Debuting with the PlayStation 2 back in 2000, out-door driving game series Smuggler's Run set a new standard in out-door engines, giving players the freedom to race, drive and battle across near endless stretches of land. That formula refined in 2001's PS2 title Smuggler's Run 2, Smuggler's Run: Warzones marks the series debut on the Nintendo GameCube.
Set one hundred from now, Smuggler’s Run: Warzones takes place in a time of stressed international relations and powerful political factions. Taking advantage of these dangerous times, Frank Luger offers his smuggling services to the highest bidder - that offer taken up by a renegade Russian military commander. Smuggling black market weapons and contraban, Luger abides by a simple rule: ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’.
The story is played out through frequent live-action cut scenes which are campy but fun. Interestingly, Smugglers Run 2 for the PlayStation 2 was a game seriously affected by the events of September 11th, 2001. The original story was set in Afganistan, not Russian, and had you smuggling weapons for an Islamic terrorist group, not a rebel Russian militant. Following September 11th, the story was changed in sensitivity toward the victims. Needless to say, with those reversed roles, the climax of the game’s story is disturbingly similar to the actions of the Al Queda terrorist group and their attacks on the United States.
As one of Luger’s drivers, it’s up to you to pilot one of nine high-powered off-road vehicles to make drop-offs. It’s not that simple - challenging terrain, the presence of law enforcement and other threats mean that selecting the right vehicle for the job is just as important as knowing how to use it.
The game’s driving mechanics are fairly arcade, it won’t take long to come to grips with the in’s and out’s of each of the vehicles. Controlled with the left joystick, the A and B buttons handle accelerate and brake. The analogue L button acts as a map (with the transparency depending on how hard you push the button - a handy feature) and the digital click lets you look behind you. The R button stabilises your car in the air - something that you’ll be doing a lot and also acts as a hand-brake on the ground. The X and Y buttons are used for your primary and secondary counter measures. It’s all fairly straight forward and the accessible nature of the controls makes it easy for players to pick up and play, ensuring the multiplayer mode gets a good workout.
Missions come in a limited variety. Most often, you’ll be making pick-ups from helicopters or planes that have flown the packages in. It’s up to you to beat the authorities to them to the contraband and keep it off them while you travel to the drop-off point. Twists on that formula include team based capture-the-flag esque battles, stealing packages off enemy convoys, destroying enemy structures and capturing fugitives.
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