DRIV3R

"DRIV3R is a game that some have waited too long for and it's finally here"

DRIV3R is the third installment of one of the best selling franchises, starting with the huge hit Driver which was released back in 1999. After Driver 2 was released the Driver fans had to wait for a good 3 1/2 years or more before DRIV3R was released (FINALLY!!). I guess all those years had paid off since they began work on this game and I must say besides the few glitches that some of us have known since we've been playing the game but there are a few people that complain that this game is a GTA ripoff. It seems that this game was being compared to Grand Theft Auto around the time that it was getting ready for release and this series is not were as close to GTA; sure it may have things such as being able to hi-jack cars and weapons. The Driver and Grand Theft Auto series have their own theme to them like Driver is basically the cop who goes undercover to figure out what's going down while Grand Theft Auto focus' more on the gangster area. DRIV3R has a nice selection of cars to choose from (or "hi-jack").

GRAPHICS: 8.5/10
With Reflections using an updated graphic engine that was used in Stuntman I do have to say that the graphics for DRIV3R is excellent down every detail that Reflections put into this game. Every city Miami, Nice, and Istanbul; is detailed and the cars are nicely modeled. The pedestrians and Tanner himself are modeled good but not 100% perfect I would have to say it would be at least 80 - 85% modeled.

CONTROL: 8.9/10
The control is basically the same as the previous two Driver installments with the physics of the cars which each car basically handles just like they would if you drove them in real life. As for the on-foot part; Reflections tried to make the on-foot better but it seems that Reflections did manage to make it a little better and it seems that it's a little better. The cars can be very awesome espeically the sports cars (like the 'vette) and can handle like a dream come true then you have the motorcycles which can be fast but; gotta be careful just in case you hit something like another car you'll be sent flying.

DIFFICULTY: 9.1/10
The difficulty of this game can be great but while at times can be a bit unforgiving at the same time. While you go about things in Take-A-Ride you think that it'll be easy since all you have to drive around but watchout for the cops once you be a bit messed up. When you get cops after you they can sure give you a difficult time trying to drive around the city that you're driving around in whether it's in Miami, Nice, or Istanbul; since you can now leave the car but if you do the cops will get out and start shooting at you. As the Undercover mode a few missions can be easy as you start off but as get farther in the game it can be a bit difficult with a few of the missions that you come across. With the missions that I have done so far I hope that there's not a mission like the one in Driver 2 (Chase the Gunman mission) since that mission made me so frustrated that it I almost broke my PlayStation. I don't want to end up getting so frustrated like that to where I end up busting my PlayStation2 when I don't want to pay for another one.

SOUND/MUSIC: 8.0/10
The sound is basically like the previous two Driver games but at least this time there isn't that annoying music while you drive around like in the previous two Driver games. Each of the engines of the car sound just like you're really driving the car yourself for a joyride but a car that you most likely hi-jacked from someone that paid a good amount for the car. When you make a such a sharp turn with each vehicle the tires will squeal as you take the turn; and the same goes for when you burnout with the vehicles (except for the Dump Truck which you can do that with). As for the music that is featured in DRIV3R is good to say the least since the music is good for each of the cutscenes throughout the Undercover mode; but for the Driving part the music seems to get a little fast when you get near cops (or is it when cops start chasing).

STORY/PLOT: 7.8/10
The story (or plot to some) is basically like the first two Driver games but this time you'll watch a cutscene but I won't spoil it for you what goes on, then after that is done it'll jump back to six months prior to the incident of the opening cutscene. The story is almost simple since you have to since there's a gang (or high theft car ring) that plans of stealing 40 cars that are going from Miami, Florida; to Nice, France and has to find out who is behind the whole mess. As you do the missions you have to dodge cars and basically anything else that may be in your way to find out what's happening next in the game. Sounds simple right? If you're not too confindent you may be able to get through most of the missions without any problem to advance in the story while you may be stuck on a few missions making you want to know what's going to be happening next in the game.

REPLAY VALUE: 7.5/10
If you're a die-hard fan of the Driver series then you shouldn't have much of a problem with trying to find ways for replay value for DRIV3R. There are many things that may make the replay value good anywhere from doing the Undercover mode more than once and there's the many game modes that will most likely keep you playing this game for many days to come. I sure don't have a hard time trying to figure out what to do to keep the replay value of some games up there but while some games like DRIV3R I sometimes have a hard time trying to find those ways to get good replay value; but until then I'll stick giving it a 7.5.

OVERALL: 8.4/10
DRIV3R overall is a good game but without having some glitches/slowdowns throughout the game. For example when you sometimes hit another vehicle head on or if there's like 2 or 3 cops after you there seems to be a bit of a slowdown but that doesn't seem to bother most of us who have this game; but as for the glitches go there have been reports of pop-ups and others like that. I fairly believe that this game is good but it seems that those who have played this game and seemed disappointed with the game probably didn't give it much of a chance or they only played a few minutes of the game then decided that this game [insert bash word here]. This game has potential but I wonder how many people actually enjoyed this game such as myself and those who may be interested in this game I say rent it first. If you rent first you may be able to know if this would be a game that would interest you but if you're into games like this then you may get into the game rather quickly.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/24/04