Smuggler's Run: Warzones

"Not your typical car game"

First of all, my philosophy for reviews is keep it as factual as possible. So the 5 right there is saying I'm not going to give it an arbitrary score. Here we go.

Smuggler's Run is a game that involves cars, weapons and smuggling!

The story mode involves 30+ missions to undertake. There are several varieties in this mode. Some involve basic, point A, B, C driving. Others involve competing against an AI team to capture loot and bring it back to your base. Some other missions involve following a target or ramming into them.

There are many cars to choose from, each with different attributes. These attributes range from the typical acceleration, top speed and handling and also include climbing and weight. Cars with taller frames tend to tip over more than the lower cars. Each car comes with 2 countermeasures intended to use to escape pursuers. Some include vertical "hopping", smokescreens or even bombs. The cars were not designed with balance in mind. Some cars may never be used once another is unlocked. This was made for experienced players to play as weaker cars as handicap for newer players.

The levels range from Russia, Russia winter, Vietnam, Europe and North America. Levels last for miles with mountains, tunnels, buildings, trees and houses. The level does cut off at certain points and have nondrivable areas.

Multiplayer includes the modes bomb tag, checkpoint racing, domination and several more. Most of these modes involve driving to a contraband and delivering it to your base. Bomb tag involves one person with a bomb that has a timer. If it blows up, the player who has it loses all points. Checkpoint racing involves driving from point A to B until you reach the end. Most of these modes can be played with yourself as well.

What can be unlocked in this game are countermeasures, movies and a snowmobile. All vehicles, bar snowmobile are available in multiplayer however.

This game offers something different from traditional racing games that are about racing 3 times in a circle - freedom. You have a destination, but you can choose how to get there with no boundaries or rails. Steering wheels are suited to this game because perfect turns aren't required as normal racing games demand. In total, the game offers about a hundred different missions in all the modes to reach top scores in.

Overall, the main premise of this game is driving from point A to B, while being harassed by other cars. But if you are looking for racing, the game offers checkpoint races. What sets SR apart from most racers is the lack of walls and restrictions that box you within a level. Give SR a try if you want to experience driving freedom.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/07