Smuggler's Run

"Great Idea; Horrible Execution."

This game is... how should I say it... a disappointment. When I first bought this game (trading in all my used N64 games for store credit/Other N64/PSX games), I thought it'd be cool. Indeed, during the first... say... hour and a half, it was one of the better games I had played. The missions begin as easy as sleep is. Then, they seem to get harder, all at once. Like... say... waking up. After that, they become as hard as going throughout your day without coffee. Assuming you don't already do so, in which case, you are a better man than I.

Story - 7/10

The story is pretty basic, you're a smuggler, trying to gain a respectable (respectable used loosely here, meaning ''feared,'' most likely. I forget what my intent for these parenthesis were) reputation. You start out simple, racing from place to place with no cops. Then... one cop begins to follow you. Considering you may be transporting $100,000 worth of medical supplies, that isn't a smack in the face to the realities of smuggling. Eventually, more cops notice you, the stakes get higher, et cetera.

Controls - 4/10

The controls in this game are... different, to say the least. Not Twisted Metal: Black, different. But not Gran Turismo quality. You'll have to adjust, though, if you want to beat this game (I never did... just to let you know). Although, to this day, I don't have the controls mastered, I'd have to say, you'll eventually get a firm grasp on them. Then those sorry AI controlled cops will be eating your dust, which you will most likely be kicking up, due to being off road, and such.

Realism/Graphics - 5/10

Despite this being on the PS2, the graphics are somewhat PSX-ish. High end PSX-ish, of course. Some of the things look blocky, and pieces come off all wrong. Your car/SUV/truck/whatever isn't exactly in proportion with... say... the rest of the world. Your ''Dune Buggy'' may be twice as large as a house. Show me a Dune Buggy that big, and I will give you a green duck. If you show me that same Green Duck, I will show you a Dune Buggy as large as a house. Funny how that works out, huh? You show me... eh... forget it.

Multiplayer - 8/10

The BEST part of this game, period. I now spend my time with this. Since I can't get past the first terrain setting (there are three of them), I just stick with this. There is something oddly pleasing knowing you can outwit four AI controlled rival smugglers in a race to the loot. You can select team mates for yourself, and they're offensive/defensive based on what vehicle you give them. For instance; if you gave them a Buggy, they'd be more offensive. Whereas if you gave them an SUV, they'd be more defensive. That's spiffy. Ultra-spiffy. I'd go so far as to say Extra-Spiffy. I still come back to this game every so often to play multiplayer.

Rent or Buy?

Well, since I am well overdue to Blockbuster to rent Smuggler's Run 2, I'd ahve to say Rent. Sure, the multiplayer IS great, but I've heard better things of Smuggler's Run 2.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 02/22/03, Updated 02/22/03