Contraband Police for Windows

An 80s-themed checkpoint simulator

Contraband Police takes you back to 1981 when smuggling is rampant in a communist country. Don't underestimate these smugglers because they are smarter than you think. They ride fancy vehicles, wear deceptive clothing, and do everything they can to drive past the checkpoints—and that's where you came in. 

Contraband Police is an RPG simulator and you will play as the guard inspector. It is your duty to carefully check each document of those who want to enter the Acarist People's Republic. You will also have to inspect each package and make sure that no contraband can get through. You can try out it's demo version before buying the game.  

Compelling storyline and useful rewards

As the post inspector in Contraband Police, you serve as the first line of defense against gangs who will try to infiltrate your base with illegal drugs, weapons, and even cash. You’re not completely on your own though because you will have the support of your comrades and superiors. When things get out of hand, you can always request backup. There are even times when a superior will warn you about a particularly suspicious vehicle.

You have to keep in mind that most of these smugglers won’t be nice. They know that you’re into them and they will act in defense right away, so you always have to be on your guard and stay vigilant. Some gangs won’t even care to stop at your checkpoint and that’s where the fun begins. When that happens, you will have to call for backup as you chase and fire at them. Captured gang members will be put behind bars and you will receive recognition from the higher-ups.

The more contrabands you get to confiscate, the more rewards you will earn. You can use these reward points to upgrade your station as well as the equipment you use for inspections. When your station and equipment are well-upgraded, smugglers will have a harder time bypassing you. However, the smugglers will also get trickier in forging documents and hiding their contraband over time, so you must never stay complacent.

Lackluster graphics and animation

Contraband Police has the right mix of chill, thrill, and suspense. In fact, many players have stated it to be a better version of Papers, Please. Reviewers pointed out that they liked Contraband Police better because it has a more in-depth storyline and there are more interactions between the characters. So, if you’ve played Papers, Please before, then you might enjoy this more. It has a free demo version that you can try first before buying the game in full. 

Although Contraband Police shines in many aspects, graphics isn’t one of those. It has received a lot of complaints about the animation being lackluster. Some movements aren’t that defined, which is a bummer during chase scenes. Overall, the graphics could improve more to make the game more immersive. That said, its saving grace is the fact that you can move around and don’t have to be stuck in your station.

Become the best checkpoint inspector

Contraband Police offers you more than a simple game of document control. It is a game that you will truly enjoy especially if you’re a fan of chase scenes. Since all of your hard efforts in this game will be rewarded, it will make you strive harder to catch more smugglers and confiscate more contraband. Although it won't take home the best graphics award, its storyline, and overall gameplay surely makes up for that loss.