The latest offering from Aerosoft and Z-Software, Highway Police Simulator, is now available on PlayStation 5. Dive into our detailed review of Highway Police Simulator!
Highway Police Simulator invites you into the uniform of a police officer in Caminora, giving you the choice between Simulation Mode and Casual Mode. The game eases you in with a tutorial in Casual Mode, providing a foundational grasp of gameplay. Should you opt to switch to Simulation Mode, brace yourself for a more challenging experience, with fewer in-game tips, no objective markers, and an overall increase in difficulty which could make tasks appear more cumbersome. A switch between modes is only accessible from the main menu post-decision.
Kicking off your adventure starts with crafting your character. You get to decide on gender and customize the appearance using presets. Choose your character’s look by selecting civil clothing, hairstyle, hair color, and eye color. There’s an option to view your character in a uniform too. The narrative layer adds depth with a choice between beginning your story in a police family or as a street kid. Idealizing a police background earns you camaraderie with other officers and rescue personnel, albeit at the cost of creating tension with bikers, criminals, and inmates. Picking a street kid origin sees you respected by locals but met with skepticism by civilians who might question your authority.
Once past the introduction and an opening cutscene, your first task awaits—a car crash investigation. Engage with individuals present, document the scene with photos, search for clues, and compile your report using the police vehicle’s onboard computer. The chaos stems from a daring inmate breakout involving your escort bus, a situation that left your patrol car overturned and you in the thick of sorting out the aftermath.
Navigating the world involves typical console controls; the left joystick moves your character, while the right adjusts your view. Crouch with the right stick, interact with the X button, and sprint using Circle. Equip your radio or check your gear via the L1 button. Weapon handling is intuitive—aim with L2, fire with R2, and reload with L1.
Driving controls are straightforward: steer using the left stick, look around with the right. Accelerate with R2, brake with L2, and use the hand brake with Square. Switch camera perspectives using Triangle, turn on the emergency lights with the right D-Pad button, activate the siren with the left D-Pad button, and manage lights with the D-Pad down. Exiting the vehicle requires pressing either Circle or X.
Take to the skies with drones or helicopters, both controlled via the left stick for movement and right stick for camera adjustments. Drones have additional controls, like overdrive toggle on the right stick or altering altitude with L2/R2. Pilots will find targeting with the right stick press and camera overviews on Square essential.
The game offers a comprehensive trophy list culminating in a coveted Platinum trophy. Your trophy roadmap includes 6 Bronze, 11 Silver, and 6 Gold trophies. Achievements include driving 500 miles, maintaining 100% morality in Caminora, traversing 5 miles on foot, unlocking all fast-travel spots and police vehicles, completing numerous assignments, and acquiring all attire variations. Engage in various tasks like arresting wrongdoers, handling incidents, wrecking your car, and exploring vending machine offerings all over town.
Despite its ambition, Highway Police Simulator is marred by glitches. While you’re patrolling, prepare for pop-in errors, spontaneous vehicle shifts, and lighting issues inside buildings. Characters appear stiff, with awkward expressions, detracting from immersion. Available for $39.99 on PlayStation 5, the game leaves much to be desired in polish.
This review of Highway Police Simulator is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Aerosoft.
