DRIV3R

By Kristan Reed Published 10 February, 2004

The wraps come off Reflections long awaited sequel...

"Before the 1999 release of Driver, the driving action genre didn't even exist," boasts Atari in the glossy press blurb dished out at the launch of its big summer hope DRIV3R. Strictly speaking, DMA Design might be justified in raising a quizzical eyebrow at such brazen comments, having laid the groundwork with the enormously successful Grand Theft Auto 18 months beforehand - albeit a top down, rather than fully 3D take on mission-based driving mayhem.

What isn't open to question is that both Driver and its quickfire sequel were incredibly popular titles of their era, selling a combined total of 12 million worldwide. Expectation for the long-awaited third is understandably huge, and that's why I'm prepared to sit up through the night typing out my notes in order that you fact hungry fiends will be sated. By the time you read this, I'll be enjoying a well earned holiday.

Driven to distraction

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 1

The much-publicised delay of the game's release to June 1st worldwide is hardly surprising for several reasons. The most important is that this is a game that Atari cannot afford to screw up. It's investing 10 million Euros in the marketing for the game throughout the first half of this year, and is keeping its fingers crossed that the game will sell over 10 million units worldwide.

If Reflections gets things right, this will be a given, because the game clearly has the potential to be absolutely stunning. But as thing stand, the game's far from finished. In fact in a little over an hour the presentation was halted at least ten times to reboot the PS2 for one random lock-up after another. Of course, these kind of technical issues tend to rear their ugly head when demoing early code, but not normally this much. From long, bitter experience of the state of pre-release software, I'm holding out in hope rather than expectation that the long list of issues present can be sorted out in time for its June release.

While it was all to easy to get bogged down in the possibility that DRIV3R may be delayed yet again, there was more than enough to admire from a technical standpoint. Reflections has created an engine of colossal power that the PS2, by rights, ought to have absolutely no business being able to cope with. Those infamous screenshots released over a year ago gave us an improbable hint as to the ambitions of the Geordie developer, but it's not until you see it running for your own eyes that you realize that the wait almost certainly will be worth it after all.

Reflected glory

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 2

On a basic level, the sheer amount of detail being shifted around on screen as you wind your way through Nice, Istanbul and Miami is staggering, all pulled off with some incredibly impressive lighting effects that cast real-time shadows over the equally impressive vehicles. The likes of GTA and Mafia look comprehensively humbled next to DRIV3R, and the attention to detail would embarrass Team Soho's Getaway efforts had Reflections attempted London as a setting.

Throw in some immensely impressive physics (always one of Reflection's strong points), and a damage modeling system that easily matches anything I've ever seen, including Burnout 2, McRae and co. Arguably it beats both hands down, allowing the player to get out of the car and shoot individual tyres, leave individual bullet holes in everything you shoot, as well as lob grenades and watch as a whole cluster of vehicles get blown sky high. As a gaming spectacle, you're unlikely to see many that can match DRIV3R on this generation of console technology.

The only slight flies in the ointment as far as I was concerned were headed up by the rather bland texturing on distant buildings, which would tend to suddenly draw onto them when the engine deemed you were near enough in an unconvincing level-of-detail effect. Tanner, also, lacked convincing animation, once again demonstrating that while Reflections may be the king of the motor vehicle, it still hasn't quite got the hang of how to convincingly replicate the movements of a human being. In this demo build, Tanner rather lumbers along, while AI characters also lack substance and a proper presence. Finally, the first-person combat looks odd without the gun in view - as any FPS fan will note if you remove the weapon from the screen. While I can't fault the vehicle related antics in DRIV3R, there's something relatively disappointing in the overall 'feel' outside of the car.

Important issues

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 3

But as Reflections' Martin Edmonson says repeatedly, this is a game firmly focused on car chases, so we don't expect too much of the game to involve running around and shooting - unless the plot dictates it, and given that it's a 35 mission linear romp with expensively produced cut-scenes, let's hope the developer plays to its strengths.

Although Edmonson spent an age taking us through the nifty-looking video editing suite, we can't imagine too many of you will be that bothered with cutting together footage to impress your mates. While it all looks good and shows off the engine, it did rather smack of an attempt to mask the fact that the game wasn't really in a very playable state. The fact that the hapless Reflections MD couldn't succeed in any of the missions he attempted to demo kind of said it all, and my own experiences on the Xbox and PS2 weren't any better either!

And before you ask, this is another game that's been designed to make the most of the PS2, and then ported swiftly to Xbox. There was precious little difference between the two save for a slightly improved frame rate on the Xbox, and the lack of general texturing on areas such as the vegetation was more apparent on the Xbox, and uglier for it. If anything, the game looked far more at 'home' on the PS2, if that makes sense. Either way, it's still a lovely looking game, but like any game with such a vast play area, the cracks are there to be found if you're a fussy git like me.

Grand Theft Angel

To wrap up my first impressions, I'd like to think that Reflections can take on board as much of the criticism as possible, bask in the glory of the initial praise and go on and make the game that we all hope they can. For the love of god let's hope this isn't 2004's Angel Of Darkness.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (33) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • pjmaybe #1 8 years ago

    Not one comment about Motorcycle combinations...! Tchoh.

    Actually EG are quite upbeat about this compared to quite a few other sites, which have dwelled on this build's various bugs and glitches, and actually failed to tell us if it's any fun to play. But that's life.

    Peej

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #2 8 years ago

    Pay attention! That's because we're brainless, hype-led drones with nothing useful to contribute!

  • yegon #3 8 years ago

    I'm looking forward to this one. The original Driver was an awesome game at the time and, unlike most people, I enjoyed Driver 2 - okay, the draw distance was about 10 feet and the frame rate was abysmal but I still took the time to complete it.

  • IronGiant #4 8 years ago

    IMHO they have zero chance of this game selling anywhere near 10m units.. Driver and Driver2 didn't have much competition when they were realeased but now there are a whole heap of 'cool' driving games and amazing graphics won't take stop the juggernaut that is GTA.

  • yegon #5 8 years ago

    The emphasis on car chases pleases me too - I played GTA3 etc purely for the driving, and liked the game DESPITE the on foot sections, not because of.

  • Killerbee #6 8 years ago

    Seems to be showing massive potential and definitely one I'm looking forward to in 2004. Just hope some of the flaws are ironed out soon and we don't see this pushed back again.

    Are there any further gameplay details, like a free-roaming mode, taxi missions and stuff?

  • renzo #7 8 years ago

    I agree with IronGiant. If both Driver 1 AND Driver 2 sold 12million in a period when there wasn't much competition in the 'driving action genre', then it's very unlikely this will sell 10million now.

  • glo #8 8 years ago

    yeah, the first game was one of those I often forget about but I remember playing it constantly over quite a long period. I can even remember the city maps and stuff now I think about it...

    That last mission though...

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #9 8 years ago

    It just needs, as everyone's noted, enough development to actually polish it properly. At the moment it's easy to highlight the glaring bugs and glitches, and cackle at the lofty goal of 10m units, but there's still enough time - particularly if it's delayed again - for Reflections to do themselves justice. I really hope they do, because I loved the first Driver to bits.

  • Blerk #10 8 years ago

    I could never get the hang of the first 'Driver'. The driving physics were too realistic and I spent most of the time crashing into things to complete any of the missions. GTA3 is just right for me 'cos the driving is really simple stuff - just hit accelerate and use the hand-brake a lot. To be honest, I think this will be too much of a 'driving' game for me again.

  • IronGiant #11 8 years ago

    10m is completely unrealistic whether it's finished or not.. the millions and millions, in fact how many has Vice City sold?, of gamers who bought GTA and VC will be waiting for the next in the series and not this. There's no way True Crime has sold anywhere near GTA and that was another game in this 'genre' that was hyped as the next great thing. Driver does have a good name behind it but this game is 2 years too late IMHO. By the way, how many units did Stuntman shift?

  • UncleLou #12 8 years ago

    I am really looking forward to this, and despite competition from GTA and co., Driver with its very realistic physics (and graphics) and the fact that it does concentrate on, um, well, driving (let's hope it stays that way) means it really is a different kind of game/genre.

  • Vibrating Donkey #13 8 years ago

    Well, in GTA both the driving and nondriving were crap.
    At least here we'll get great driving.
    I just hope there won't be too many firefights indoor.

    What I'm more worried about is the bugs and glitches, which both Driver 1 and 2 had problems with.

  • IronGiant #14 8 years ago

    I agree this is different to GTA but i'm damn certain the gaming masses will see cars, gunfights etc and straight away associate this as another GTA clone..

  • Killerbee #15 8 years ago

    IMHO GTA isn't quite the benchmark game some people think it is. If you subject it to a bit of critical analysis, it's actually pretty easy to find fault with GTA, for example:

    - the graphics are nothing special
    - the on-foot targetting leaves a lot to be desired
    - the camera is a bugger (like every time you run up a staircase that doubles back on itself)
    - the graphics engine's draw distance isn't fantastic
    - car handling isn't realistic (it is well tuned for "fun" though)

    Ultimately what makes GTA so good is its depth of ideas, sense of humour, plot & story presentation (in Vice City, anyway), soundtrack (important one that), open-endedness, and ultimately the overall mission design.

    Driv3r seems to be aiming for slightly different things, improving on some of GTA's flaws, but perhaps not matching up in terms of the breadth of tasks you can carry out in free-roaming mode.

    As I see it, these differences aren't necessarily failings (although there will always be a crowd who points to them as such), they're just differences of design and development. Although GTA comparisons are inevitable, there's no reason why Driv3r can't be every bit as compelling and great a game in it's own right, even if it doesn't better GTA in every respect.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/04 @ 14:13

  • IronGiant #16 8 years ago

    Oh i agree, GTA isn't perfect by a long way BUT it's sold by the truckload so in the minds of many it will be the benchmark for Driving/Action games, regardless of it's failings. Driver will inevitably be compared to it, and maybe snubbed in favour of the next GTA, by a huge number of gamers who follow brand names and don't take a chance with other games whether they're better or not.. Madden vs SEGA Sports anyone?

  • renzo #17 8 years ago

    I think a lot of people will pick this up while waiting for the next installment of GTA, whether they're GTAfanbois or not.

  • pjmaybe #18 8 years ago

    I'm quite upbeat about Driver 3 (I refuse to call it Dr3ver, that's the tard version...) - even if it's imperfect and glitchy, there was something about the handling model of Driver that just knocks GTA into a cocked hat (yes, GTA was great, but the Driver series, even the abortional Driver 2 managed to capture that spongy-suspensioned yank muscle-car madness absolutely perfectly...)

    Nice to hear that there's a slight framerate IMPROVEMENT on the Xbox then. They obviously haven't taken any tips from EA in that department, but yep, looking at the cross-format screenies the Xbox version does look like a poor port of the PS2 version, but then what did you expect!?

    Peej

  • tiddles #19 8 years ago

    "Before the 1999 release of Driver, the driving action genre didn't even exist,"

    Turbo Esprit on the Spectrum? That had chases, pedestrians you could run over, driving on the pavements, traffic lights... even shooting from your car. Pah.

    afaik GTA Vice City has sold about 7-8 million worldwide so far... I reckon DRIV3L will do well, but probably not more than 3-4 million.

    The driving models of GTA3 and Driver are actually very similar - I went back to Driver after playing GTA and was surprised how close they were. It's almost as if Rockstar borrowed theirs from Reflections... Maybe people's views of the Driver physics are skewed by not being able to get out of the garage at the start of the game ;)

    Given time, this should be good - I don't care if it's linear and mainly focused on the driving, there's too many GTA wannabes already.

  • UncleLou #20 8 years ago

    even if it's imperfect and glitchy, there was something about the handling model of Driver that just knocks GTA into a cocked hat (yes, GTA was great, but the Driver series, even the abortional Driver 2 managed to capture that spongy-suspensioned yank muscle-car madness absolutely perfectly...)



    Let me take this chance to whole-heartedly agree with you, Peej. Driver delivered that 60ies/70ies Hollywood movie car chase feeling perfectly, which no other game has come close to yet.

    When Burnout 1 was first announced, I was hoping it would be similar to driver (physics-wise), because the developer interviews/previews made it sound like that. Well, it turned out to be something completely different (but great too of course), so I can't bloody wait for Driver. Hope they sort out the glitches.

  • pjmaybe #21 8 years ago

    "Before the 1999 release of Driver, the driving action genre didn't even exist,"

    (cough) Interstate 76 (/cough)

    That's about the only other game I can think of where big yank gas guzzlers have been rendered in a realistic and cool way. I find the Driver series handling a lot better for performing cool "hollywood car movie" type stunts (particularly using the Burnout and Handbrake in combination for cool donuts in the middle of the road)

    Damage model was superior to just about every game around at the time too, and that's something that STILL seems to elude most driving game makers...

    So yep, I'm excited. Even if it gets panned by the critics (which I can't help thinking is a likely occurence as the previews in most cases have been less than kind) I'll still buy it, and for that matter I think I disagree with most of the population in saying that "Stuntman" was bloody good too (if a little frustrating due to slow reload times) so if Driver 3 is a fraction as good as that, I'll be a happy little bunny.

    Peej

  • Cyhwuhx #22 8 years ago

    .::: Kristan; did you notice the Xbox version having a different (as in bad) colour saturation as well?

    The overal graphical difference between the PS2 and Xbx versions is quite weird. I actually saw someone pointing at one of the plasma's going; "That's the Xbox version obviously as it looks best." when it was the PS2 version on display.

  • El_MUERkO #23 8 years ago

    Prays to the gods in heaven:

    Please dont let this be a pile of turd like Driver 2... please!

  • Tyronne #24 8 years ago

    think this is gonna be a title that is borrowed in games 10 day rental period..just in case it actually ends up...not as good as they promise.

  • valli #25 8 years ago

    Buggy code and lack of gameplay is about the worst news we could get. All I can think of now is the "Stuntman" fiasco.

    From looking at the screenshots it seems they sacrificed gameplay (read framerate, controller input, ai) for graphics and that's always a bad move. Driver on the PC is still quite enjoyable because of the physics.

  • tiddles #26 8 years ago

    er, how can you tell that from the screenshots?

    Sounds like it's at the stage most games are about 4-5 months from release - full of bugs and virtually unplayable. Generally what happens next is that they fix all the problems and it's great, or they don't and it's not. No doubt even the original Driver was in the same state at this point in its development.

  • valli #27 8 years ago

    It's just cause it looks too damn good, especially the PS2 version. Read earlier today the first impressions in a Swedish mag where they mentioned that they're used to see unstable early code, but not that unstable. I really hope they'll fix everything until the release, the trailer leaves you wanting more for sure!

  • Royal Fool #28 8 years ago

    "Before the 1999 release of Driver, the driving action genre didn't even exist," boasts Atari in the glossy press blurb dished out at the launch of its big summer hope DRIV3R.

    Are they forgetting megahits like Streets of SimCity, Interstate '76 and Death Rally?

    Bleh, idiots.

  • Royal Fool #29 8 years ago

    Btw, possible sequel titles include 'DRIV4H' and 'DRIVER5'.

  • BLACKSHEEP #30 8 years ago

    It will be a crying shame to release a buggy Driv3r just to get cheap sales rather like The Getaway did. Time is again an issue when working on the PS2's weird innards but if it's given enough then this could be something special!

  • El Nacho #31 8 years ago

    10 million Copies sold is pretty realistic, just with a name like driver many will buy and since this game will be multi-platform it may be no surprise if Driver sold more than some more than 10 mil.

  • matt__jon #32 8 years ago

    "The driving physics were too realistic and I spent most of the time crashing into things to complete any of the missions. GTA3 is just right for me 'cos the driving is really simple stuff - just hit accelerate and use the hand-brake a lot."

    Remind me never to get in a car with you Blerk.

    I'd say this game has the potential to sell 10 million units. First off, the first 2 games didn't have nearly as much gameplay options as this one does. 2nd, if they get the animations right and annoying bugs out, the on foot section will be much better than GTA, GTA doesn't let you aim the gun everywhere (except a few) like on a real first person shooter. 3rd, the driving and crashing sections are better than anything else, not to mention, if the police chases are anything like the past Drivers they're already better than anything else in the genre. And to top it off, it has the best graphics in the genre, which does help some. Plus, if this game is rated T like they're trying to get it, do you know how many more people that wanted GTA but weren't old enough (to buy it themselves) could get this game?

    Stuntman made it to the greatest hits list, meaning its sold at least 400000 units. I know, not much. I haven't heard what the exact numbers are. The only problem with comparing this game to Stuntman is that Stuntman didn't have any freedom, except for a small arena, which doesn't really count. Also, Stuntman was for hardcore gamers, many people complained it was too hard. This game will have difficulty levels but start out easier.

    The in car view in Stuntman unfortunately didn't show the dash, it just showed the hood of the car. You could see the engine when the hood popped off.

    I didn't find the physics always fun in GTA. It was a better game for driving fast and going straight than it was for powerslide turning, which is why D3 will be better. In GTA when you try to powerslide around a turn a lot of times the car will keep turning after you've been trying to correct it. I hated that part. And then the cops sucked too, they either hung way too far back to make it interesting, or they just kept hitting your car every few seconds which was annoying, and is why I don't like the driving in GTA as much as Stuntman.

    Quote tiddle
    ""Before the 1999 release of Driver, the driving action genre didn't even exist,"

    Turbo Esprit on the Spectrum? That had chases, pedestrians you could run over, driving on the pavements, traffic lights... even shooting from your car. Pah."

    I agree, although Driver is my favorite game, a lot of times I don't agree with what Atari says. Or whoever said that. But it doesn't change the game at least. Also GTA was out 18 months before D1, apparently (I never played it or even heard about it until Driver 1), so more proof that they're full of themselves.

    The physics in GTA are closer to Burnout's really. I just hope the physics (and especially collision detection) aren't taken for granted in Burnout 3.

    Good point Nacho, I forgot the multi platform thing.

  • Pina Verified Producer, Seed Studios, Lda. #33 7 years ago

    isso, e eu falo em Português e tu também não percebes... nabo