Review of [PlayStation 5] Highway Police Simulator

Aerosoft and Z-Software have premiered their latest offering, Highway Police Simulator, now available for PlayStation 5. As you dive into the game, you’ll step into the shoes of a police officer patrolling the roads of Caminora. You’re given the option to choose between Simulation Mode and Casual Mode. To get you started, the game automatically places you in the Casual Mode, offering a useful tutorial that eases you into the gameplay. However, for those seeking a challenging experience, Simulation Mode might be the preferred choice, albeit at the cost of fewer on-screen guides and explanations. Once you’ve decided on the mode, you can only switch it up through the main menu settings.

The first task is to craft your in-game persona. You have your choice between a male or a female character. You can personalize their look with different presets, select their civilian attire, choose from various hairstyles, hair colors, and eye colors. You’re also given an option to preview your character’s police uniform. A unique twist is choosing your character’s backstory: will they hail from a police family, offering camaraderie with fellow officers but perhaps some tension with criminals, or are they a street-smart individual, respected by locals though not entirely trusted by civilians?

Following an introductory scene and brief cutscene, you’re thrust into action at your first accident scene investigation. A car crash calls for your attention, where you’ll conduct interviews, photograph the scene, and gather evidence. Utilizing the onboard computer in your police vehicle, you’ll draft and send your report, eager to uncover that the accident masked an attempted jailbreak – a dramatic start indeed! The excitement peaks as you find your police car overturned, prompting further investigative duties.

The game controls are intuitive yet demand precision. Walking around, you’ll maneuver your character with the left stick while using the right stick for camera movement. Actions like crouching, interacting, and sprinting are mapped to the stick buttons and the X and Circle buttons, respectively. You navigate through the menu with L1 and engage how you see fit. If the need arises, draw your weapon with L2 and fire with R2, reloading with L1.

Vehicle handling is similarly straightforward, steering with the left stick while taking in your surroundings with the right. Braking, accelerating, and using a handbrake are all done via the trigger buttons, with perspective shifts accessible through the Triangle button. Emergency services features like lights and siren are conveniently accessed through the D-Pad.

When it’s time to use a drone, the left and right sticks help navigate and adjust your view, while buttons activate features like marking targets or adjusting altitude. For helicopter missions, target locking and altitude changes keep you on track.

For trophy hunters, a robust set of achievements awaits. With a mix of Bronze, Silver, and Gold trophies, the Platinum trophy is a tantalizing reward for completionists. Challenges range from completing story arcs to driving extensive distances and solving crimes, among other tasks.

However, it’s not all smooth sailing. The game might test your patience with its numerous glitches. During gameplay, you’ll likely find yourself surrounded by disappearing objects, erratically behaving vehicles, and intrusive, unrealistic lighting effects. NPCs might seem oddly robotic, further diminishing the immersive experience. Despite these hurdles, the game is available for $39.99 for those who dare to navigate its challenges.

Please note that this review was crafted from a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Aerosoft.