Contraband Police is an obvious take on the formula that wasn’t invented by Papers, Please, but it surely was improved to nearly perfection. This time, however, it’s not just about passports and minimal graphics; we are a border guard inspector moving around, interacting with civilians, and slashing car seats in search of any smuggled goods or drugs. I can tell you that life as a guard in this communist country of the 80's is a rough one, as you’ll have to get off your butt and go on dangerous missions as well.

Passport, Please

Your new job as a border guard inspector starts as you would expect, with a bit of training and pushing you around. After a few days of checking passports and a bit of rest in your dreadful trailer, the story takes you elsewhere and reveals a large map for what could initially have been mistaken for a restrictive game about inspecting vehicles – this couldn’t be farther from the truth, as there’s a story about an oppressive country, rebel factions with significant choices, and more going on.

Contraband Police is an adventure game disguised as a border guard inspector simulator. You also get some light base management elements and a bit of driving. Although this isn’t exactly Need for Speed, the free roam driving and car chases are quite atmospheric and enjoyable, with great care put into the rendition of the various vehicles’ interiors.

Your first tasks will be a matter of comparing some basic passport info. Elements like the driver’s name, passport number, expiration date, and cargo details must match, otherwise entry is refused. Sometimes you get tips that may point to a smuggler, and a thorough inspection of the vehicle is necessary, as you may find drugs and counterfeit money stashed in the tires, engine, seats, and a few other places. Using your UV flashlight will show you the locations, but it may take a keen eye to spot a pack of bills tucked inside the engine. When this happens, take the goods into the warehouse, and throw the criminal into jail.

Perfect inspections add some money to your account, while mistakes will remove some. You need to keep climbing levels and earn money to maintain your post, but also to add or upgrade various options, from your lodging to the prison, police vehicle, more guards, and so on.

It’s easy to see that Contraband Police is far more than a simple passport checking game, and unexpectedly story driven. Going out into the wild for missions is a plus, as you stealthily follow cars, or chase suspicious persons on foot. Eventually, you may get into shootouts where you can opt to flee or fight, and it’s not uncommon for your own post to be raided by Oberankov’s gangs, so there’s quite some action in the game.

The shooting sections aren’t on par with the best games of the genre, but as a complement to a well-rounded simulator, they are convincing. Don’t expect much from the AI, and it’s easy to see a few rough edges here and there, but the overall feeling is positive.

Communist Simulator

Contraband Police may end up feeling a bit stale in the inspection part, but since it extends its grasp into a story-based game, it somewhat makes up for it. Perhaps best played in small doses as to avoid that pitfall, it’s the occasional surprises that it throws at you to keep you engaged that place it above the competition.

It looks good in terms of graphics, but the somewhat drab palette choices don’t entirely favor it – the objective might have been to highlight the realism and the old and worn-off style, but it feels too bland at times. The character models are plain average, but thankfully the vehicles – the real stars of the game – are created in excellent detail and fit the era where the action unfolds.

Surprisingly immersive, Contraband Police has an original setting to show off and quite a few interesting ideas to back it up. It could do with some additional options during inspection – where have all the women gone, for example? – to make this section more exciting, but it’s the sum of all parts that works here. Just remember to take some time off because being a border guard inspector can become boring after a while.

Pros

• A great take on Papers, Please
• Driving segments and chases are satisfying
• Occasional shootouts
• Base upgrade mechanics

Cons

• Inspections may become repetitive
• Enemy AI isn’t up to current standards

Rating: 8/10