Driven

"Driven, based on the blockbuster movie, has arrived on Gamecube!"

Driven, based on the blockbuster movie from Warner Bros., roars onto the Nintendo Gamecube and provides as a stimulating racing game with a surprisingly intriguing story line. It brings you into the exciting world of the racing sport, providing all of the kills, thrills, chills, and spills of the 200 mph racing league. Take the roles of Joe Tanto, who is played well, might I add, by Sylvester Stallone, is helping rookie Jimmy Bly to his first championship defeating his arch rival, Beau Brandenburg. Well without further adieu (sorry for that overused cliche), this brings us to the beginning of the review.

Gameplay (9/10) – One question that may be on everyone’s mind about, well, every game based on a movie is this: Does this game entertain as much as the movie did? The answer is… yes, and then some. I can basically sum this game’s gameplay up in one or two words, but I won’t. Don’t worry, I’ll elaborate. Driven is very amusing and challenging at some points in the game, which just adds to the overall amusement and well being of the game. Driven is split into three main modes: Story Mode (explained in the next section), Arcade Mode, and Multiplayer Mode. In arcade mode, you can compete in the European Championships, U.S.A. Championships, the World Championships, Single race and the always-challenging Blocking Challenges. The game is a little easy at first, which is great, so you can slowly get used to the games controls and courses. But as you get a little father into the game, it does tend to get a little difficult at times, which is why I like this game. You don’t want a game to be too easy do you? I didn’t think so. The learning curve for this game is probably around 15 minutes to a half hour, which isn’t that long considering some of the other games that are out there. The controls basically consist of three main buttons: the R button for acceleration, the L button for braking, and the B button for reversing. Not too hard now is it? It does, however, take time to get used to the braking, as you will probably find yourself braking too little and crashing into the wall, or braking too hard and seeing everyone pass you. Don’t worry; time will fix your problems. Onto the next section!

Story (8/10) – Believe it or not, there is a story built into this game. Like other traditional racing games, there isn’t much of a plot, just race to win a fancy trophy or to have bragging rights over your friends. But in Driven, you are taken in to the fast paced world of the auto racing industry. You take the roles of both Jimmy Bly and Joe Tanto in an attempt to defeat their archrival, Beau Brandenburg. In an effort to deny your opponent and claim victory for yourself, you are taken to many different and unique circuits around the world (e.g. the streets of Chicago). Driven has a fine story line that relates back to the movie it self. Thumbs up in this section, and now onto the next!

Graphics (Visual Aspects) (6/10) – The visuals (i.e. the graphics) didn’t really appeal to my liking. This was really the only big flaw of the game. But to some gamers, it’s a big flaw that may be the deciding factor whether to buy the game or not. The graphics were a little shoddy in some places, leaving something to be desired. For example, when your wheel falls off when from ramming the wall too much, it just disappears into thin air when it could have provided as a nice obstacle for the other drivers. Furthermore, the scenery around the circuits is a little sloppy, which takes away from the feel of actually being there in the car. Personally, I don’t think the makers of Driven, used the power of the GCN to its full extent. This is the section where I think the creators just fell short in. Audio is next!

Sounds (Audio Aspects) (8/10) – I really enjoyed the sounds of this game. The cheers from the crowds, the revving of the large engines before the third light hits, the hard braking and the crashes are all excellent examples of the great sounds Driven has to offer. The sounds are very clear and not distorted or inaudible. The makers did a good job in this section.

Replay Value (5/10) – This is probably the worst part of the game. Fortunately, this is only a minor flaw in the game, as the game is long and difficult, which will provide for hours of gameplay. But, usually with most racing games, the replay value is always low. You will probably get tired with the courses, the game gets too easy and you beat it in 1 hour. Luckily with this game, that won’t happen for a long time, mainly because this is a larger game compared to the other racing games. I have yet to reach the stage where the game gets too easy.

Buy or Rent? – I recommend you rent this game first. Gamers are usually a little bit skeptical about purchasing a racing game that doesn’t have the Mario Kart label on it. But if you are a true racing fan and you only buy consoles to play that genre, than go ahead and buy it. It will be worth “shelling” out $50 for it if you are a die-hard fan. But I still advise anyone else to rent, as this game is not for everyone.

Conclusion – If you enjoy racing games with a difficult twist to them, than this is the game for you. You experience all of the thrills of the racing league, along with the drama of auto racing. Although the graphics are a bit of a letdown, the gameplay and sound make up for it, and then some. Even though the replay value is low, this game is long and challenging, which provides hours of great gaming. Happy racing!

Credit – I am a man who gives credit when credit is due. Therefore I would like to thank Need 4 Speed for giving me some info about Driven that I had left out. Thanks again!

Review –

Gameplay – 9/10

Story – 8/10

Graphics – 6/10

Sound – 8/10

Replay Value – 5/10

Overall – 8/10 (not an average)

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/04/02, Updated 08/04/02