Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory

"A unique and challenging experience..."

Smugglers Run 2: Hostile Territory is the sequel to the first game in the series, Smuggler’s Run. Does it compare with other games featuring cars, like GTA3 and GT3? In one word, no. It may surpass GTA3 in graphics, but not gameplay. It definitely doesn’t come close to GT3’s graphics, but certainly feels like a whole lot more fun and less repetitious. The gameplay in this is definitely its strongpoint.

Control: No problem whatsoever. It seems after an improvement on the first Smuggler’s Run handling of cars, they also decided to add car-specific countermeasures! That cop on your tail bothering you? Shake him off with a smokescreen or oil spill. Couple of cops catching up to you in big tanks? Why not drop a bomb out the back, look behind you by simply pressing R2, and you’ll see cops go for a nice long ride in the air. There isn’t anything more satisfying then directly nailing those cops. Secondly, you won’t have any trouble with the camera angle or how to accelerate, brake or reverse. To use your countermeasure, simply press down on the D-Pad. This means though you will have to steer with the analog stick, so fans of the D-Pad will just have to get used to using the analog. You won’t mind having to steer with it though.
Overall – Great control, only very slight problems 9/10

Story: Thankfully this game has a story, unlike its predecessor. It even features random cutscenes, and although they are grainy, they add to the story and move it along. It makes you feel like there is actually a reason why you should complete this game, not just for the sake of completing it. You won’t get wrapped up in the characters though, so there’s nothing great here.
Overall – Not really a good story, but who needs them in a car game right? 6/10

Gameplay: This game is just plain fun. You’ll get a kick out of delivering contrabands (illegal goods), destroying other cars, and various other missions. With many missions that usually offer unique gameplay, you may feel sometimes like missions seem a bit too familiar. Some of the missions are the same thing, although sometimes there may be different terrain, weather conditions, or using night vision. Angel Studios did a great job of trying to cover up the repetition of some missions. Now, you may think at the start of this game its going to be easy, but trust me, it’s going to get tough. Thankfully, the cops aren’t as ridiculously tough as in the first game, but the missions are still a challenge. Time is also a big factor, and sometimes you may find yourself bashing the controller after missing a checkpoint by milliseconds. Don’t get frustrated, but by the time you hit around the twentieth mission you’ll probably have to retry each mission at least 10 times. This game requires patience, and a lot of it.
Overall – Great gameplay, definite improvement on the last one, countermeasure is a great addition, deserves a 9/10

Sound: There isn’t many sound effects you’ll notice on the car, other then the revving of the engine while in midair. However, the exploding mines around you sound great, and the upbeat music fits the gameplay. The cop’s sirens generally may get a bit annoying, but there’s no real problem there.
Overall – Not bad sound, just not great 7/10

Graphics: This is one of Smuggler’s Run 2’s strongpoints. A major step-up from the first Smuggler’s Run, with much bigger and better level designs. The bushes on the ground are the same designs, but you won’t notice them as you’re speeding by at speeds over 90 mph. The car designs also look a lot better, and everything seems sharper. The variety of cars is also a lot better then the first, because you can notice the detail and power of the different cars and trucks. Be warned, some trees are not passable through, just watch out for the thick trunks.
Overall – Fairly good, definitely not an eyesore to watch 8/10

Replayability: Unfortunately, not that good. Odds are that you won’t have any incentive to replay any of the missions once you’ve completed them to get a “higher score”. You will however want to complete every mission to unlock all the cars and their countermeasures, which can be challenging. The multiplayer modes are decent, and the learning curve isn’t that bad. If you’ve got a friend who is somewhat good at car games, you should definitely have fun facing them in the “loot grab” mode.
Overall – No reason to replay completed missions, multiplayer slightly makes for lack of single-player replayability. 7/10

To buy or to rent?: Simply put there’s no reason to buy this game. You’ll have a great time renting it though. So fork over several bucks and get a great rental. If you work really hard at it, you should be able to completely beat this game. If you find this game for a reasonable price though, don’t hesitate to buy it.

Overall: A fun game everyone must experience, especially if you haven’t played the first game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/07/02, Updated 03/28/02