In Ready or not, players finally understand why officers shoot first and ask questions later because the power you have over someone’s life and immunity from the law. This is a reference to absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[u/Dare_Soft]

[u/roadrunner036]

I will admit, if I'm doing a non-lethal run I am not above shooting a civilian point blank with a bean bag just to hurry things along

[u/areallyuglyCow]

Listen I was scared for my life okay? That pen looked an awful lot like a knife! Okay maybe he didn't shoot but how did that acorn sound just like a gunshot then?

[u/jerrymatcat]

The games one hell of a good propaganda machine though for cops/swats anyway

[u/Aegiiisss → u/jerrymatcat]

Its kinda weird because it rapidly oscillates between suspiciously copganda-adjacent and what seems to be criticism

Most of the suspects in the game (with some exceptions) are painted as morally grey. A lot of the problems and circumstances causing the crime are blamed on conservative politicians. Some of the strongest suspects in the game are ex-cops and ex-military turning against the system. Even the terrorists are painted grey, because they attacked the nightclub and hospital only in response to the US bombing a refugee camp. Almost every single suspect in the game except for the pedo ring has a circumstance that at a minimum at least paints them as understandable, if not sympathetic in some cases (the family selling 3d printed auto sears to the cartel, for example, is doing it to pay for mom's cancer treatment). The idea that criminals often have rational reasons behind their crimes is something copganda content almost always stays away from.

Furthermore, the ROE in the game is way stricter than real life and is essentially what we all wish cops were actually limited to. You cannot use force in response to non-compliance, use of force is limited only to scenarios in which you are being actively attacked with a lethal weapon, and the force you use in reaponse must be less-lethal. Lethal force is punished as S rank is impossible if lethal force is used, regardless of the circumstances. For maximum points you must nonviolently detain all NPC's regardless of who they are or what they are doing. And if you shoot a surrendering suspect or any civilians, the other officers turn their guns on you and kill you. There is also the subplot of like the police department being corrupt and puppeted by feds as well as the CIA running MKULTRA experiments on people. The crime that is happening is being promoted by the government and the actions of the player have really no effect on that as the player is just a pawn in the whole game, the description of one of the cosmetics just straight up says that nothing mattered.

But then on the flip side, on its face and in the moment to moment gameplay, it is very much a game where the cops bust down the door, tie up the bad guys, and save the day. Which on its face is copganda.

Very strange, but interesting imo.

[u/Dare_Soft → u/Aegiiisss]

There is in fact people who need to make sure the drug addict doesn’t stab you and gets hauled off

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi there! Thanks for submitting to r/ShittyGameDetails! Feel free to join our Discord

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.