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Smuggler's Run review

Game: Smuggler's Run
Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Racing
Developer: Angel Studios

Reader review by G_Dub

February 07, 2009

Wow, in writing this review, I feel a load coming off my chest. I’ve finally released the loathe and love I have built up for this game over the past few days by spreading the word on how I feel about it. In your time playing (hopefully this review convinces you otherwise though) Smuggler’s Run you will like the game, love it, loathe it, and want to throw the controller right through your TV screen. Yup, all of those emotions in just a few short hours. Let’s break the game apart shall we?

Graphics (5/10)

Now this was a launch game I understand. That was in 2000, and in these days of 08’, we have stunning looking games. With this in mind my opinion of the graphics have still not changed. They look ported right out of a PS1 game. Every environment in the game (wow 3 total!) is large, with a lot of blunt and craggy blocky hills, bumps, and craters. There is a forest level. The level is nice and green, but does not showcase any of the PS2’s abilities. Trees are blocky, and the draw distance does not hold up really well. There’s a desert level, with a bunch of hills and pits with some yellow sand poured over it. A snow level too. Lazy jerks over at Angel copied the forest level exactly, and then turned it white. You can’t even brag on the back that you have 3 different environments but they still do. The levels are large, which is nice, but when you have such a large environment, and no distinguishing features or landmarks, you have failed at making a level. The only landmarks in any level are tiny roads, villages, an occasional bridge, and large steep hill. The few vehicles in the game have almost no detail as well, and the only differences are color in teams. Very disappointing for such a hyped game.

Sounds & Music (4/10)

Things only get worse in this department. There are apparently several music tracks in the game according to the credits, but if you told me there was only one music track in the game, I’d believe you. All of the songs have some Euro/Techno/Pop beat to them, and after a few minutes of playing they all sound the same, and have no distinguishing riffs or choruses. Some of the worst music around. The few sounds in the game fit decent, but the only other sounds in the game are a few blunt bangs when you ram something, a generic engine sound, and your annoying mission briefer.

Gameplay & Control (6/10)

Each mission begins with a small briefing of what’s going on (often a bunch of nonsense such as delivering airdropped kidneys in the middle of the desert) and then you’ll be pitted out in a level with an objective. The first few missions are literally over in under a minute. I got halfway through the game in the first hour in fact. But soon the missions will get so frustrating you can’t hardly stand the game. And what missions exactly? Well there’s 4 kinds. Race, delivery, team delivery, and radar destruction. That’s all there is to each mission. 1 simple objective, and about 2-5 minutes to complete it. 75% of the game is just driving though a flag, and dropping off an object at another random location. It’s fairly fun, but in the later levels becomes too frustrating to be enjoyable. And why is the game frustrating? Because every vehicle has a life bar, and going over almost any bump, or being touched by any cop takes it down. That’s right, a cop just has to touch you to kill you. Not ram you forcibly, just touch you. And these cops will be on you like magnets in the later missions. And often while going over small bumps you will flip completely over onto your roof, and then you’ll be done for.

Smuggler’s Run’s fairly fun “get from point A to B” are just to short, simple, and frustrating to be much fun. The controls are too arcadey in floaty, and don’t give you the driving precision you need to get your priceless contraband from point A to B without taking too much damage.

Longevity (3/10)

Not much because the game is only about 6 hours long. There is a joyride (free driving mode) that’s fun for 2 hours, and then some boring multi-player to go with the game. If you beat every mission in one try though, this game would be under and hour long. But fact is, you’ll be spending an hour on each three minute mission later in the game.

Conclusion

By any means please avoid this game, and save yourself from a frustrating experience. This game is below average on all terms, and not worth any hard earned dollar. Not even a rental.

Rating: 6/10

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