Smuggler's Run

This article is about the 2000 video game. For the Disney attraction, see Star Wars: Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run.
Smuggler's Run
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Wing S. Cho (PS2)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance
Release
  • PlayStation 2
    • NA: October 26, 2000
    • EU: November 24, 2000
    • AU: November 30, 2000[1]
  • Game Boy Advance
    • NA: September 11, 2002[2]
    • EU: October 8, 2002
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Smuggler's Run is a video game developed by Angel Studios and published by Rockstar Games as a launch title for the PlayStation 2 on October 26, 2000. In the game, the player plays as a smuggler who has a number of different vehicles at his disposal including dune buggies, rally cars, and military vehicles. The vehicles are used to smuggle assorted cargo through three different large, open levels. The game, which was an early release for the Sony PlayStation 2, features career and 1- to 2-player arcade modes.

Smuggler's Run became a part of the Sony Greatest Hits series of games that reached a particular sales milestone for the PlayStation 2.

Gameplay

Smuggler's Mission: New to a local smuggling gang, the player's job is to smuggle cargo through three consecutive levels (forest, desert, and snow) with about ten missions per level. In nearly all missions they must evade the U.S. border patrol, the CIA, or rival smuggling gangs. This is essentially the career mode of the game. There are a total of 34 missions to complete here.

Turf War: In this mode, players can play three different mini-games - two of which involve smuggling cargo while fighting against a rival gang. The final mini-game is a race through a popular spot through the level of their choice.

Joyriding: This is a free roam mode where the player can explore the level of their choice without having to evade the border patrol. This is a good way to become familiar with the levels and find optimal routes through the level during Smuggler's Mission.

Reception

The PlayStation 2 version received "generally favorable reviews", while the Game Boy Advance version received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][4] David Chen of NextGen said of the former console version, "A truly next-generation launch title, it's fast, fun, and free of constraints – just the way we like our cross-country crime sprees."[18] In Japan, where the same console version was ported for release under the name Crazy Bump's: Kattobi Car Battle! (CRAZY BUMP'S(クレイジーバンプ) 〜かっとびカーバトル！〜, Kureijī Banpu 〜Kattobi Kā Batoru!〜) and published by Syscom on December 28, 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[10]

Jake The Snake of GamePro said in one review that the PlayStation 2 version "has so many variables that no two runs are alike, and you'll enjoy replaying missions over and over. If you're in the market for some highly addictive, heart-pounding action, socre a copy of Smuggler's Run."[22][c] In another GamePro review, Human Tornado said of the same console version, "Smuggler's Run's go-anywhere experience frees you up to get a bit creative with your driving, and the high speeds combined with rugged off-road courses make for a wild ride."[23][d] Edge gave the same console version a score of six out of ten, saying that it "smacks of a game which has had a great deal of effort expended on its physics engine and raw playability, but very little on drawing up an overarching design."[24]

Sequel

Main article: Smuggler's Run 2

A sequel to the game was produced: Smuggler's Run 2, which was released for the Sony PlayStation 2 on October 30, 2001. The sequel was later ported to the GameCube on August 7, 2002 and renamed Smuggler's Run: Warzones.[25]

Notes

  1. ^ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation 2 version each a score of 8/10, 8.5/10 and 6.5/10.
  2. ^ Three critics of GameFan gave the PlayStation 2 version each a score of 89, 82, and 74.
  3. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version 4.5/5 for graphics, 4/5 for sound, and two 5/5 scores for control and fun factor in one review.
  4. ^ GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3.5/5 for sound, and 5/5 for control in another review.

References

  1. ^ Smart, Bill (September 29, 2000). "Expected PlayStation 2 Launch Titles". Gameplanet. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Smuggler's Run (GBA)". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 19, 2002. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Smuggler's Run critic reviews (GBA)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Smuggler's Run critic reviews (PS2)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Smuggler's Run (GBA) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  6. ^ Barnes, J.C. "Smuggler's Run (PS2) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Torres, Ricardo (November 2, 2000). "Smuggler's Run - PlayStation 2 Review". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on December 3, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  8. ^ Sewart, Greg; Hager, Dean; Kujawa, Kraig (December 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 137. Ziff Davis. p. 232. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Bramwell, Tom (November 30, 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PlayStation 2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 30, 2001. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "CRAZY BUMP'S 〜かっとびカーバトル！〜 [PS2]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ^ Reppen, Erik (November 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 91. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on August 24, 2004. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  12. ^ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury"; Ngo, George "Eggo" (December 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)". GameFan. Vol. 8, no. 12. Shinno Media. p. 25. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  13. ^ Silverman, Ben (November 2000). "Smuggler's Run Review (PS2)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  14. ^ Provo, Frank (October 16, 2002). "Smuggler's Run Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Stahl, Ben (October 12, 2000). "Smuggler's Run Review (PS2) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Hiscock, Josh (February 23, 2001). "Smuggler's Run". PlanetPS2. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 2, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  17. ^ Perry, Douglass C. (October 23, 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Chen, David (December 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)". NextGen. No. 72. Imagine Media. p. 105. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  19. ^ "Smuggler's Run". Nintendo Power. Vol. 164. Nintendo of America. January 2003. p. 178.
  20. ^ Rybicki, Joe (December 2000). "Smuggler's Run". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 39. Ziff Davis. p. 162. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  21. ^ Porter, Alex (October 26, 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)". Maxim. MaximNet, Inc. Archived from the original on June 26, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  22. ^ Jake The Snake (December 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 147. IDG. p. 118. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  23. ^ Human Tornado (October 20, 2000). "Smuggler's Run for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  24. ^ Edge staff (December 2000). "Smuggler's Run (PS2)" (PDF). Edge. No. 91. Future Publishing. p. 107. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  25. ^ Perry, Douglass C. (October 31, 2001). "Smuggler's Run 2: Hostile Territory". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.