Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Shield on PS2 is an adaptation of one of the greatest shows ever made—that show being a true, grimy masterpiece that sees protagonist Vic Mackey and his Strike Team dive to the absolute worst depths of corruption. It was an absolute shock then, to find that not only did a PS2 adaptation of the show exist, but that it's widely considered to be one of the worst games ever made.
After playing it myself, I can safely say it's a bad video game... but is it a good Shield game? Can a game like this critique the police as an institution like the show did? These are far more interesting questions that I felt deserved serious answers and analysis. Rather than merely ragging on a bad game, then, this critique/essay explores the more ambitious side of "the worst game ever made."
Support the show on Patreon (it really helps) - patreon.com/writingongames
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0:00 - The Shield is one of the greatest shows ever
3:32 - The Shield is "one of the worst games ever"
5:00 - The game's compelling setting
6:39 - Dropped into the action
8:22 - The Shield is wildly ambitious in theory
13:06 - Where theory unfortunately meets practice
14:40 - The less comfortable side of things
16:58 - The game's WILD twist ending
19:54 - Outro
The Shield on PS2 is an adaptation of one of the greatest shows ever made—that show being a true, grimy masterpiece that sees protagonist Vic Mackey and his Strike Team dive to the absolute worst depths of corruption. It was an absolute shock then, to find that not only did a PS2 adaptation of the show exist, but that it's widely considered to be one of the worst games ever made.
After playing it myself, I can safely say it's a bad video game... but is it a good Shield game? Can a game like this critique the police as an institution like the show did? These are far more interesting questions that I felt deserved serious answers and analysis. Rather than merely ragging on a bad game, then, this critique/essay explores the more ambitious side of "the worst game ever made."
Support the show on Patreon (it really helps) - patreon.com/writingongames
---
0:00 - The Shield is one of the greatest shows ever
3:32 - The Shield is "one of the worst games ever"
5:00 - The game's compelling setting
6:39 - Dropped into the action
8:22 - The Shield is wildly ambitious in theory
13:06 - Where theory unfortunately meets practice
14:40 - The less comfortable side of things
16:58 - The game's WILD twist ending
19:54 - Outro
