The off-road racing adventure Smuggler's Run is coming to the GameCube, and it won't be just a straight port of the popular PlayStation 2 game.  Smuggler's Run: Warzones will feature new content created just for the GameCube, including new multiplayer modes and levels.

In Smuggler's Run, you are a smuggler trying to get your cargo across international borders in some of the world's most dangerous war zones.  You'll start with simple cargo, but eventually work your way up to contraband that brings in a lot more money ... and danger.  It won't be easy getting your nuclear material or explosives safely across the border when you have to carry it off-road and are being pursued the entire time!

Luckily for you, you'll also have access to a wide variety of vehicles and weapons.  You'll drive everything from quad bikes all the way up to military vehicles, and will be able to protect yourself with a wide variety of countermeasures that can be mounted on the vehicles two at a time.  In addition to typical countermeasures such as nitro, smoke, and bombs, countermeasures also include:

• Cloaking Device - Escape detection by radar.
• Electromagnet - Give your enemy a tug.
• Repulse Shield - Give other vehicles a push away.
• Vertical Boost - Jump over high obstacles or cushion large falls.

The tradition of wide-open gameplay that has been the signature of Rockstar's games continues in Warzones.  The five maps in the game cover North America, Vietnam, and Eastern Europe, and are all huge.  What's more, you'll have full freedom to explore the expansive environments.  See something interesting in the distance?  Well, you can drive to it ... as long as you don't get caught along the way. 

The environments even feature day and night missions, and a variety of weather conditions.  When the weather turns bad, you can expect the going to get tougher; don't expect precision turns in the snow.

Speaking of the missions, you'll face a wide-variety of challenges.  There are over 30 missions, which increase in difficulty and challenge.  You'll face dangerous cargos, aerial drop-offs, border patrols, and enhanced enemy AI designed to make things more challenging.  All of these missions come wrapped up in a cohesive storyline, that will feature cutscenes and gameplay goals designed to advance the storyline.

Should you want to challenge your friends, you're in luck.  Warzone will feature a split-screen multiplayer mode that will let you and up to three of your friends play together.  You'll be able to play the game in three new multiplayer modes:

• Domination - Get through all of the waypoints with your contraband cargo before your opponents can do it.
• The Fox & The Hound - You'll need to protect your contraband from the other teams.
• Strike - Protect your forts from your opponents.

All of this new gameplay comes wrapped up in enhanced graphics and audio that take advantage of GameCube's advanced hardware.  GameCube owners should definitely give the game a close look in July 2002 when it is released, and see why PlayStation 2 owners liked the original Smuggler's Run enough to make it a "Greatest Hits" game.