Smash Cops – Review – Smash the hell out of runaway cars
App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Hutch Games
Version #: 1.00.09
Date Released: 2012-01-18
Developer: Hutch Games
Price: 2.99
User Rating:
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Driving games can be tough to implement on the small screen of the iPhone. While you may be cruising along leisurely one second, a slight slip-up and you’re smearing you greasy fingers all over the screen in an attempt to get your bearings again.
Smash Cops is all the craze right now on the App Store, and on paper it’s easy to see why. The game involves you, as a cop, chasing down criminal drivers and arresting them by smashing and bumping the hell out of them.
With the only usable button in the game apart from the steering being the ‘RAM’ button, the game is seemingly one of simple satisfaction. The controls are fairly intuitive, and it’s pretty damn satisfying hitting a vehicle at the right angle to send it flying helplessly through the air.
But as the game gets tougher and the cars you’re pursuing bigger and faster, the game demands more careful and precise driving. At this point, the old affliction of dodgy touch-screen driving controls rears its head again. If your car crashes or spins for whatever reason, you’ll be seriously straining your thumbs to get it back on track, by which time your target vehicle will have had enough time to cross a state boundary.
This basic gameplay flaw is probably much less discernible on the iPad, but on the iPhone it’s a deal-breaker. Shame really as Smash Cops features nice, smooth graphics and a host of challenges and unlockables. Sure, some people will try to persevere through the frustrating gameplay and eventually master the game, but an iPhone game shouldn’t be about finger cramps and perseverance.
What could’ve been a great game is ultimately limited by dodgy controls. Maybe the developers should’ve learned a thing or two from GTA: Chinatown Wars when it comes to bird’s-eye view driving gameplay.
Quick Take
Value:Medium.
Would I Buy Again:No.
Learning Curve:Medium.
Who Is It For:Fans of those cop chase TV shows.
What I Like:It's satisfying just smashing cars, isn't it?
What I Don't Like:Gameplay gets fiddly when game gets tougher.
Final Statement:Satisfying at times, but let down by dodgy gameplay.
cars 4.5/5 TouchArcade "a great-looking police-pursuit game, with an innovative "push" control system that's a refreshing variation from regular car racing controls."
4/5 Touchgen "the excellent graphics, innovative controls and intense action make it an easy recommendation"
4/4 Slide to Play "an absolute blast. If you've ever wanted to punish evildoers (and anyone else who got in your way), Smash Cops is a clear Must Have"
8/10 Pocket Gamer - Silver Award "The core game is a blast to play, a veritable smash and grab on the senses, and a solid foundation for things to come.
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BE THE POLICE IN AMERICA'S WILDEST TV CHASES
- PURSUE
Take down runaway felons whilst avoiding civilian traffic and buddy police as you chase and weave through traffic.
- ESCAPE
Escape under time pressure from felon attack and get to a call out location as quickly as possible.
- CHALLENGE
4 different mini games: smash a load of cars illegally parked in a car park, weave through a course laid out by cones, dodge traffic on a highway and collect evidence throughout the city.
- GROUND BREAKING CONTROLS
By placing your finger behind the car you can steer, weave, defend and attack runaway felons with full control of your vehicle, never before used in touch racing games.
- LARGE DRIVABLE CITY
Huge city with high quality visuals creates a fun and rich environment for different attack and escape routes spread over 20 missions and 5 vehicles.
- CHAOS AND MAYHEM
Smash, crush and flip felon vehicles. Obliterate the street scenery.
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- iPhone 3GS AND iPod Touch 3 USERS
Smash Cops will play but will be slower in parts as it uses extensive physics optimised for more powerful iOS devices.
- OPTIMISED FOR iPhone 4 AND iPad 1
- ENHANCED FOR iPhone 4S AND iPad 2
Enjoy more physics and more visual FX that take advantage of that extra power!
- AIRPLAY
Mirror the action from your iPhone 4S or iPad 2 to your TV.
Screenshots
Article By Robert Zak
I'm an up-and-coming freelance writer (or so I like to think) specialising in film, apps and gaming. Aside from writing app reviews on what sometimes feels like a mass scale, I've also contributed work to The Independent and IGN.com, and am on the writing team of the popular Lifestyle blog, WhatCulture.com. Like what you see? Follow me on Twitter @Rob_Zed and get in touch!
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