Smugglers Run
Driving game : 1-2players : PS2 Memory Card : Analogue Dual Shock : Rockstar / Angel Studios
Result : 5 - Solid driving game.
 | Graphics: 7 - Great atmosphere |
| FMV : N/A - none |
| Sound : 3 - Average to irritating |
| Music : 5 - Nondescript |
| A.I. : 4 - Unrealistically good |
| Lifespan : 5 - Good number of levels, frustrating repeating |
| Gameplay : 6 - Fun and frantic |
| Adrenaline : 6 - Chase or be chased |
Smugglers Run is another launch game that is really quite good. The premise is that you are a smuggler driving a variety of vehicles across the border, avoiding border patrols, and making a profit as you do so. The best thing about Smugglers Run is the huge play areas, and the fact that the horizon is real! Yes, if you can see something in the distance you can almost certainly drive to it! The gameplay is moderately fun, but the timed nature of most missions can be frustrating.
Graphics? did I mention draw-distance has lost meaning? The vehicles are reasonable well drawn, but not up to GT3 standards, the terrain is very nicely done, buildings, lampposts, traffic lights, its all there making things seem that much more realistic.
Sound is ok, but the constant scream of the law-enforcement sirens will really grate on later levels as there's no way of adjust it and you are always being followed. Maybe all the playtesters were deaf...
A fun game, and has some great innovations that I'd love to be included in others games (imagine racing games with tracks drawn onto the map, not carefully constructed so you cant go too far off them), but other things are markedly average of even dire (sirens). Good effort, good ideas - worth renting.
Cheats/Hints:
(Do all cheats while in the paused game screen, or they will not work)
Invisibility
Press R1, L1, L1, R2, L1, L1, L2.
Lighter cars
Press L1, R1, R1, L2, R2, R2.
Increase time warp
Press R1, L1, L2, R2, Right, Right, Right.
Decrease time warp
Press R2, L2, L1, R1, Left, Left, Left.
No gravity
Press R1, R2, R1, R2, Up, Up, Up.
