Driver 2 - PlayStation

Also known as: Driver 2 Back On The Streets

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Also for: Dreamcast
Viewed: 3D First-person / Third-person Genre:
Racing: Car
Adventure: Free Roaming
Arcade origin:No
Developer: Reflections Soft. Co.: Infogrames
Publishers: Infogrames (GB/US/GB/GB)
Released: 5 Oct 2001 (GB)
17 Nov 2000 (GB)
14 Nov 2000 (US)
Ratings: 15+, ESRB Teen 13+ (T)
Accessories: Analogue JoyPad, Memory Card, Digital JoyPad, Dual Shock JoyPad
Features: Vibration Compatible

Summary

To the delight of all PlayStation owners, the fantastic Driver makes a return in the brilliantly titled Driver 2. Infogrames has taken its ethical policy to new depths, with loads of FMV shootings, drug dealing, witness intimidation and general crime taking place in full glorious colour.

You play as Tanner, an undercover cop on a mission to smash organised crime rings and racketeering in Chicago, Las Vegas, Havana and Rio de Janeiro. All the true-to-life features of Driver 2 have been reincarnated and improved to some extent. The car handling feels a lot more responsive. This is due to the physics of the cars and their relationship to the controls and the surface being improved. The damage modelling has also been souped-up.

The production work that has gone into the cities is an achievement in itself, as the layout is reflective of the actual city complete with real buildings and landmarks. Each city has around twenty miles of road and 150,000 objects and buildings. Unfortunately, Reflections Software did not manage to rid the title of the pop-up problems which plagued the first Driver release.

All the mini games from Driver have been included in the follow-up, so if you have a masochistic streak you can further frustrate yourself with survival, lose the tail, trailblazer and the rest.

Sequels are a mixed bag. Some are a just a cash-in and some are brilliant innovations on a theme. Driver 2 falls easily into the latter category. The sequel includes curved roads, loads of FMV, the ability to ditch you car and jack another one and a brand new split-screen multi-player option. Well worth the money!