If you’re a PlayStation 5 gamer with an interest in law enforcement simulations, you might want to take a look at Highway Police Simulator, developed by Aerosoft and Z-Software. In our review, we delve into what makes this game tick and see if it’s worth your time.
In Highway Police Simulator, you step into the shoes of a police officer stationed in the bustling city of Caminora. The game offers two gameplay modes for you to try: Simulation Mode and Casual Mode. You begin your journey in Casual Mode through an introductory tutorial that helps you get your bearings. Should you decide to switch to Simulation Mode afterward, be prepared for a steeper challenge. This mode removes on-screen markers for your objectives and gives you fewer in-game hints, which can make tasks more demanding and sometimes even tedious. If at any point you want to switch back, you can do so only from the main menu.
Crafting a character in this game is your first task. You decide whether to play as a male or female character and select from various appearance presets. Once that’s done, you can customize your character further by choosing their everyday clothes, hairstyle, hair color, and eye color. A toggle option allows you to view your character in their uniform. Another significant choice you make is your character’s backstory: either from a police family or a street-smart kid. These backstories present unique advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a police family will have you in good standing with fellow officers, but criminals might give you a hard time. On the other hand, being a street kid wins you respect on the street, though civilians might be wary, sometimes requesting a different officer.
After setting up your character, the game kicks off with a brief intro and cutscene. Your first task is to investigate a traffic accident where you must gather details by speaking with involved parties and capturing images of the scene and vehicle plates. This incident escalates when it’s revealed that the crash was orchestrated to free an inmate from a bus you were escorting! With your vehicle turned over, you’ll need to piece together the events and finalize your report.
Controlling your character is straightforward. The left analog stick lets you move, while the right allows you to adjust the camera. Interacting with objects or sprinting is done using the X and Circle buttons, respectively. You access the radial menu to use your radio or check gear with the L1 button, and if you need to draw your weapon, you aim and fire using the L2 and R2 buttons, reloading with L1.
When behind the wheel, the controls are intuitive. Steer with the left analog, adjust your view with the right stick, accelerate with R2, and brake with L2. The hand brake is at your disposal with Square, and you can switch perspectives with Triangle. Activate sirens and lights via the D-Pad directions, while exiting the vehicle requires either the Circle or X button.
For drone operations, the left stick moves it while the right lets you look around. Adjust flight height with the L2 and R2 buttons, and zoom using L1 and R1. When managing a helicopter, altitude changes with the L2 and R2, and target locks involve the right stick press.
Earning trophies in Highway Police Simulator can be a fun challenge. The game boasts a complete trophy list, including a coveted Platinum trophy. To achieve it, expect to tackle 6 Bronze, 11 Silver, and 6 Gold trophies. Tasks range from completing each story arc, reaching specific mileage or morality goals, managing numerous assignments and arrests, and even small activities like purchasing snacks from various vendors.
Highway Police Simulator throws you into the thick of law enforcement in Caminora, but be prepared for bumps along the way. On the downside, the game suffers from a myriad of bugs. Players report frequent pop-ins of trees and objects, cars teleporting erratically, and lighting issues inside buildings causing visibility problems. Characters themselves seem a bit robotic and lack expressiveness, making the experience less immersive. All this considered, you’ll find Highway Police Simulator available on PS5 at a cost of $39.99.
Disclaimer: This review of Highway Police Simulator was crafted using a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Aerosoft.
