Andreas Heldt from German studio Z-Software introduced me to his new police simulation game, Autobahn Police Simulator 3.
The objective of this opus is to go beyond simulation, by including a real scenario and more varied interventions: pursuit, accident, traffic control, theft... This direction was chosen following player feedback on the 2: some found the free mode too difficult to play. They didn't understand what to do once the little campaign was over and were quickly lost. In 3, Freemode will be in the background and the player will be guided as they progress, with tasks to complete to progress through ranks. But those who still prefer their freedom will be able to earn their points in their own way, without following the objectives. The only mandatory elements will be special missions, complex tasks with a strong story and cinematic component.
Despite the name, Autobahn Police Simulator 3 isn't just about highways. The police are opened the doors of the cities and the national ones to gain in diversity of the playing field. The places crossed will lead through different biomes, including mountains with steep roads. Of course, the environment remains invented, the cities and landscapes were created for one purpose only: to be fun. The set has however been made to represent what a real German motorway is.
In general, all game systems are gaining in logic and coherence, in order to help players have more fun. The AI will be able to adapt to the ranks and complicate the various tasks to be accomplished, especially during pursuits. Crashes will occur in many locations, with several random elements, such as the number and type of vehicles involved. The rank of the player will also impact the tasks to be accomplished, depending on what the player has unlocked, thus varying the tasks to be carried out on site. Choices of dialogue are offered, by discussing with the witnesses or the victims. Depending, the policeman will earn more or less points. This choice can also directly influence the outcome of the intervention, to understand what is happening, and therefore act accordingly.
Finally, a real-time shooting component has been added, where the 2 was limited to QTEs. Of course, the game is not intended to become a shooter, so it will remain limited. In the video that was shown to me, the police are called to intervene in a robbery in progress at a gas station. The character is able to crouch, aim, and shoot in my faith relatively convincingly (the characters nevertheless retain this rigidity unfortunately inherent in games of the genre).
The game will be offered with English voices, as well as French subtitles (there are currently no plans to offer dubbing). Scheduled for release in early 2022, Autobahn Police Simulator 3 will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. You will also be able to play it beforehand thanks to a demo which should be offered at the end of this year.
