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Highway Police Simulator is a game that I’ve been looking forward to. I love the sim genre and the idea of cracking skulls in an open-world arena was appealing. Yet, I should have guessed that my hopes and dreams would be ruined by horrible bugs, wooden acting, and questionable missions. On top of this, the mechanics are cumbersome, and criminals can take 4 or 5 shots to the face before they die.
This alleged simulation game was developed by Z-Software and published by Aerosoft GmbH. Moreover, it is an open-world single-player experience that should have been thrilling. Yet, every aspect is hard work and this made it a slog when playing for any length of time. Additionally, the game-breaking bugs will drive you to distraction. I fell through the world when driving at high speeds. What’s more, people walk into the walls, the same police officer does endless push-ups, and your crewmate has a mind of her own. This should have been hilarious, but it was damn annoying.
Highway Police Simulator has a high-energy story.
Sim games usually have weak stories. This is a bugbear of mine as I like something to get my teeth into. Thankfully, Highway Police Simulator didn’t let me down. Caminora is a dangerous area filled with crime. Guns, drugs, and accidents are part of the daily grind. However, the police department is on hand to keep everyone safe. Whether you are progressing the hard-hitting plot or tackling daily issues, you never stop.
This was one area that impressed me. I loved the freedom to explore and the endless missions on offer. Additionally, piecing together each crime scene was a joy. Taking pictures, interrogating suspects, and arresting people was a thrill. Furthermore, abusing your powers was a cheeky way to bring a smile to your face. Yet, I cannot forgive the almost endless list of issues I faced.
Driving on ice.
The bugs are horrendous and Highway Police Simulator needs to iron out its problems. However, the driving is appalling. Every vehicle feels like it has no grip. Consequently, you jerk from left to right as the ice-like resistance makes it impossible to handle the simplest of tasks. This issue rears its ugly head during every race you undertake. Yet, it doesn’t cause any problems as the NPCs are slower than your everyday turtle.
Next up, we have the terrible shooting mechanics. I’m not sure what the NPCs’ faces are made of, but I’m sure it is Kevlar armour. The bullets are seemingly ineffective as you unleash hell upon them. Though this wasn’t too problematic, it is another ridiculous aspect that ruins the end product.
One aspect I was looking forward to was the helicopters and motorbikes. Now, I’m not sure how they’d handle as I was unable to unlock them. This is a shame as I’m sure it would have been fun flying into buildings or riding into cars. I suspect that these elements would have been just as buggy and probably even more funny.
Highway Police Simulator looks rough.
Occasionally, Highway Police Simulator looked impressive. The cinematic was pleasurable to watch and the faces have a high level of detail. However, things quickly went south when mobile phones were sticking out of their faces and people walked aimlessly into walls. Moreover, you drive through the map and into the nether or cars crash into invisible walls. To top things off, each car has no driver and the automated vehicles have a life of their own.
The audio was just as bad. The acting is wooden and the small talk takes place at the most inopportune moments. Furthermore, the weapons sound like peashooters and the cars lack a level of oomph. Consequently, it is a little flat and lifeless.
Poor controls.
You can play this with a controller or a mouse and keyboard. I tried both and they were equally problematic. The sensitivity is way off and driving in first or third person was cumbersome at best. Moreover, the shooting elements were glitched as I couldn’t fire when using a controller. This caused me to flit from each control method to complete the simplest of tasks.
I’d love to say that this oozes replay value, but I can’t. With so many problems, I found it tough to play. I’d love to test out the helicopter and complete the seemingly endless side quests, but it was too problematic to invest heavily. As such, I could only play this casually and that was unfortunate.
Highway Police Simulator failed miserably.
Highway Police Simulator has such potential but it fails to overcome many of its shortcomings. This should have been wonderful to play, but there is a problem around every corner. Bugs, glitches, poor acting and woeful mechanics undermine it throughout. Accordingly, I do not recommend buying it. However, more information can be found here! Can you become a police officer? Walk the beat, solve crimes, and clean up the streets.
