Really, though, Crackdown's mechanics were clearly not intended for player versus player combat, so while that's an amusing diversion for a minute or so, it's a lot more satisfying to back each other up and bust into a kingpin's heavily defended den, where you can outflank (and out-jump, and out-throw) your AI opponents. The game is already fairly insane and extreme with one player, and adding another just makes it all the more so.

Of course, even when the two of you are cooperating, you're not necessarily safe from the other. I managed to inadvertently but utterly destroy my partner while desperately trying to survive an assault from about a dozen gang members. After ramming my own vehicle into a pile of enemy vehicles, running to safety tossing several granades, and plugging my car's gas tank full of lead, I initiated an impressive display of pyrotechnics that consumed most of the street block. Unfortunately, my partner happened to walk over there at the wrong moment.