The gamers step into the role of Marcus Reed, a former gang member turned cop. When his mentor is killed in a mysterious explosion, Reed works the streets to uncover the reason for his death.

The story is comprised of one introductory case followed by a series of three relatively open-ended investigations. Gamers will chase rapists, bombers, drunks, rowdy bums, and quite a few other criminal types. Driving around can be fun, because an attempt has been made to create some realistically large accidents. Getting hit while on a motorcycle is devastating, and in addition to the individual feel of each vehicle, each seems to have appropriate weight. The also features voiceover cast of seasoned actors who lent their voice talents to the game's main characters. This includes Christopher Walken as FBI field agent Gabriel Whitting; Laurence Fishburne as drug kingpin Isaiah "The King" Reed; Mariska Hargitay as New York Police Lieutenant Deena Dixon; Mickey Rourke as New York Police Detective Terrence Higgins; Esai Morales as New York Police Organized Crime Unit Chief Victor Navarro; Traci Lords as madam Cassandra Hartz; Beetlejuice as himself; and up and coming actor Avery Waddell as former gangster turned cop Marcus Reed, the game's main character.

The city frequently looks great, even on the PlayStation 2. Rain-slicked windows and streets reflect neon and headlamps; the draw distance is enough to paint all the way down a long Manhattan avenue, and the basic characters all have a gritty, urban feel but Luxoflux still has a lot of catch-up to do in terms of execution.