"Rockstar + Anything illegal = great game?"

It seems to me that anything illegal can be made into something fun, given Rockstar is behind the job. The Grand Theft Auto games are fun. They made some street racing games (Midnight Club) and now they've gotten into this. Well, as crazy as it all is, it is true that Rockstar can make it all fun, because I had a blast playing Smuggler's Run 2. I've never played the original, and my friend told me it wasn't that fun, so it was tempting to not pick it up. But I did anyway, and am really glad I did. This experience hasn't really been, well, experienced by that many people. There aren't a whole lot of fans of this game. Why? Probably because no one gives it a try. And guess what? because no one gives it a try, Gamecube doesn't get GTA3 + Vice City. No, it's true, Rockstar wanted to see if the Gamecube would be worth the trouble. Since almost no one got War Zones, well, Gamecube didn't get GTA. Anyway, let's put a stop to that, and start with a PS2 version, Hostile Territory (this one). Fun enough to warrant a try? Yes.

The graphics here are really great. I'm talking some really realistic stuff, the cars look really nice, the landscape is beautiful. The menus are well presented and the different weather effects (rain, fog) are done real nice. I can't find too much to complain about here, but I do have complaints. First of all, in places like Vietnam, I can't tell a bush from a tree. So I end up avoiding bushes (instead of zooming through them) and crashing into trees (instead of avoiding them). It's difficult, because the bushes have branches and are of the same height as trees (at least in this game they are). Confusing? Yes, but you learn from your mistakes. 9/10.

Each area has some kind of music in the background, and the music changes depending on the weather and time of day. It also fits, quite nicely, actually. The cars and trucks and ATVs all have the appropriate sounds. The sound of the tires going over different terrain aries on the terrain. The voice acting is fair (enough for me to not dock marks). Very fair and nice, nothing really to complain about. 10/10.

Here is where I'll complain a bit. The gameplay. Well, it's fun. That is true. I had tons of fun playing through each mission, and couldn't wait to try the next one. However, there is the rather cheap computer AI that I dislike quite a bit. Often time, while I am driving, delivering my contraband, rather than the cops ramming into me or creating roadblocks, the come right up in front of you. While this is what they probably would do in 'real life' in a game it's just plain cheap, and once they're on you, it is VERY difficult to get them off. Not only that, but the game requires a certain amount of speed to make deliveries. For example, in the second mission in Vietnam, your supposed to use an ATV (the fastest vehicle for that time) to deliver contraband, the problem being about two rams from the cops and your gone, meaning either you have to have some super luck, or pick a slower vehicle, which probably can't do the job. It angers me, but those frustrating levels only pop up every 4 or so good levels, so you can get by them. 8/10.

Well, once you've beaten the game, it's done. Multiplayer isn't that fun, you simply try to get to the checkpoints before the other player, pretty much like a standard racing game. If one person played the cops, well, then it would be MUCH more fun. But as it stands, when it's done, it's pretty much done. 4/10.

Closing comments - It's fun. It's exciting. It's awesome. But, it's pretty short. You can probably beat it in a rental. However, it could most possibly be worth the purchase, as it is about the funnest game I have played in a while. Great game.

Verdict - Nothing short of 8/10 would be fair, you could even consider this a 9 if you enjoy cheap AI tactics. It would be a waste of a great game if you don't rent this. Buy it if you really like it after a rental, but be sure to rent this for sure. Very fun.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/30/03