Drug Dealer Simulator 2 Review | A Complex Narcos Operation

Perhaps one of the hottest and long-awaited games from players out there, especially those who played the original Drug Dealer Simulator, the heir of that, Drug Dealer Simulator 2 is finally here on Steam. Byterunners, the developers, have delivered tons of updates and new mechanics to keep this game fresh and to provide new experiences for all kinds of players, be they former drug runners in Drug Dealer Simulator or new tycoons wanting to lay their stakes on Isla Sombra.

This review will take a closer look at Drug Dealer Simulator 2‘s story, which allows you to meet and work together with shady yet trustworthy characters that can help you build your drug empire, to its gameplay, which mainly consists of drug production and distribution, to how the game holds up in terms of its graphics and sound design. Let’s begin.

Drug Dealer Simulator 2 is available on Steam for $13.99.

Story | Conquer Isla Sombra

The story within Drug Dealer Simulator 2 puts us into the shoes of a new drug tycoon who is trying to reclaim their name in the Isla Sombra region, a dashing archipelago filled with many people from all walks of life, paired with different landscapes such as mountainous areas and beaches, to rural villages and bustling downtown, Drug Dealer Simulator 2 has all the landscapes fit for a new drug empire.

Another aspect that helps elevate the story of Drug Dealer Simulator 2 is the numerous important characters that we encounter throughout our journey in Isla Sombra. The first notable character will be Llazo, 

Overall, while the story is technically there, I don’t feel any weight in them, be it from the dialogues, which for me, sounds incredibly bland and the cast doesn’t give it their all and just reading the lines from the script to the overarching story which seems grand at first. Still, it’s fetch quests after fetch quests but masked as a drug dealer’s story.

A New Beginning.

Gameplay | Climb to the Top of the Food Chain

Once we get the backstory of how we end up in Isla Sombra, and how we are there to be the next big drug kingpin on the island, it’s time to dwell into Drug Dealer Simulator 2‘s main strength for the next part of this review, which will highlight its gameplay. For that purpose, I will divide the gameplay section into two, one for highlighting Drug Dealer Simulator 2‘s drug production system, and the other for its drug distribution mechanism.

Drug Production

The first major element of Drug Dealer Simulator 2‘s gameplay is the way we can produce the good stuff for our empire that will fuel the people of Isla Sombra for days and weeks, even for years if possible: the drugs. Now, of course, things don’t start big right off the bat, and creating your cartel is no different. At first, your tools for producing drugs are heavily limited and confined to just one hideout, which is The Bunker. Here, you will meet one of your best buddies who can help set up the entire operation.

The drug production itself is relatively simple and concise, as I was able to produce everything that the good people of Isla Sombra need after following the tutorial just once, and I have to commend the developers for making sure that the production side of the cartel is not bogged down with needless explanations and tidbits that might hinder the flow of Drug Dealer Simulator 2.

The Bunker.

Drug Distribution

It is not complete to talk about being a cartel without mentioning drug distribution, because without this process, no matter how much you produce, be it 10 kilograms or even 10 tons won’t matter if you can’t move them from one place to another. Fortunately, Drug Dealer Simulator 2 has many ways to let its players figure out how to handle and distribute the drugs effectively.

Once you manage to secure a robust drug pipeline, it’s time to distribute them to the people of Isla Sombra. Initially, you must distribute them manually by accepting the requests through your Phone (by holding the Tab button and then holding the F button to accept a request), and then head out to their respective regions such as Small Island, Archipelago, and so on. While I understand from the story and gameplay perspectives, this initial drug distribution system feels super clunky and more of a chore than actual distribution to promote your cartel’s products. There’s almost no fun in doing them, and they feel more like obligated fetch quests.

A Potential Buyer.

However, things do start to feel much better and more streamlined after a certain point in the story. Once you get yourself the first distributor, usually obtainable after you have finished several missions for Llazo and other characters in the Archipelago area, you can then start to expand beyond the initial areas without having to go back and forth between your supplies and the buyers.

Moreover, at this point in the game, your money should start increasing substantially thanks to all the drugs you sell in the game, so purchasing a vehicle from the Mechanic is a great investment to improve your mobility from one area to another. Not only will this help with the initial slog of drug distribution in Drug Dealer Simulator 2, but it will also enhance your effectiveness in getting from one important place to another, such as from the Furniture Store to the Pawn Shop.

Planning the Next Move.

Graphics and Sound Design | Unfit for the Drug Empire

The last aspect I want to discuss in this Drug Dealer Simulator 2 review will be its graphics and sound design. I have to be honest, things do fall off here. Contrasting the solid gameplay and a somewhat comedic but still believable story, the game lacks a direction in terms of its graphics and overall sound quality.

The one thing that stands out for me is the lack of animations for almost everything within the world of Drug Dealer Simulator 2. Even the interactable items, such as houses, NPCs, and vehicles’ doors are static and do not give any feedback no matter what input we use, be it for trading, traveling, or entering your secure Hideouts. However, I have to give credit where credit is due, as the developers successfully provide relatively smooth and fluid combat mechanisms and animations, where every hit I land against the police or other gangs has weights behind them, making the combat rewarding and satisfying.

Moving on to Drug Dealer Simulator 2‘s sound design, while there are no remarkable music pieces or sound effects throughout my playthrough, I don’t find any particular faults with them, there’s no bugs or anything that hinders my enjoyment of the game, and I have to tip my hat off to Byterunners for making everything works here, albeit not remarkable in any way.

Overall, unfortunately, Drug Dealer Simulator 2‘s graphics and sound design are not its strengths, though I’m certain future patches and updates can further improve everything here, because I see the potential that this game has, and it will be unfortunate if the developers abandon it before fully polishing everything.

This Drug Dealer Simulator 2 review is possible thanks to the game key provided by Movies Games s.a.