Heist - first look

"This is a motherf*cking robbery!"
Players are going to be able to record their own voice commands to replace button presses. We didn't see this in action, but the developer assured us that it's got the feature up and running. It might get tiresome quickly, but if we can shout "Any of you f*cking pricks move, and I'll execute every motherf*cking last one of ya!" at least once, then we're sold on the idea.

The getaway
After the planning and the robbery comes the getaway, and we're always up for a good car chase, especially around the rolling hills of sunny San Francisco in a sweet-as-candy muscle car. inXile promises that there will be plenty of drifting, jumping and power-sliding, as well as the opportunity to create environmental hazards tohinder your law-enforcing pursuers (e.g. crash into stuff, make it tumble and watch the cop cars pile into it). Oh, and you'll also be able to shoot while in your vehicle. Think burning rubber, screeching and gun shots.

And by completing various side missions players will also be able to improve their chances of a clean escape - do a favor for some garbage workers, for example, and they'll happily block the road with their truck to stop the SFPD dead in their tracks. You'll even be able to give yourself a head start by obstructing the cops' route to the bank that you're robbing - recruit the help of hippie activists to set up a banner-waving demonstration in the road and buy yourself some extra valuable seconds.

It's the Summer of Love, man!
Heist could have an absolutely killer soundtrack if all goes well. Nothing is officially confirmed but inXile is hoping to pull together some mammoth zeitgeist tunes to provide the musical backdrop. We heard The Doors classic "Riders on the Storm" playing, and - while it may only have been placeholder - it gave the game an irresistible air of cool. How will cruising around San Fran with the top down while listening to some of the greatest music ever made be anything other than a total party?

Matt Cundy
I don't have the energy to really hate anything properly. Most things I think are OK or inoffensively average. I do love quite a lot of stuff as well, though.