Smuggler's Run is a racing video game created by Angel Studios and published by Rockstar Games. It was released on October 26, 2000, as one of the first games for the PlayStation 2. In the game, players control a smuggler who uses different vehicles, such as dune buggies, rally cars, and military vehicles, to transport cargo through three large, open levels. The game includes career mode and arcade modes for one or two players. Later, Smuggler's Run was added to the Sony Greatest Hits series after reaching a sales goal for the PlayStation 2.

Gameplay

Smuggler's Mission: Players begin as a new member of a local smuggling group. The goal is to transport goods through three levels (forest, desert, and snow), with about ten missions in each level. In most missions, players must avoid U.S. border patrol, the CIA, or other smuggling gangs. This mode is the main part of the game, requiring players to complete a total of 34 missions.

Turf War: This mode includes three mini-games. Two of these games involve smuggling goods while fighting against rival gangs. The third mini-game is a race through a popular location chosen by the player.

Joyriding: This is a free exploration mode where players can move through any level without needing to avoid border patrol. It helps players learn the levels and find the best paths to use during Smuggler's Mission.

Reception

The PlayStation 2 version of the game received "mostly positive reviews," while the Game Boy Advance version received "mostly negative reviews," according to Metacritic, a website that collects reviews. David Chen of NextGen described the PlayStation 2 version as "a truly next-generation launch title, it's fast, fun, and offers a lot of freedom, making it a great example of a next-generation game." In Japan, the same PlayStation 2 version was released under the name Crazy Bump's: Kattobi Car Battle! (CRAZY BUMP'S 〜かっとびカーバトル！〜, Kureijī Banpu 〜Kattobi Kā Batoru!〜) by Syscom on December 28, 2000. The Japanese publication Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.

Jake The Snake of GamePro wrote that the PlayStation 2 version "has so many different elements that each playthrough is unique, and you'll enjoy replaying missions over and over. If you're looking for a game that is highly addictive and exciting, consider buying Smuggler's Run." In another GamePro review, Human Tornado said the PlayStation 2 version "allows players to explore and be creative with their driving, and the high speeds combined with rough off-road courses make for an exciting experience." Edge gave the PlayStation 2 version a score of six out of ten, noting that "the game shows a lot of effort in its physics and how it feels to play, but not much work was done on the overall game design."

According to PC Data, Smuggler's Run sold 120,000 copies for the PlayStation 2 in 2000.

Sequel

A follow-up game was made called Smuggler's Run 2. It was released for the Sony PlayStation 2 console on October 30, 2001. Later, the game was made available for the GameCube system on August 7, 2002, and given a new name: Smuggler's Run: Warzones.