Highway Police Simulator, developed by Aerosoft and Z-Software, has made its way to the PlayStation 5, offering gamers a chance to dive into the role of a police officer in the bustling city of Caminora. In this review, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of this unique simulation experience.
You’ll start by stepping into the shoes of an officer with two modes to choose from: Simulation Mode and Casual Mode. The game eases you into the experience by guiding you through a tutorial in Casual Mode. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can switch to Simulation Mode, but be prepared—this mode strips away on-screen markers for objectives, provides less guidance, and generally ups the challenge, making it potentially tiresome. Changing modes after the initial choice requires navigating through the main menu.
To get started, you’ll first create your character, choosing between male and female options. You’ll pick from preset appearances and customize civil attire, hairstyles, and eye color. You can even preview how your officer will look in uniform. The last step is deciding your character’s backstory: coming from a police family, which grants favorable relations with fellow officers and rescue personnel but puts you at odds with bikers and criminals, or being a street kid, winning respect from locals but arousing civilian suspicion.
After a brief introduction and cutscene, you’re thrust into your first investigation—a car crash scene. This kicks off with engaging tasks like interviewing witnesses, snapping photos of the vehicles involved, and analyzing the scene for evidence. You’ll use the car’s onboard PC to compile and submit reports. The twist? The crash was a ruse to break an inmate free from a bus you were escorting, and now you’re left to unravel the chaos.
Gameplay involves using the left analog stick for movement and the right stick for camera control. Crouching, interacting, and sprinting require simple button presses. Your L1 button accesses a radial menu for your radio and equipment, while firearms have their own controls—L2 to aim and R2 to shoot.
Driving transforms your inputs: steer with the left stick, look around with the right, and control speed with the R2 for acceleration and L2 for brakes. The Square button engages the handbrake, and the D-Pad handles sirens, lights, and perspective switches.
Should you pilot a drone, the controls shift again. Movement is dictated by the left stick, while altitude and speed adjustments are managed with L2 and R2, and camera operations by L1 and R1 for zooming. Helicopter controls are similar, focusing on movement and target acquisition.
In terms of achievements, Highway Police Simulator offers a rich trophy list, including the coveted Platinum. The collection includes tasks like completing all story arcs, navigating 500 miles, achieving top morality, and unlocking all in-game locations and vehicles. Other challenges include arresting offenders, managing accidents, destroying your car, and collecting outfits.
Despite its intriguing premise, Highway Police Simulator is plagued with issues. Players encounter visual glitches, such as disappearing trees and erratically moving vehicles. Inside the stations, bizarre lighting effects can obscure visibility, and lifeless character models break immersion with their odd expressions. At a launch price of $39.99 on PlayStation 5, potential players might find themselves weighing these problems against the game’s concept.
This review of Highway Police Simulator was crafted thanks to a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Aerosoft.
