Review: Highway Police Simulator on PlayStation 5

Highway Police Simulator, developed by Aerosoft and Z-Software, is now available on PlayStation 5. Let’s dive into what this game has to offer with our comprehensive review.

In Highway Police Simulator, you take on the role of a police officer in the city of Caminora. The game allows you to choose between two play styles: Simulation Mode and Casual Mode. You’ll start your journey with a tutorial in Casual Mode, which provides an overview of the game mechanics. If you prefer more of a challenge, you can switch to Simulation Mode, but keep in mind that this switch removes on-screen guidance, offers fewer explanations, and generally ramps up the difficulty. If you want to change modes after your choice, you’ll need to access the main menu.

Your adventure begins with creating your in-game avatar. You can choose a male or female character and customize their appearance using a variety of presets. You’ll decide on their casual clothes as well as features like hair, hair color, and eye color. You can even switch the display to see your uniform for police duty. An interesting twist in character customization is the background story: either coming from a police family or starting as a street kid. Each choice carries its pros and cons. Picking a police family aligns you well with fellow officers but earns the disdain of bikers and criminals. On the other hand, a street kid background gains you street respect but might make civilians skeptical of your authority.

The game kicks off with an introductory sequence leading into your first case investigation—a car crash scene. Your tasks include questioning those involved, documenting the accident with photographs, collecting clues, and preparing a report using the police car’s computer. The incident, as it unfolds, is the result of an attempt to free an inmate from a transport bus you are assigned to protect. You’ll find your police car flipped over, adding to the urgency of piecing together events for your report.

As you navigate the game, expect to manage movement with the left analog stick while adjusting your view with the right. You can crouch using the right analog stick, interact by pressing X, and sprint with Circle. The radial menu, accessible with L1, lets you use your radio or review equipment. Drawing your weapon involves aiming with L2 and firing with R2, while reloading requires pressing L1.

Driving mechanics involve steering with the left stick and camera control with the right. Accelerate using R2 and brake with L2, with the handbrake on Square. Switch perspectives with Triangle, activate lights with right on the D-Pad, and toggle sirens with left. You can exit vehicles with Circle or X.

The game also incorporates drone flying, with controls using the left and right analog sticks. You can toggle overdrive, change altitude, and zoom, marking targets with Square and unmarking with Circle. Helicopter controls are somewhat similar, focusing on managing altitude and locking targets.

Highway Police Simulator features a robust trophy system, offering a Platinum trophy for those eager to expand their collection. With 6 Bronze, 11 Silver, and 6 Gold trophies, objectives range from completing story arcs, clocking 500 miles on patrol, reaching 100% morality, walking five miles, unlocking fast travel locations, finishing 25 tasks, arresting wrongdoers, and mastering vehicle wrecking, to engaging with vending machines throughout Caminora.

As an officer in Caminora, your mission is vital, but you’ll contend with problematic game mechanics and technical issues. Numerous bugs disrupt gameplay, with erratic object rendering and other vehicles unpredictably shifting positions. Even within the police station, external lighting glitches through walls, complicating navigation. The character designs seem lifeless, their expressions awkwardly static. Highway Police Simulator is now available on PlayStation 5 for $39.99.

Disclaimer: This review was conducted using a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Aerosoft.