Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory

Written by Kyle Williams on February 04, 2002

Full Review: Maybe next we'll see a "Smokey and the Bandit" game.

Every video game launch has its own share of over-hyped duds, adequate platformers and games that rehash existing genres. Fortunately, amidst the sea of mainstream media is the occasional diamond in the rough. When the PlayStation 2 was released it was graced with the surprise success of Smuggler's Run from Rockstar. The game was full of high-speed off-road chases, innovative gameplay, and a dynamic driving engine. Throw in the fact that you were driving on the other side of the law and bona fide hit was almost guaranteed.

With how much success the original game saw it was inevitable that a sequel would be coming along. The only question that stood was "How can Rockstar make a sequel to Smuggler's Run that is as innovative and exciting as the original?" To pull this off they recruited the help of Angel Studios and released the astounding Smuggler's Run 2. Smuggler's Run 2 is everything that the original game was and more. There are more vehicles to drive, larger locales to explore, and more loot to smuggle.

The first thing that you notice about Smuggler's Run 2 is the painstaking attention to detail that was paid to the graphics. The vehicle models are particularly impressive with everything down to the ATV's drivechain thrown in with incredible accuracy. The ambiance of this game owes its existence to a combination of visual quantity and quality. In addition to the vehicles looking appropriately rugged, the terrain goes on for miles and miles and never once gives in to repetition. You get lost amongst the brush, get caught up on tree trunks, and go careening over the terrain.

There are several mission types to help keep things varied in Smuggler's Run 2. Most of the missions are comprised of you speeding across the landscape, avoiding law enforcement, picking up contraband, and dropping it off. There is also the occasional "kill-the-carrier" mission in which you must chase down and destroy an opponent's vehicle. However, my favorite mission type is a variation on capture the flag. Your team squares off against an opposing smuggling ring and you must gather and deliver more contraband than they do. While the various missions don't feel extremely different they are kept exciting through the fantastic gameplay. The high-speed chases are accented with great explosions and huge air.