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The mean streetsTanner is back, going deep undercover chasing car thieves
When it comes to the Driver franchise it’s been a long time between crashes. Driver 3 is the first time the series has made it to the newer consoles of the Xbox and PS2 (OK, not that new anymore). The last time I tore through the streets was when Driver 2 come out for the PSOne. After Driver 2 stretched the PSOne to its limit you could imagine how interested I was to see how this new instalment was going to perform when the developers got their hands on some real power.
As is the norm today the graphics were light years ahead but the thing that impressed me from the start was the thought that has gone into the presentation. The makers have worked on getting you into the plot so much that from the start I felt that I was watching a movie and even though I had some control, I was essentially being taken on an adventure. Driver 3 sees our hero ‘Tanner’ resume his role as undercover cop and this time he is on the trail of the theft of 60 highly expensive sports cars. It’s your job to track down the real dealers behind the car order and to eliminate any criminal threats in the process Gameplay
The world of Driver 3 is a lot more realistic and I don’t mean by just demolishing cars as you hurtle through some back street in a foreign country. Apart from the fact that you can now run over pedestrians, including the bad guys, one of the big features of Driver 3 is the opportunity to cause mass mayhem on foot. While getting out of your car is mainly so you can run and get into another, you now are packing heat. You can now casually roam the streets and put a cap in somebody’s arse with any number of weapons which you can grab as you travel through the game. It’s now free roaming as a vigilante with hand guns to grenade launchers.
With weapons introduced the makers have taken Driver 3 along a new path. There is now the element of running gun battles along side the driving duties although the game is primarily still driving (about 85% driving:15% shoot ‘em up).
From the cinemagraphic intro I was ready to rumble and after getting the feel of the Xbox controls and the game taking me through some target practice (with gunplay involved even walking around is now more complex) I was straight behind the wheel and I loved it. Half the appeal is not knowing exactly where the plot is going to take you next. Cars, trucks, boats and bikes are your stock in trade and I do remember seeing a forklift at some stage in the game. Basically if it can be driven then it usually means it should be. Crashability
By the mere fact that you can pump a car full of bullets until it explodes into hundreds of pieces should give you some indication to amount of damage and mayhem you can cause (the detail of the bullet holes is great). And if you get your door ripped off that piece of car is now an obstacle that would cause more damage if you or anybody else were to come back and run over it. So if damage is what you are after then rejoice, as it is dished out literally by the truckload. Online
There will be an online capacity but not as a multiplayer. Instead it will be used for downloading new missions, vehicles and I’m thinking maybe (hopefully) some more weapons. The new missions thing is great because I remember that ‘there’s a hole in my life’ feeling when I completed Driver 2, I was all suited up with nowhere to play. Overall
As you may have guessed by now I’m a big fan of the Driver series. I’ve been hanging out for number 3 for a long time and as it was ‘get me back into the driver’s seat as quick as possible’ I wasn’t disappointed. Personally I can take or leave the gunslinging bit but the weapons have added to the game and I can see that this side will appeal to a whole new audience. Don’t worry if you’re a driving diehard like me: get excited, as there is a hell of a lot of serious wheel action coming your way. Some Key Features
Xbox wheel search over
With all the fever from Atari’s V8 Supercar 2 we thought it appropriate to hunt down a steering wheel that is compatible with the Xbox and give you a report. First, it wasn’t the easiest exercise to find a wheel but eventually we came across the Thrustmaster 360 Modena Force GT Racing Wheel which we promptly plugged in and hit the black-top. The 360 Modena Force GT is a nicely presented wheel with a sturdy construction. What we liked straight-off was apart from the clamp at the base for securing it firmly to a table it also comes with a lap kit that fits snugly on to your legs. When converting from a controller to a wheel there is always going to be a transition but we got used to it pretty quickly and were soon winning races. The main thing with the 360 Modena Force GT Racing Wheel is that it has force feedback, meaning if you hit things, run over kerbing, etc, then you are going to feel it through the wheel. Some of the features included:
Formula 1 04It's open wheel action in the only Official F1 title
With Sony grabbing the worldwide rights to Formula One gaming, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) was due to release its next Official Formula One racing title for the PlayStation2 in June. Formula One 04, which may be on the shelves when you read this, will feature all of the official teams, drivers, and circuits of the 2004 season – including the brand-new tracks in Bahrain and China's Shanghai circuit. Players will have the option to play as themselves or as one of the 20 real-life drivers in the game, and with four difficulty settings, Formula One 04 should provide a lasting challenge for players of all abilities. The game's career mode will allow players to progress through a number of championship seasons, starting out with one of the teams at the back of the grid and attempting to attract the interest of more successful teams.
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