Highway Police Simulator Review (PlayStation 5)

by Jim Smale · December 18, 2024

Highway Police Simulator Review, Put on your uniform and step into the shoes of an American police officer with Highway Police Simulator! This game brings the heart-pounding action of the American Highway Patrol right to your fingertips. Immerse yourself in the unique challenges and serious police duties that officers face on a daily basis and truly feel what it’s like to patrol the highways while maintaining law and order.

A compelling police story awaits you, with the option to play as either a male or a female officer. With both casual and simulation gameplay modes, Highway Police Simulator combines the best of both worlds: the freedom to drive and walk in an immersive virtual environment, and a diverse variety of exciting cases to solve in story-driven gameplay. Explore a diverse open world and tackle any situation that comes your way with an array of vehicles including cars, helicopters, and more.

Highway Police Simulator Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
19.59GB download size.
Platinum trophy.
Controller settings – Invert axis and sensitivity slider.
Gameplay settings – tutorials, policeman field of view slider, lock minimap to the north, and policeman camera distance slider.
Four save slots.
Character creator – name, male or female, one of four preset avatars, civil clothes, hairstyle, hair color, and eye color, and then choose your story from street kid upbringing or raised in a Police family.
Each story choice has a list of Pros and Cons for each story background.
There is cosmetic damage to vehicles, bits can fall off, doors open, etc.
A full 3D game world with 360-degree camera control.
Three driving views.
Voiced characters.
In-game cutscenes and interactions.
As a Policeman you investigate accidents and incidents, you do this by searching the area, cataloging your finds, talking with bystanders and witnesses, taking photos, then you put your findings into a sketch-like system, and then filing your report.
Mission markers show and you get a checklist to tick off actions.
Find shortcuts around the map.
Unlock fast travel points around the map.
Two ways to play the game – simulation or casual mode. It basically comes down to casual mode has assists like mission markers, and easier game difficulties.
Main and optional side missions.
Earn exp from missions level up your rank amd unlock new abilities or negotiation skills.
Full stats breakdown menu.
Multiple choice encounters.

Highway Police Simulator Review Cons:

You cannot remap the controls.
The character creator is very basic and barebones.
No bumper or bonnet view.
The performance is very sluggish with stuttering, slow down, and pop-up happening a lot.
The Police car is very squirrelly with loose handling making it feel like you’re driving on ice.
Robotic and wooden animations with zero facial emotion or expression.
Cannot skip the cutscenes and they can go on for a while.
Voice work is very Wooden and flat.
The AI of the other people and drivers is bad.
I can be just driving on a freeway and then I just crash and roll, with no obstacles around.
No music in the game.
You can sit there and watch AI drivers just jump in the air or crash on nothing.
All the things you would need like lights, radio, radar gun, etc are all on many layers of a radial menu.
The performance is really bad and not great.
Getting stuck on the scenery is very easily done and to reset to the road is a case of going through many menus.
The mini-map has popped in which is a nightmare.
Breadcrumbs or mission sign posting is horrendous and starts the moment you hit the Police station.
It’s a game that in its current state is nearly impossible to play, the performance, the pacing, it all makes for a horrid experience.