selected several dozen cars to test their jumping ability from the top a parking garage... found the one that would make it through a near-by stunt-hoop... ran over about 300 gang members in the process.
• Explored the outer edges of the city... found out I can swim... found orbs hidden in a bridge... found a mansion surrounded by gang members... found a tow truck to run over the gangs and smash into the mansion
• Took out a few gang leaders.
• Car surfed.
• Opened a lot of armory locations.
• Threw wheelbarrows at traffic.
• Got on the cops' bad-side, then got on their good side.
• Realized that certain cars are only in certain parts of the city.
• The ramp truck is hilariously entertaining... launch you own cars or launch the cars that are following you.
• Downloaded four new agents (for free) from the marketplace.

Whew! I can't wait to start back up again.

The only complaint I had was that the demo allowed your agent to power up super-quick, it's a little frustrating for the process to take so long in the final game... but, I guess, it's also a little more rewarding.

'Crackdown' is absolutly the most fun I've had with a game since 'Gears of War.' I will let you know if that fun continues...