Part Grand Theft Auto, part City of Heroes, Crackdown is a freeform action game set in a futuristic, crime-ridden metropolis known as Pacific City. As one of eight operatives from a law enforcement branch known as the "Agency," players seek to stop three dominant gangs and their leaders by undertaking a series of missions, side quests, and mini-games. Players control a genetically enhanced agent as they fight back against those who threaten to overtake the city and terrorize its citizens. Viewed from a third-person perspective, Crackdown offers a sprawling environment filled with vehicles, pedestrians, towering structures, high-tech weapons, and non-linear objectives.