Remember True Crime: Hong Kong? Yeah, neither did we. First unveiled on the Spike VGAs in 2009, True Crime: Hong Kong was still on the radar until early 2011, when Activision cancelled the game. Somewhere along the way, Square Enix came in to save the project, and is now publishing the United Front Games developed game in late 2012. Redubbed Sleeping Dogs, the title promises “a gritty and visceral open-world cop drama set in the vibrant city of Hong Kong.”

Though the newest trailer is light on the actual in-game footage, there’s a lot to like about the action and visual style being presented. “From the moment you pick up the controller and experience the blend of driving, close combat and shooting you know you’re playing something fresh and a bit special,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Square Enix London Studios. “Sleeping Dogs has one of the best melee combat systems out there – it’s super brutal with devastating takedown moves, and when added to UFG’s proven heritage in driving games, a first class story and the vibrant backdrop of the Hong Kong underworld we get a fiery recipe with fun written all over it.”

Until we can actually see the new “intuitive and imaginative combat systems” at work, and perform “bone-crunching kicks and combos, vicious counters and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns making use of countless real-world items” ourselves, we won’t get our hopes up too high. That said, Sleeping Dogs does have an interesting hook, and we look forward to going deep undercover later this year.

SOURCE: Square Enix London Studios unveils Sleeping Dogs [Press Release]