DRIV3R Review

By Kristan Reed Published 23 June, 2004

You've heard of the disaster movie - now read about a disastrous game. But just how disastrous? Well, the clue is in the title...

Version tested: Xbox

Order yours now from Simply Games.

As much as Atari and Reflections may think we've got it in for Driv3r, we really haven't. We wanted it to be the pinnacle of mission-based driving games as much as the next man; we didn't sit around plotting its demise and wonder how many clever sentences we could put into our review. We really did think that with all the talent and experience of the team that this would be one of the games of the year. Were these unreasonable expectations? We're sure the many millions of Driver fans the world over were expecting the same after four years in development.

The truth is, even a few minutes in the company of third Tanner adventure tell you more than a few choice words could ever hope to do. A few hours and you'll be able to write a thesis on the subject. The simple, unpalatable, grisly truth for everyone connected to this important summer blockbusting title is that it's so far away from being the title it deserved to be, it could well be reflected upon as one of the biggest disappointments in the history of videogames. No title has ever been so keenly anticipated, so massively hyped and yet such a catastrophic mess. To play Driv3r on a sunny day in June is about as devastating an error as realising you've just put your winning lottery ticket through the wash. Sometimes playing a bad game can be amusing in a 'what the hell did they do?' kind of way, but in this case you'll be inventing new expletives to try and express exactly how much rage and resentment you feel in every fibre of your body against this terrifying example of botched game development.

Where did it all go wrong?

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 1

So what exactly is wrong with it? It's hard to know where to start, so we won't - yet. The easiest thing for the shocked Driver 3 critic is to try and get into the mindset of what they were trying to do. On a basic level Reflections has simply attempted to add the whole "Hollywood production values" thing to the Driver experience - the first, remember, on the current generation of machines. It shows promise in this regard when you consider that the likes of Michael Madsen, Iggy Pop and Michel Rodriguez amongst others have been roped in to do the voice acting duties, while the settings are suitably exotic, taking in Miami, Nice and Istanbul, which the art team at Reflections has undeniably done a fine job of recreating.

Indeed, the appearance of around 70 different vehicles, including an 18 Wheeler, a motorbike (yes!), a fork lift, and all manner of cars from the city runaround to the sporty, gives you plenty of variety to get to grips with. Typically, Driv3r continues the grand tradition of having extra spongy exaggerated handling to guarantee that authentic '70s cop show feel of screeching rubber and flying debris as you powerslide through every corner. This isn't necessarily to everyone's taste, but it guarantees a certain level of comic carnage, with flying limbs and honking horns pretty much a given no matter where you are.

On a technical level it's hard not to admire the lengths to which the team has gone to create these vehicles, with an impressive level of destructibility allowing the player to pretty much reduce them to nothing more than a shell, with practically every part able to be damaged and eventually removed entirely depending on just how far you will go in the pursuit of chaos. Driv3r's level of damage physics are impressive - not necessarily aesthetically as dramatic as Burnout's, but in a much more convincing sense in terms of affecting your handling, and to the extent of giving you the ability to shoot out the windshield, the tyres, with individual bullet holes remaining in the car. If pursued, you find that often the best solution is to jump out, shoot the pursuer through the windscreen, drag him out and take off in his own car.

The talent within

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 2

As a pure driving experience you can see where the talent lies. These guys are evidently obsessed with everything to do with the look and the feel of the cars, and have clearly gone to great lengths to make them feel just so - with three intricately designed settings that offer a vivid template for your adventures, each lit dramatically in a variety of lighting and weather conditions.

However, it doesn't take very long to see that as fantastic as some of these features are, they don't really add up to being more than a very marketable gloss; to making it an easy game for the marketing bods to sell to people hungry for more Grand Theft Auto. As much as the game lends itself to sexy screenshots or a fantastic looking preview movie that makes Driv3r look like the best thing ever to happen to driving games, any sort of even vaguely cursory inspection reveals a multitude of cardinal gaming sins.

Chiefly the problems start and end with some quite startlingly poorly designed levels. The game is broken down into roughly nine levels per city, each playable in turn in a rigid and inflexibly linear progression. This feels like a backward step after years of the GTA approach, in that it presents the player with no choice but to persist with their current mission no matter what, or face ending their adventure entirely. In GTA, the sandbox nature of the game and the branching mission structure always seemed to present the player with an array of options, defusing what could otherwise have been a frustrating dead end. And such enforced cul-de-sacs in Driv3r turn some of the trickier missions from being a minor frustration to be returned to another time with a cooler head, into a relentless hot headed joypad mashing pursuit of what can feel like the impossible. At times, Driv3r's design flaws are so blatantly apparent; you're left wondering whether any serious play testing took place.

Nice in Nice?

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 3

Unlike our previous proclamations that the driving was fun and the on-foot sections were the real let-down, it emerges as the game unfolds that in fact some of the driving missions can be the biggest culprits of dim-witted design. Chase missions that set unrealistic time limits and fiddly, erratic and irrational collision detection are one such irritation, but pale into insignificance stacked next to the chase at the end of Nice which practically demands ninja gaming skills to even stand the slightest chance of succeeding in, where lamp posts pop up 20 metres in front of you and become immovable obstacles - either stopping you dead or sending you careening through the air when you inevitably strike them - and traffic clogs narrow streets to transform potential enjoyment into a condition that can only be described as Game Rage.

Yet, some of the very hardest missions come straight after some inexplicably easy ones. There's little sense of a difficulty curve - Driv3r just peaks and troughs on a whim, and just when you think things are getting better it all goes pear-shaped in spectacular style.

The level of pre-scripted events also leaves little room for manoeuvre, with psychic road blocks often magically appearing across the entire city, cued up just moments after you've taken out an entire gang and stolen a car. An on-rails section during the final stages in Istanbul, meanwhile, is comical in its desire to throw police vehicles at you like suicide bombers, while guiding an 18 Wheeler through the streets of Nice has more in common with trying to pilot a runaway snow plough through the mountains of Endor than a beefy artic, with the succession of road blocks only too happy to stay right where they are, leaving you to do a 40 point turn in the road in order to guide your lorry into the docks.

Booby prize

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 4

The odd level here and there offers a glimpse of what might have been - the superbly tense Booby Trap mission that tasks you with keeping above 50 mph is one such rare flourish of Hollywood action movie-esque thrills, but looking through our notes it's hard to think of one single other mission that wasn't too easy or arbitrarily difficult, as well as being riddled with so many issues that gaining any actual enjoyment out of it was the biggest challenge of all.

Where the game really falls apart at the seams are the catastrophically and irredeemably poorly implemented on foot sections. Not only do they just plainly look awkward, with stiff and inappropriate animations and a general lack of polish and detail, but the AI displayed simply takes the biscuit, dunks it in your drink and doesn't even bother to take it out. In more or less every scenario in the entire game, the same thing holds true. Tanner enters room, enemies scream vague "SHOOT HIM!!" type instructions to one another the second the hinges creak and then scatter to their pre-scripted spots. They then remain rooted like startled rabbits until you gratefully dispatch them one by one from afar thanks to the over-generous targeting reticule, which somehow believes it's possible to deliver headshots with a pistol from 100 feet.

It's quite possible that these shooting sections are among the worst we have borne witness to in the current generation of console games. They're not just bad, they're inexcusable, lacking anything even remotely approaching the standard gamers have every right to expect and demand in this day and age. Serving up wobbly animated brainless enemies that neither chase nor react, and compounding it with an unresponsive lead character with an unnaturally stiff aim and a total lack of athleticism is bordering on a disgrace. At our most forgiving it's barely competent, and were this combat mechanic in any other game it would be immediately laughed out of the room. That several other professional critics have recklessly overlooked this point and deem this standard not just acceptable, but excellent, provokes the kind of conspiracy theories that you're doubtlessly reading about all over the net. Only a total fool could look at the on foot sections of Driv3r and not come away with at least the sense that something has gone very wrong in the development process for it to end up this way.

Rush job?

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 5

If we were to pontificate for a moment on the reasons for such a dramatically flawed execution, we might speculate that the actual implementation of the non-driving portions of the game was left until relatively late in the project. By the time it was apparent that it wasn't going to make the grade it was too late to fix it, and the game was perhaps stitched together into a workable state at the last minute and given an intractable deadline. There's no other explanation that makes any sense - there's no way on earth the folk at Reflections would have looked at their game and been totally happy that it was as good as it could possibly be. Maybe they were happy with the car physics and the environments, but there's just no way they could have been satisfied with the missions. And the review scores appearing from normally over generous sources elsewhere tell us that we're not the only ones that feel dismayed with the end result.

But as much as we admire the way the environments look, there are still a bunch of problems that distract you from how good it looks. A dreadful level of pop-up persists on each of the three cities, and often with dire consequences when scenery items appear a second before you crash into them. The aforementioned lamp posts of death in Nice are the most obvious example, but seeing trees and bushes pop up and textures drawn at the last minute onto previously featureless buildings is a horrendous sight. When it does get things right in the beautiful spiralling village in the hills of Nice it slows to a visible crawl. Everything has a price it seems.

If those weren't alarming enough, the pedestrian behaviour is pathetic. At one stage a knocked down passer-by ended up on the roof of a van, then proceeded to get up as if nothing had happened and stand gormless on its roof for a couple of minutes while the van wound its way around the countryside - and such incidents are hardly isolated. In Driv3r, laughable and inexcusable bugs are never far away. Take the 'speedboat of death' as one memorable example, whereby jumping onto the front of the boat resulted in instant death on no fewer than four occasions in a row. Did any play testing take place at all? On the missions where you're being chased, it's actually safer if you drive at a very slow speed - then the rampant pursuers can't ram into you. More comically still, we discovered the best way to shake our pursuers on one mission in Miami was to drive into water, where they promptly floated harmlessly. We're not even going to get into the whole 'flying car' thing. You can already download movies though. Over time, the bugs within Driv3r will form the basis of an amusing book, but right now it all hurts too much to bear.

The unemotional engine

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 6

With so much emphasis on Hollywood production values, you'd at least expect the cut-scenes to somehow provide some incentive to carry on with a gripping storyline, but in truth it doesn't seem to matter how many times you see them, they remain among the most boring and disengaging in-game scenes we've seen in a long time. With a peculiar graphical style that manages to make most of the character models look inbred, not only does it not work as a spectacle, but the whole yarn is so disconnected that even the remarkably clever synopsis that appears when you resume your game upon reloading can't help spark the whole affair into any sort of life. Tanner as a character is neither cool nor funny nor charming; you just don't care about him in any way, and no matter who's doing the voiceovers, the script is so self-consciously trying to be dark and cool that it seems to bore everyone connected with it. You just won't care why you're doing the missions, or who Dubois is, or why you're chasing after so and so. It's meaningless in the most depressing way.

Occasionally the soundtrack threatens to liven up proceedings, but apart from the odd obscure gem hidden within a lengthy cut-scene, you're forced to put up with the sort of repetitive incidental music that was never designed for repeat listening. Get stuck on one of the missions and you'll want to take a machete to the composer. To be fair it wasn't his or her fault that the game persists in artificially drawing things out, but the fact remains hearing music reminiscent of The Professionals for literally hours on end is grating to say the least.

As a complete package, it's hard not to pick holes in Driv3r. When we played the preview build, we remained convinced that certain issues would be fixed (as did others, it would seem), but apart from an obvious audio bug, the whole game is exactly the same as it was then. We stopped playing it so as to not spoil it for ourselves or wind ourselves up about problems that may well be put right - but we were being foolishly optimistic. What's apparent is that we've come away from 20 odd hour's worth of play having enjoyed about one hour of that. If you move away entirely from the missions and simply treat it as a free ride experience and upload some cool scenes over Xbox Live then there's at least some enjoyment to be had cruising around each city taking in the sights and checking out all the different vehicles on offer, but that's hardly something many people will be buying the game on the strength of.

Schtop! Driv3r is not ready yet!

'DRIV3R' Screenshot 7

The sorry truth is that Driv3r is in a shambolic state to release into the market. It's not even an Enter The Matrix situation. Sure, many accused Atari of releasing that before it was ready as well, but at least it was pretty good fun from time to time, no matter how derivative or contrived the package was. In that sense ETM was below average, but Driv3r commits the cardinal sin of rarely even being entertaining on any level. It feels old, its design ethics have long since been usurped, its missions are unbalanced and largely lacking in imagination and no amount of cool vehicle physics and destructibility can mask some serious errors of judgement in the design stage, not to mention some appalling AI, botched third-person controls and all round weak programming.

Many would instantly try and compare Driv3r with the Grand Theft Auto games, but in reality it doesn't deserve to be spoken of in the same sentence as Rockstar's classics. True enough, GTA's not perfect either, and has its own issues to address, but Driv3r never even comes close to matching the GTA titles for energy, cool, ambition, design, talent, craft, humour or more crucially entertainment. It's a vastly restrictive game that's not just flawed, but will actively wind up any passionate gamer that comes anywhere near it - something that contradicts the whole concept of videogaming being a form of entertainment.

In the wider sense, Driv3r is not just a disappointing game for a team of the talent of Reflections to come up with, but is simply so botched that it's a class-A disaster for Atari. Some hardy folk seem determined to be blinkered to its many crushing flaws, but the rest of you should at the very least try before you buy - for an inflated cost of £44.99 in this country, too. No one should be under any illusions: Driv3r could be the biggest gaming let down of all time. For the good of us all, releasing a game of this importance in such a woefully unfinished state should never be allowed to happen again.

Order yours now from Simply Games.

3 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
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 (264) Latest comment 7 years ago

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

  • Rankin #1 8 years ago

    ;__;

    I am very disappointed.

  • Necropolis #2 8 years ago

    I blame the motorbike...

  • Errol #3 8 years ago

    What a joke.

  • tiddles #4 8 years ago

    Is the score trying to balance out the XBW and PSM2 scores? ;)

  • hoathenfold #5 8 years ago

    But apart from all that is OK right??????

  • bionutz #6 8 years ago

    damn; I loved the original Driver, was better (IMO) than GTA3, when it came to car missions.

  • Eighthours #7 8 years ago

    As many will know, there is a great thread about the reviews controversy over on Gamesradar, with contributions from magazine editors and industry figures!!

    htt p://forum.gamesradar.com/viewtopic.php?t=43524

    Bear with it!! It becomes an incredibly good thread!

    Good review. So not quite worth the 90% in PSM2 then? *chortle*

  • Amajiro #8 8 years ago

    And it isn't like EG told them it would be getting a shit review if they didn't sort out the problems...

  • krudster #9 8 years ago

    The score stands up - it's nothing to do with balancing out whatever anyone else gave it, they're all entitled to be completely wrong.

  • Singularity #10 8 years ago

    So it's not as good as Halo then?

  • bionutz #11 8 years ago

    They should be judged for releasing this incomplete game! And why did they have to take the guy out of the car, to kill people manually? This is not GTA but Driver! All he's supposed to do is drive!

  • UncleLou #12 8 years ago

    krudster, you're topping yourself recently in your reviews. About the best-written and most convincing articles that can be found on the net.

  • WriterUK #13 8 years ago

    Bloody well done to EG.

  • bionutz #14 8 years ago

    I'm almost crying. Sniff... good review!

  • tiddles #15 8 years ago

    The sad fact is that Atari are in deep financial shit... Driver 3/10 was already heavily delayed, and they could not afford to delay it further. So Reflections presumably were ordered to release it in the best state they could in the time available...

  • DDevil #16 8 years ago

    But, but, but, it got 5 out of 5 in ZOO magazine! Surely THEY can't be wrong?

  • Dizzy #17 8 years ago

    It will probably sell pretty well.

  • Shinji #18 8 years ago

    Like anyone would want to after reading the review!!!

    Actually... In much the same way that I have a nasty habit of trying to track down stuff that Kim Newman mentions in his direct-to-video hell column in Empire... I have the "so shit, it's entertaining!" thing going on :)

  • UncleLou #19 8 years ago

    I am not so sure about that, Dizzy, with the likes of Gamespot and IGN giving it low scores, either.

    Then again, I don't know how big their influence really is.

  • thesnowman #20 8 years ago

    Gutted, I was going to cancel mine from play after hearing about the bad reviews, but then the gits go and release it early. So it arrived on Monday.

    Its not great, but I dont think it is quite as bad as it is made out in the review. The on foot section are awful, but if u change to fps mode and change the sensitivty they become playable. I still enjoy the driving bits, so satisfying flying round a corner when getting chased and doing it perfectly.

    I would say around 5/10.

    Shame they have tarnished the series (although some would argue that happened in driver 2)

  • W0PR #21 8 years ago

    Good review, but yes, why the link to buy it, and why run a competition to win merchandise from it?

  • Blerk #22 8 years ago

    Excellent review! Well done, Kristan - you can almost taste the disappointment! :-)

    Quit whining about the 'buy it' links. They earn cash for the site.

    /slaps

  • Johnson #23 8 years ago

    >> The reviewer at the Xbox mag that gave it 91% must have been on some really good drugs.

    Are you suggesting that Atari have been spiking the water cooler at the magazines?

  • pjmaybe #24 8 years ago

    Blimey!

    Oh well I'm on my own again on this one then. Sure, it should've been finished properly but it's still enjoyable. Not 45 quids worth of enjoyable but fun nonetheless...

    Mind you this is only after a day's play...!

    Seriously though, did you expect it to be good with us lot on the development team ;)

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #25 8 years ago

    >I am not so sure about that, Dizzy, with the likes of Gamespot and IGN giving it low scores, either.
    Then again, I don't know how big their influence really is.

    Pretty small this side of the Atlantic. Unfortunately (and I say this with all respect for EG) this review will have a pretty small effect as well.

    Sadly.

  • WriterUK #26 8 years ago

    I strongly suspect - or at least hope - all the mags that didn't get an 'exclusive hands-on with unfinished code as long as you give us a 9, alright guv'nor, nuffink dodgy going on here at all oh no' will probably come back and mark this the way it should be marked.

    That is, assuming that they get near-finished code... which given mag times... I doubt. But you never know.

    If I was editor on a mag right now and for some reason I hadn't commissioned a Driv3r review already - because I was waiting for code -I'd be reading stuff like and thinking "Right, we can get a major credibility boost here...." Then give the game a harsh-but-fair review, and stick a headline like "DRIV3R: THE TRUTH" on the cover.

    But hey, I'm not editor on a mag. ;)

  • bionutz #27 8 years ago

    I have a friend working in the printed gaming magazines business (for Italy). Many publishers are sponsoring those magazines; when there is a game that needs to be sold, they're ordering them for a good review or else they'll cut the sponsoring and the magazine will go bankrupt.

  • BravoGolf #28 8 years ago

    Hehe :)

  • gizmo #29 8 years ago

    Look on the bright side. Hold out for a couple of weeks and you'll be able to buy a traded copy for the price of renting it. heh.

  • robo_1 #30 8 years ago

    "The shrill anti-hype around this game at the moment is just as bad as the original positive atari-led hype before the release."

    True enough, but the original hype was generated by Atari, whilst the anti-hype is generated by reviewers and gamers alike. Seriously, when IGN give a low score to a hyped game you know somethings up : )

    It's clear it's no diamond, but as you say Harry, there are people having fun with the game, so if you're totally into the sort of gameplay Driv3r is supposed to deliver, then it's probably worth a rent. Sad thing is I had my cash all ready for this one too, I am totally gutted.

  • Thamuhacha #31 8 years ago

    >wow hold on there. Why is it said this review won't have an effect? Surely people should make up their own minds. The shrill anti-hype around this game at the moment is just as bad as the original positive atari-led hype before the release.

    This wasn't a pop at Driv3r necessarily. I haven't played the released code, so don't know.

    However, I do trust Kristan's reviewing because in the past he has said "X" about a game and I have then found "X" to be true of said game more often than not.

    But my main gripe was that sites like Eurogamer are read by people like us - that is, by gamers who will work hard to form an opinion. And not by little Johnny who wants the latest hyped game. So, while I will not now buy Driv3r ... lots of people will not seek out reviews in order to form their opinion.

  • markypants #32 8 years ago

    Good God. I would even go as so far to say that this review was kind. I played this last night for a few hours, and I am absolutely amazed that a product of this quality has made it to market. I would be ashamed If I was part of the dev team for this product. What a shambles. In my 5 hours of play I must have noted at least 15 bugs. 15!! I had issues with 'The Getaway' but this... This makes 'The Getaway' look slick and bug-less... Which is saying something.

    It's sad that we all know that this game is going to sell like hot cakes, and the general public won't give a monkey's about these reviews. They never ever do. Otherwise why would the top 10 gaming chart look the way it does?

    Really REALLY disappointed. Such potential wasted. Such talent wasted.
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 11:59

  • Nemesis #33 8 years ago

    /wince at score

    Harsh. I remember when Driver was something quite special. How the times change.

  • WriterUK #34 8 years ago

    You know what's sad about all this? I don't think the negative feedback or returned games will affect Atari one jot.

    I was in GAME last weekend and asked the bloke behind the counter how his pre-orders were going for Driv3r - he said they were great.

    Now, even if everyone who pre-ordered the game buys it and brings it back the next day - the only company that suffers is GAME. Not Atari, who get their cut from each retail sale made.

    Admittedly, the huge rising tide of anti-hype (nice phrase) that's about to crash all over the game may well affect sales long term - but I suspect we're talking about maybe making this a 100,000 seller rather than a 300,000 seller.

    That said, maybe Atari wasn't talking bull when they said they needed to sell 4m copies to break even - and if that's the case, perhaps our work here is done....

  • UncleLou #35 8 years ago

    Now, even if everyone who pre-ordered the game buys it and brings it back the next day - the only company that suffers is GAME. Not Atari, who get their cut from each retail sale made.

    Not necessarily. The guy in the indie shop I talked to yesterday has said he ordered a huge pile of copies, but what he doesn't sell he can just send back.

  • pjmaybe #36 8 years ago

    "The physics in Driver have always been streets ahead of GTA in pure driveability anyway..."

    Still is. Nowt wrong at all with the driving physics and dynamics in Driver 3. But then that's what reflections are best at (and should stick to - in fact they should just do a decent Destruction Derby using this engine!)

    Peej

  • Viktor #37 8 years ago

    Brilliant review. Very well argued. There is no reason for Atari reps to complain, but I'm sure they will and probably already have.

    Eurogamer is fast becoming one of the few review sources I trust.

  • Tiger_Walts #38 8 years ago

    Sounds like the bugs do indeed break/kill the game.

    /Changes Edge 6 or 7 prediction to 2.

  • TipTop #39 8 years ago

    ... Im waiting for the Atari press release.

    PRESS RELEASE JULY 2004

    Atari today recognised that early development code for Driv3r somehow made into production. Driv3r has been withdrawn and the finished version is now available. All those who own a copy of the early development version can return them and a final version will be sent to them immediately ...

    ... for a £10 fee.

  • Mant #40 8 years ago

    "EEw Basil this coffee smells like shit..."


    "It IS shit Austin."

    Man 3/10 what a dig in the ribs! The shooting outside of the car is appauling on PS2 that im going to wait for the PC version with the mouse, if it even shows its face. :S

  • Thamuhacha #41 8 years ago

    >"Now, even if everyone who pre-ordered the game buys it and brings it back the next day - the only company that suffers is GAME. Not Atari, who get their cut from each retail sale made. "

    Not necessarily. The guy in the indie shop I talked to yesterday has said he ordered a huge pile of copies, but what he doesn't sell he can just send back.

    It very much depends on the terms of sale agreed between a publisher and a retail outlet. "Sale or return" is very rare, with a more usual agreement being to reduce the RRP after a bit to help the flow of stock. But we can't possibly know in any case.

    However, the indie store will not be dealing with Atari direct, but with a reseller like Centresoft or Gem. And since indies deal with small orders SOR could be more usual.
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 12:30

  • Mant #42 8 years ago

    "in fact they should just do a decent Destruction Derby using this engine!"

    Oh man, im still waiting for that Destruction Derby 1 remake... Somebody!!

  • WoodenSpoon #43 8 years ago

    Not as good as Halo then.

  • presh #44 8 years ago

    While it's true to say that many people buy games without reading a review I don't think it's fair to say that reviews don't have an effect - if they didn't, why would every publisher spend so much time and effort arranging reviews and advertising in magazines?

    Atari will sell a load of copies based on the 2-3 years of hype and the pre-arranged covermounts and exclusives, but review really help with long-term sales. Look at GTA3 - sold over a million copies mainly through good review scores and word of mouth.

  • barchetta #45 8 years ago

    Truly a car crash of a videogame then ......

    /winces

    Thank you Eurogamer for once again not kowtowing to the marketing depts. and giving us punters some solid advice.

    I wonder how many print mag editors feel seeing someone walking up to the counter of their local GAME and handing over hard earned cash on the back of a feeble, massaged, mag review.

    Martin Edmondson - you need to tell us why.

  • Thamuhacha #46 8 years ago

    >Atari will sell a load of copies based on the 2-3 years of hype and the pre-arranged covermounts and exclusives, but review really help with long-term sales.

    Reviews in the likes of Official PS2 mag might do (circulation close to 200,000). My gripe is that sites like EG (who I think we would all trust more than most print mags) don't get to tell 200,000 people that the game is a 3 out of 10 debacle. Neither do Edge or Games TM.

    Anyway, all eyes on Charttrack over the next few weeks. My prediction is for Driv3r to chart high for a fortnight and then start to drop rapidly.

    Edit: my spelling is bugged today.
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 12:42

  • perilikid #47 8 years ago

    Now, even if everyone who pre-ordered the game buys it and brings it back the next day - the only company that suffers is GAME. Not Atari, who get their cut from each retail sale made.

    Not necessarily. The guy in the indie shop I talked to yesterday has said he ordered a huge pile of copies, but what he doesn't sell he can just send back.

    Having worked at HMV for over two years now and seen how we got stuck with loads of Angel Of Darkness when it stiffed, I'd be surprised if Atari didn't contrive to get a deal where once the games were out, they would be non-returnabable (or something). Give it a few months, and even the big high-street retailers will be selling it for £15.

    As for the review, I've only got one thing to say... ouch.
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 12:44

  • Whizzo #48 8 years ago

    I thought it was rather odd that in the latest OPS2M is stated a couple of times at the front they were a bit narked Atari wouldn't let them review Driver3. Perhaps Atari's PR people didn't think it would get a complimentary review prior to release...

  • pjmaybe #49 8 years ago

    Oh well, they can always bury 'em all in the desert. That's not been done before by anyone...

    /aide whispers in ear

    Oh...Oh god, really? Atari did that? Oh my!

    /keeps copy for Ebay in 50 years time

    Peej

  • Armitage Tubbs #50 8 years ago

    Excellent review gentlemen. Glad some sites are not afraid to tell it like it is.

  • Kami #51 8 years ago

    Ouch!

    That's all I can say to this one... just... OUCH!

  • Singularity #52 8 years ago

    Not as good as Halo then.

    So are we the great minds thinking alike, WS, or the fools seldom differing?

    ; )

  • Wobbler #53 8 years ago

    This is how it got such reviews :)
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 12:56

  • tiddles #54 8 years ago

    Be interesting to see how it performs in next weeks' chart.

    Given the hype, would anything less than No. 1 be considered a disaster?

  • MBar #55 8 years ago

    ah, an honest score with supporting evidence. great.

    this reviews controversy thing is great. doesn't anyone use www.gamerankings.com ? or is there some other dodgy reason not to?

    Reviews: 7 Average score: 68.6%

    and that doesn't include you guys! that score certainly means i'll be going no where near it.

    edit : "This is how it got such reviews :) " : nice one, wobbler.
    Edited by 2 at 23/06/04 @ 13:13

  • Thamuhacha #56 8 years ago

    >Given the hype, would anything less than No. 1 be considered a disaster?

    Given the hype and the time of year / competition ... anything less than 4 to 6 weeks at the top would be pretty bad.

  • Freek #57 8 years ago

    Damn that was depressing, I was expecting jokes and sarcasm, instead we get a review of a game that's so bad the reviewer coulden't even see the humor in it.

  • Errol #58 8 years ago

    3 is a generous score. I would have given it no more than 2.

  • pjmaybe #59 8 years ago

    Yep I'm one of 'em.

    What Harry said.

    Fuck all this talk of "behaving like sheep"

    I wouldn't care who published it, whether it was hyped or not, I'd still try it and make my own mind up. Just like I did with Galleon.

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #60 8 years ago

    >Less sad than avoiding a game just out of some bitter wish to be seen as a elite gamer. :o)

    I do see your point Harry. But I am going to avoid Driv3r for slightly better reasons:

    I don't like driving games that much.
    Several reviewers I respect have recommended that I don't waste my time in any case.
    I haven't played Prince of Persia, Beyong Good and Evil, KOTOR, Ninja Gaiden, Thief DS or lots of others ...

  • valli #61 8 years ago

    Well, the 3 was there all the time wasn´t it? *looks at the stupid title* That´s 40 squid saved then!

  • Tiger_Walts #62 8 years ago

    (like ninja gaiden...I really learned to hate the difficulty level there with passion..I`ve trown my pad, hit the pad, stomped on it, and on the 5th hour on a certain boss, I picked up my xbox and considered trying to see how far I could throw it)

    But that isn't due to any fault of the game though, you just suck. Seriously though I do agree that Ninja Gaiden is a little too hard and an Easy option should have been included. But, losing a boss battle because you haven't figured out a working strategy is not the same as dying because of a bug.

  • BradlayLaw #63 8 years ago

    I got stuck on the fucking car->truck mission last night. Drive up ramp, oh shit my car has hit the side and not gone in. Restart. Repeat. Restart. Throw xbox out of window. I tried one of the mini games and after 20 restarts I decided it wasn't worth it.
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 13:40

  • mcmonkeyplc #64 8 years ago

    You just gave it a 3 because its its driver 3 didnt you. :p

  • Killerbee #65 8 years ago

    /joins in "ouch" chorus

    Great review krudster. It really does sound dreadful in the extreme and is well and truly off my list (although I have entered the EG compo just to see what the fuss is about).

    I feel sorry for Atari though - they publish something superb like Transformers and its sales are average mainly due to lack of hype, and then when they do try and play the hype game, the product is toss and everyone hates them anyway.

    Mind you there's no excusing pushing an unfinished game out to market - they've only themselves to blame.

  • Curry_mad #66 8 years ago


    Enjoyed the review - very informative. Even though I don't own an Xbox and copy of Driv3r, I could feel the frustration!!

    However, I do feel some sympathy for Reflections.

    Obviously any developer who makes a game doesn't want it to be a turkey, nor wants to release something that has the potential to be great, but isn't finished.

    Surely it's down to Atari to call the shots when they want it released?

    Good review though.

  • Errol #67 8 years ago

    3/10 seems fair to me.

    An excellent review and an eminently sensible score.

  • Beano #68 8 years ago

    I've played the Xbox version of D3 and can't really see how it deserves 3/10 !

    Ok, it has it's faults and is an unpolished game... but it's simply not that bad and is quite playable.

    Hell, it's far better than Getaway and True Crime IMO.
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 14:19

  • Tyronne #69 8 years ago

    Maybe aside from having marks out of ten..there could be 5 graphical representations on the main page for the review like the old zzap and crash mags did after all you have the reviewers faces so why not have them either smiling for a decent game..thumbs up for a great game and in driv3rs case...a steaming turd.

  • Daryoon #70 8 years ago

    I see a lot of people are still under the assumption that 7/10 is "average"...

  • Thamuhacha #71 8 years ago

    >Kristan can slate Driv3r as much as he wants in the review but if I slate his review then I get my post removed?

    Goddam us Yoo-row-peen communists eh?

  • Tyronne #72 8 years ago

    Freedom of speech..what is this yankgamer now ?...it`ll be the fourth amedment next...think thats the arms one...which is bit mean if you suffer and were born as a thalidomide child as you would have no arms.

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #73 8 years ago

    Taxi for Kristan / Freedom of speech: What post was removed???

  • Munkhee #74 8 years ago

    It's definitely better than The Getaway and True Crime...

    There's one thing I haven't seen mentioned in any review though, and that's how damn short the game is! I've heard quotes of anything from 12-20 hours playtime, which is rubbish - I reckon I spent no more than 6-8 hours start to finish...

  • tiddles #75 8 years ago

    I got stuck on the fucking car->truck mission last night. Drive up ramp, oh shit my car has hit the side and not gone in. Restart. Repeat. Restart. Throw xbox out of window. I tried one of the mini games and after 20 restarts I decided it wasn't worth it.

    A useful trick I used for this was to line up the middle of the top of the car's windscreen with the space between the two ramps on the back of the truck - they're roughly equivalent in size, so it helps a great deal with alignment. Still a pain when you miss, though...

    FWIW I liked the game, although it's too short to be worth £40. The balancing issues (especially the chase missions) became very annoying, however.

  • Whizzo #76 8 years ago

    No shit Sherlock - this happens all the time...

    I'll "double no shit Sherlock" in the fact that the official PS2 magazine actually whinges about it in public in the mag is pretty bloody unusual, not that Atari was in damage limitation mode.

  • Thamuhacha #77 8 years ago

    >it`ll be the fourth amedment next...think thats the arms one...which is bit mean if you suffer and were born as a thalidomide child as you would have no arms.

    That's the 2nd amendment I think. Good idea for the pun ... would have been better without the thalidomide reference though.

    Rauper - I think they are reading a bit much into Jimmyjames' post

    Edit - bloody spelling AGAIN!
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 15:04

  • squaylor #78 8 years ago

    Wow. I don't know what to say - what a cock-up by Atari.

  • Reaper2K3 #79 8 years ago

    Am I the only one that wonders if it's the pressure from the execs or lack of adequete testing that was to blame here. Stuff like this should ot be out on the market, and Xbox Cert, they should be shamed for allowing this crap out there.

    Damn politics and money all I want is a decent game that is FUN!!

  • MBar #80 8 years ago

    One time, the foolish Programmer said :
    I'll buy Buffy - season 7 - from Amazon, for £30

    jesus, no!!!!! we were discussing the other night how that show once controlled our friday nights. only too late did we realise the error of our ways...

    willow is hot though..

    edit : DRIV3L heh. excellent.
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 15:27

  • Aga #81 8 years ago

    "Driv3r could be the biggest gaming let down of all time"

    "Order yours now from Simply Games"

    heh =)

  • GTBurns #82 8 years ago

    3 out of 10 is a high score for this effort! It IS utter pony and, frankly, I'm not that surprised.

    Despite constituting enjoyable muscle-car romps; the previous two games in the series also exhibited some woeful game design. Particularly in the later levels, the last level in the first Driver game on PS1 has to be one of the most frustrating ever!

  • mystic_mick #83 8 years ago

    Well I picked this game up last weekend, yes there's bugs in it, but I'm not lying when I say I've enjoyed some parts. 3/10 sounds harsh, but if it was an EA title, then their slogan would be right " It's in the game! " thats the score that is.. The review scores seem to reflect everyones disappointment that the game could and should of been, 'Game of the Year' it had all the ingredients to do so.

  • KyuZo #84 8 years ago

    "The game is broken"

    Well, that about sums it up then.

    Oh, and mr Freedom of Speech, I sympathize with you if you're telling the truth about an unwarranted post deletion - it's not right.

    But you do talk a lot of rubbish:

    "Again this is "my opinion" and the whole review is just "Kristan's opinion"

    So it's only Kristan's opinion that this game have some serious bugs? If someone decides to believe that there are no bugs in the game it doesn't actually fix the bugs.

  • Errol #85 8 years ago

    /Takes Buffy roughly from behind.

  • Freek #86 8 years ago

    "Some people seem to have confused the word TRUTH with OPINION"

    How can fundametaly broken gameplay mechanics and massive amounts of bugs be an opinion?
    Hype has nothing to do with it, it's simply not a verry good game. I'm sure there are some poeple who can look past that, but for 67 euro I want a good game, a finished product.
    That's why people read reviews, to see if it's any good.

  • Freek #87 8 years ago

    Wich I would believe I he was the only one gripping about it, but when you look through the variouse online forums you can see people bitching about the game who actaully bought it.
    It always seems that when a game is realy bad, and people say so, you'll always have a few other people who claim it's just sheepish me too behaviour.
    When ever a game is fantastic and people say so, you always see another small group of people claiming the game is overrated and crap.

  • presh #88 8 years ago

    "As for the playtester comment - One days hacks will actually understand that testers don't fix bugs...

    I don't think anyone was having a go at the testers - is more a case of the developer not fixing the bugs, Microsoft passing the final version of the game as acceptably bug free, and Atari for publishing a game they know has soe major problems...

    I know that testers can only report bugs, but that still leaves plenty of other people who have the responsibility of fixing them.

  • MBar #89 8 years ago

    just get drunk.

    you never know, it may make Germany look like a decent team, as well. there's no chance they can win tonight.

    ..... is there?

  • presh #90 8 years ago

    OK, point taken, those comments would be a bit unfair to any playtesters reading the piece.

    I think in the context of the review these comments are directed more towards the developer by not making full use of th whole playtester feedback loop that would normally spot such major bugs as flying cars pretty early in the process.

  • Thamuhacha #91 8 years ago

    >..... is there?

    Careful. We aren't lucky enough for Spain, Italy andGermany to go out in the groups.

    And I would quite like them to stay in so we can thrash them in the semis.

    BTW Freedom of Speech: "testers" are people within a QA department. The QA dept are responsible for prioritising bugs in collaboration with the programmers. If the board say "it has to be out in 3 months" then all the QA dept and programmers can do is come up with a rough priority schedule to fix what they can in that time.

    The head of QA is usually quite senior in a publishing company.

    Play testing is always done. It just can't always be done in time :-(

  • MBar #92 8 years ago

    Careful. We aren't lucky enough for Spain, Italy and Germany to go out in the groups.

    well, its either them or Holland who are heading home. unless latvia can pull something out of their ass, in which case both might go out! woohoo!

    bbc.co.uk :
    Latvia will only go through with a victory and a Czech win or draw.

    could happen.....

  • squaylor #93 8 years ago

    You obviously don't so please don't comment until you do...

    freedom of speech indeed, LOL.

  • Thamuhacha #94 8 years ago

    >Thamuhacha,

    I know what testers are and what role they play in the development process...

    You obviously don't so please don't comment until you do...

    Find yourself a tester and ask him the last time he ever prioritised work for a programmer...

    I never said that they did. I said that the QA dept did. Please read my posts before commenting on them.

    I have been working in games for a while now - and know perfectly well who does what thanks.

  • presh #95 8 years ago

    "Thamuhacha,

    I know what testers are and what role they play in the development process...

    You obviously don't so please don't comment until you do...

    Find yourself a tester and ask him the last time he ever prioritised work for a programmer... "

    Ok, I'm getting bored with this shit. I am right now sitting next to a development team as they run through the QA feedback from the testers. Bugs are given a priority depending on how severe they are - flying cars = very bad, wrongly spelt menu = less bad.

    Testers also comment on overall gameplay, as well as spelling and grammar in all the game text and menus.

    These reports are given back to the development team, who then assign responsibility for the bug fixes.

    The **tester** may not prioritise who actually fixes the bugs - that would be impossible. However, the **tester** does have a say in which bugs are the most critical.

  • mystic_mick #96 8 years ago

    You see there's two paths a reviewer can take, one is their honest opinion approach, which I think Kirstan did, or the lets focus on the good points type of review and Polyfill over the cracks.

    I've played about 5 hours on and off in-between going out drinking, watching football and all. The game reminds me a little of True Crime, which promised so much and delivered little. Also there's a hint of Rebel Strike in the sense that, that game also looked hurried and unfinished and didn't live up to the hype.

    Driver 3 is flawed but still playable....Just.

  • Thamuhacha #97 8 years ago

    Cheers Presh

    I guess that the Driv3r bug fix process got down as far as the A-class "showstopper" variety. No one seems to have experienced any crashes?

    It comes to something when flying cars are not a top priority bug :-)
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 18:21

  • presh #98 8 years ago

    No probs :-)

    I was getting pissed off with being told I didn't know what my job involved ;-)

  • Kengro #99 8 years ago

    Well where is my shotgun... And who's the asshole who gave the realese order... I've seen vorse but this shurely should have been better

  • IronGiant #100 8 years ago

    I'm QA too.. testers find bugs/issues/defects or whatever you wanna call em, they are then reported and escalated to Managers/Team Leaders who then prioritise and allocate Developers to fix em. Simple.. except when deadlines are tight you can only find so much and also fix so much. In the case of Driv3r i imagine the developers and QA were fully aware of the state of the game but Atari management decided they wanted it out the door as is.

  • hork #101 8 years ago

    *mwah*
    http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/gen message.php?board=2000100&topic=14722903

  • Shinji #102 8 years ago

    Freedom Of Speech - implying that the game was not properly tested is not a dig at the playtesters, it's a dig at the management who either didn't allow them to do their jobs properly, or chose to ignore the reports which they filed. I don't think it's fair to interpret that any other way. We all know how hard testers work, especially in the latter stages of a project, and what a thankless task it is, and I'm certain that Kristan wasn't taking them to task - rather it's Atari's management who are the target of those comments, and quite rightly so.

  • presh #103 8 years ago

    Let's all have a group hug ;-)

    And thanks for the offer F.O.S, but I think afer a whole day of posts about how Atari shouldn't have released a flawed game I think I'll just keep quiet for now on what our team is working on! That would just be tempting fate :-D

  • Thamuhacha #104 8 years ago

    ditto. I like Eurogamer for several reasons, and it would ruin it slightly if I kept getting flamed for whatever I was working on.

    Besides, I am on the marketing side mainly - so I am too busy getting my grey suit dry cleaned :-)

    /joins group hug

  • meepster2312 #105 8 years ago

    Isn't the most 'amusing' thing about this is that they actually charged
    *more* than than the accepted top end RRP for this product. £44.99??!!
    Are they mad??!!

  • meepster2312 #106 8 years ago

    I'm sure it's not. It only applies to'special' products of a certain quality.....

  • El_MUERkO #107 8 years ago

    I r a Software Tester

    I'd comment on test practices but I havent tested games so who knows :)

    PS: I just moved to london and need a job!
    Edited by 1 at 23/06/04 @ 20:57

  • William #108 8 years ago

    re: Jump across the bridge (caption of one of the screenshots)
    "Head out of here at speed and you're expected to jump a bridge to escape. Except you can't - the game doesn't let you reach the other side, whatever your trajectory, and you wind up in the drink below swimming towards shore."

    You _are_ able to jump to the other side by joining the road towards the bridge at an earlier junction, which leaves you a longer stretch of road to build up speed. I managed it on the 2nd try.

    However, I wasn't too pleased with the late warning about jumping the bridge on my first try: if you don't know in advance that you should jump, you won't have the speed to make the jump and you'll end up replaying a good part of the mission due to the bad mission scripting.

  • yegon #109 8 years ago

    Excellent review, covers all the major beefs I had from playing the game.

    Re: bugs killing the game - I disagree. What kills the game is alarming popup (which some daft people misconstrue as a bug!), a tawdry shooting mechanic, bland architecture, poorly planned missions and downright bad game design that permeates throughout. Even with another 6-12 months of bug testing, the underlying game would still be a very mediocre experience.

    Its a real shame as I loved Driver, and even enjoyed the (admittedly flawed) Driver 2. Had Reflections concentrated entirely upon the driving elements and made it a little more free roaming and less load-dependent, it could've been a contender.

  • W0PR #110 8 years ago

    ROFL at the recall believer!

  • Freek #111 8 years ago

    Wait, so somehow ALL the reviewers and ALL the stores in the entire world got the wrong version?
    Edited by 2 at 23/06/04 @ 23:10

  • stuntdriver #112 8 years ago

    ^^^ It is just a What if?? I do not believe it will happen, just feel the true fans deserve better. That' all.

  • freedumb #113 8 years ago

    *WARNING* LONG-WINDED BUT INFORMATIVE POST FOLLOWS* (hehe)

    I accept wholeheartedly that the game has it's issues and is buggy and clearly in an unfinished and unpolished state. But funnily enough I'm enjoying it, having played it at length (currently on te final city).

    The on foot sections - after 5 minutes of play it sems like pap, but having stuck with it, adjusted the look sensitivity to 75, invert Y-axis and auto-aim option (which I don't use), it becomes very responsive and intuitive. I don't see how the gunplay is any worse that Vice City's or The Getaway. Sometimes, the guards do come to hunt you down and occasionally roll.run in and out of cover. So admittedly the AI isn't great, but neither is GTA's.

    The Xbox version at least features a really detailed graphical engine, and the pop-up isn't so severe as to affect gameplay, I never even noticed it till I read this review. The car physics are still spot on, with great and varied car handling and suspension, adrenaline fuelled car chases and replays, varied mission types, plus the most amazingly degreed damage engine I've ever witnessed in a videogame, it sure beats Vice City's or Toca Race Driver 2's Terminal Damage Engine.

    Opposite to Krudster, I thought the FMV cutscenes were very effective especially the scene setting introductions to the cities (and the intro itself - one of the best ever, in my hmble opinion), I do like the art style also. I don't think they're overly dark, moody and pretentious either, especially as they're backed by top-notch voice talent from the likes of Michael Madsen, Ving Rhames, Michelle Rodriguez and more, replete with a really varied and apt subterraenean and underground soundtrack, synchronous to the action of the scenes, from the likes of Iggy & The Stooges and Mellowdrone.

    Some specific apparent bugs I'll just mention. Krudster, I thought the lorry heist mission is part of the skill involved in slowing down lining up the car entry, and then quickly finding a vehicle to collect the next car and deliver before truck reaches it's destination, rather than a fundamental flaw in game design. I have never died while exiting a boat, just jumped out and swam freely in the water.

    Crticising Driv3r for not aping GTA's sandbox nature is a tad unfair Krudster. Driver and similar games like The Getaway were always about tight, linear game progression tied to a concise and involving narrative structure, despite the frustration of mission re-tries due to the high difficulty level. I always thought that was part of the experience, rather than the design flaw. The Driver series is NOT GTA, and not trying to be like GTA, even when the original pioneered (or at least preceded GTA3) on the 3D cityscapes on consoles.

    Something not mentioned so far is the choices you get within some missions, with alternate routes to and from buildings, choice sometimes to use road/sea, and in the last Nice level that Krudster mentions, I didn't even opt for the super-hard chase, I just stood outside and used the M16 to take out the driver as she drove past. Job done.

    If you've read this far you'll probably realize that I think it's extremely harsh to give Driv3r a 3/10, I'd give it and 8/10. It was a similar thing with Enter The Matrix, I really liked that also, and I'm not one to usually accept casual gamer type, mass market drivel, that sells purely on the basis of license/legacy. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Finally, I think it should be played first by some of you before making your minds up completely. Fini.

  • HarryB #114 8 years ago

    to be fair, i just played gta 3 and vice and this game pisses all over it in the looks department and overall maturity

    even the handling is cool snince the cars feel different and properly handle to their proportions

    gta looks so cartoony now when i look at it, odd

    but i cant even do the 1st car chase in driv3r so i dunno what the missions are like... i slide a little and then the guy blazes away and its mission failed again and again well only once but it annoyed me so ive been cruising

    and found this guy in a red hawaian shirt called tommy vemerci or something, not vercetti but it WAS a piss take of vice city - lol he he and he did look cartoony they gave him solid coloured skin etc so he looks like crap lol

  • Skeeve #115 8 years ago

    "implying that the game was not properly tested is not a dig at the playtesters, it's a dig at the management who either didn't allow them to do their jobs properly, or chose to ignore the reports which they filed. I don't think it's fair to interpret that any other way."

    It is fair for him to interpret it that way since the review specifically mentions the testing rather than the upper management who will have been to blame in reality. TO try and deny the comment now you have had hordes of indignant testers posting on here. ;-)

  • jumpdeveraux #116 8 years ago

    I knew they shouldn't have put motorbikes in it...

  • Freek #117 8 years ago

    Ah so you found little Timmy
    He has little floaters, cuz he can't swim.
    Rockstar'll probably putt in thier own joke towards Driv3r in GTA:SA.
    Edited by 1 at 24/06/04 @ 02:47

  • BravoGolf #118 8 years ago

    I'm still gonna rent this one, just to see how bad it is :-D

  • Thamuhacha #119 8 years ago

    >it's a little tragic that reflections took the time to model and skin a Rockstar piss-take but didn't fix the fact that you can swim halfway up steps when you get out of the water?

    Well, it probably means that GTA San Andreas will slip as Rockstar sit down and laugh for a month.

  • OnlyMe #120 8 years ago

    Eurogamer - THE anti-mainstream website

    I find it odd that a game like Driv3r can get 3/10. Heck, I even thought Gamespot and IGN was bad, but now this?

    Does this mean that this game is worse than The Getaway, True Crime and Simpsons Hit and Run?

    I don't think so. I love this game. I just completed all the missions, and now I'm going on a search for the Timmys and hidden vehicles in Take A Ride, and eventually have some fun with the Driving Games, like Survival.

    Sure. It has a lot of bugs. Sure, it has slowdowns. Close to none of the bugs actually come in the way of the gameplay, which is still top notch. The on-foot sections aren't really any worse than The Getaway, True Crime nor GTA. GTA have horrid on-foot controls when compared to true 3rd person shooters. It is also filled with bugs, has a fair share of slowdowns (only not as evident in Driv3r, I'll give you that) and the vehicle controls are mostly avarage. Damage engine is also mediocre, compared to Driv3r. Driv3r have the most impressive damage engine I've seen to date.

    Giving this game a 3/10 is... well... rebelling. Eurogamer seems to be a child with a desperate need of attention and do that by giving really really low scores on games that deserves a lot better. This game is no worse than a 7/10, even an 8/10 in my opinion. Also, if the game had no bugs, this would have been given a 9/10 or even 10/10, I'm sure of it. No way does it deserve to be dragged down 5-6 points down because of bugs, even if they are many. I can accept that this game feels a bit unfinished. It should have been pushed back. But then again, maybe Atari and Reflections got so tired of the game that they just wanted to release it. Maybe we'll see a Driver 4 before the next generation consoles get out, now that they have a decent engine. They just have to remove all the bugs.

    Oh, and I hope the PC version will remove a lot of the bugs. At least, we're blessed with the possibility of patching. And slowdowns may not be a problem anymore if you have decent specs.

  • Thamuhacha #121 8 years ago

    >Oh, and I hope the PC version will remove a lot of the bugs. At least, we're blessed with the possibility of patching.

    Blessed is it?

    U R a publisher and I claim my £5.

  • presh #122 8 years ago

    "Also, if the game had no bugs, this would have been given a 9/10 or even 10/10, I'm sure of it."

    Yeah, and if John Romero hadn't made Daikatana he would still have some credibility...

    "If only" doesn't excuse jack shit.

  • OnlyMe #123 8 years ago

    Thamuhacha: Well, blessed in a way that it's possible to fix bugs after the game is released, where in the case of Xbox or PS2 versions (although the're connected and have a HD, as an option on the PS2) we're stuck with the version that's released.

    presh: no, it doesn't exscuse any, but it's still too harsh to remove that many points off the game because of the bugs, even if it has the most bugs ever in a computer game. It's not as if the game is unplayable, unlike True Crime, which is much less playable because of tragically poor implemented controls.

  • OnlyMe #124 8 years ago

    geff: are you saying there are no bad games on the GC? I know plenty. The quality in some of the games are unrivaled, but there's still a few bad games too.

    Not that Driv3r IS a bad game. It's better than most out there.

  • presh #125 8 years ago

    OnlyMe, I guess this (like the review itself) is a matter of opinion. I don't think it is feasible or credible to score a game based on how good it could have been with fewer bugs. If you feel that EG has been harsh in its score then fine, I can agree to differ on that. But to suggest what the game would have scored if the gameplay was more balanced and if there was less pop-up and if the bugs had been sorted is pointless - by that logic every game could be a 10/10 if consumers and reviewers ignored all the inherent flaws.

    Game development isn't just about ideas - it's also about execution, and when companies get that wrong then they should expect the kind of reaction we are seeing now with Driv3r.

  • IronGiant #126 8 years ago

    3/10 is harsh but not ridiculous, DRIV3R is crap with or without the bugs. Just like The Getaway though there will be plenty of people that get enjoyment out of the game.. which is nice.

  • den davies #127 8 years ago

    i have to agree with the freedumb, harryb, pjmaybe, and only me in saying i like this game. i haven't found any of the missions overly difficult, even though that fabienne car chase was a right pain because i had very little energy left when it started (never thought of shooting her as she drove past). i quite liked the "drive 3 cars onto the trailer" mission, it was most satisfying when i completed it with 0.01m left on the clock. the "speed" mission was good fun too. i don't care that i'm almost 2/3rd's of the way through the main game after two days, some of the missions i would gladly replay, haven't even started on the driving games yet. nice to see a playable demo of transformers on there too. loading times (i have PS2 version) are some of the best i've come across (better than VC's loading screen when you least expect it). and the tommy vercetti'alike is called timmy vermicelli iirc. i'd give it 7 or 8/10, well worth my 60yoyo's

  • OnlyMe #128 8 years ago

    presh: Yes, I agree. I never said it SHOULD be given an 9 or 10 ouf of 10. Of course there should be points detracted for the bugs. Only reason I mentioned it was that I found it amusing that, when the bugs really doesn't affect gameplay that much, it was suddenly considered to be the worst game ever. I understand that it's probably one of the most buggy games ever, but it still isn't that bad.

    And you couldn't have given every game 10 out of 10 for being free of bugs, like you said. There is a difference between execution and actual bugs. It's not like they made the bugs on purpose (although it could look that way in this game :p). A game with bad controls, bad story, bad gameplay and bad graphics wouldn't have received a perfect score, even if it had absolutely zero bugs, simply because it's a bad game. This is a good game WITH a lot of bugs (that doesn't detract rom the gaming experience THAT much).

    I find it suspect when a good game with bugs score less than a bad game with bugs.
    Edited by 1 at 24/06/04 @ 13:47

  • den davies #129 8 years ago

    can someone let me know what mission the "bridge jump" is in so i can keep an eye out for it

  • OnlyMe #130 8 years ago

    How can this game be too hard? It was way too easy! I bought the game on tuesday and completed it on wednesday? The ONLY challenging mission was the one in Istanbul where I was supposed to chase Collita. THAT was pretty unforgiving. I tried that one a lot of times before I managed it.

    But all in all, way too few missions made the game too short. And it was too easy. Perhaps it's because I completed the two first Driver games without cheats. They're not THAT hard. Stuntman was also not too hard. It was a great challenge, and the difficulty was perfect. I wish more games had this kind of challenge. It's sad to see Reflections gave into the pressure and reduced the difficulty of their games.

    BTW, Reflections aren't exactly known for making easily completed games. You know, they made the Shadow of the Beast series.

  • OnlyMe #131 8 years ago

    Oh, one last comment on that jump the bridge mission. How the hell can that be hard? It's basically drive toward the bridge. I couldn't remember what mission you were talking about, but then I checked out the video provided. That mission was a piece of cake, what's the deal with it being near impossible? It's laughable, jumping a small gap in Zelda: OOT is actually harder.

  • MoFo #132 8 years ago

    One way you can analyse a score is to ask does it reflect how many people enjoy playing the game. So do only 3/10 people enjoy playing Driver? At the moment judging by the comments on the forums I've been to, I'd say that 3/10 is spot on the mark.

  • pjmaybe #133 8 years ago

    Yup, we're slowly winning 'em over...

    Slowly.

    Peej

  • matt__jon #134 8 years ago

    I don't see what everyone hates this game so much for. So the reviews suck, big deal, the ONE person who wrote the review hates the game.

    At one point on the IGN review, they said even without all the PS2 crime games and I think even D1+2, this game would suck. Now, how ignorant can you be. The Getaway was ok, and this game is MUCH better. I don't know much about the story, I've only done a few missions, mostly been on Take a Ride, so maybe the story sucks, but it doesn't effect the gameplay. Sure, its no GTA, but VC was a let down to people who wanted new gameplay. This game is great, it just has less variety in terms of gameplay than GTA3 and VC, but more than The Getaway.

    If you even like any type of driving, this is a great game. The on foot sections are good, unlike GTA, you can aim and shoot, yes, the auto-aim sucks, but its more challenging that way. The AI sucks, which cancels out the bad auto aim in that you may spend a while pointing your gun at someone but they won't be doing much.

    There are bugs and glitches, but most of them are funny and only one or two effect gameplay.

    The cops still try to kill you, only this time with guns instead of cars, they do chase you, but they don't ram you to death anymore.

    Anyway, I don't feel like writing anymore. Any site that gave this game lower than a 7/10 is forgetting the good parts of the game, they focus only on the bad parts instead of splitting it equally between the two, so by the end of their review, their so dissapointed from bringing up all the bad points, they give it a worse score than it deserves.

    From what I've played, I give it an 8.5

  • Razzajazz #135 8 years ago

    It does seem that there are two camps, those who love it and those who hate it! Driv3r, the gaming world's equivalent of Marmite....

    I have yet to play the game, so I cannot make a totally informed opinion, but the fact is that so many people, all over the internet, are so disapppointed with the game that it has definitely made me think twice (or more) before buying this game!

    I think Kristan's review was a fair apprasal, and judging by the less-than-jovial review style (something that Kristan doesn't usually do when reviewing sub-standard games!), it must have been so bad that he couldn't even see the funny side of it!

    At the end of the day, the fallout from this hoo-hah must fall at Atari's door, and I would like to see Bruno Bonnell (someone who I've never liked) explain what the hell is going on!

    A few weeks ago, Warner Bros. Interactive stated that their film licence revenue would be awarded based on the quality of the actual game and review scores. When this was put to good old Bruno regarding 'Enter The Matrix', he replied 'Well, we sold over 2.5 million copies, so we're alright, Jack'. Anybody who has played Enter The Matrix will agree that that was a sub-standard game, rushed out before it was ready, and a big let-down that quite obviously only sold on the back of the Matrix name. I hold him personally responsible for ruining that experience for me, but anyway....!

    As long as muppets like him are in charge, and companies are slaves to their shareholders, games will be rushed out before they are ready, and oiling the palms (or advert pages of magazines) will continue to go on! I know for a fact that Enter The Matrix had the same sort of 'Exclusive Review' deals going on, and as I recall, Eurogamer had to wait until at least a week after the game had hit retail to review it!

    All in all, the fact that this game, whether good or not, carries such an air of controversy (and not in a good way) and disaster is enough to wait until October and GTA:SA!

  • IronGiant #136 8 years ago

    I'm glad to see the Eurogamer guys seem to have left this thread to look after itself.. whatever they say there will always be people who disagree, opinons are free after all ;) No matter what is said here im sure DRIV3R will sell fairly well on the back of it's name but i also expect the shops to be fairly well stocked with used copies very soon. Enter The Matrix sold 2.5 Million and was rushed out, DRIV3R will probably end up selling a couple of million too and also was rushed out the door.

    Whether you like the game or not by buying it you're almost saying it's ok to release a game that's unfinished. I applaud Bungie and Valve's attitude of releasing a game when it's ready and not in an unfinished and buggy state just to please shareholders.

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #137 8 years ago

    "The fact remains the reviewer "Kristan" states facts such as the jumping the bridge being impossible and that's simply not a fact"

    Actually "Kristan" didn't write that caption, I did. It's based on the various attempts I had at that level and on more than one occasion it seemed inconceivable that I hadn't reached the other side. Still, fair enough, that bit's wrong and I'll change it.

  • Halo.Jones #138 8 years ago

    Whilst it seems that everyone is happy to blame QA/Sony/Microsoft, it's a bit unfair as it was not them that wrote the code, it was Reflections.

    QA find the bugs, not write the code, mind you if you speak to some devs, they are quite happy to blame QA for the bugs!

    Blame Atari, all they are interested in, is the money so they look good on their Year End profits.

    Atari, You are the weakest link, good bye. :)

  • OnlyMe #139 8 years ago

    I only read one post to judge the intelligence of a poster. I can see you're not very intelligent. Thanks for that.

  • tiddles #140 8 years ago

    201st!

  • tiddles #141 8 years ago

    A few weeks ago, Warner Bros. Interactive stated that their film licence revenue would be awarded based on the quality of the actual game and review scores.

    Sad this won't apply to crap films too, eg. the Matrix sequels.

  • Viktor #142 8 years ago

    I wonder how many Atari PR people are trying to damage control in this thread. That is the only explanation I can imagine for the few immensely positive posts and weak attempts to discredit a well written and argued review.

    And considering the massive PR budget for Driver 3 (I refuse to write the joke, 3lit3 name) this conspiracy theory isn't that far fetched :D

  • pjmaybe #143 8 years ago

    Well I'm no Atari PR (I have a soul!) and I liked it.

    Simple as that really. If you don't, fair play to you.

    Peej

  • Stevas mkII #144 8 years ago

    See, ahaha, Peej, I STILL don't think you got into the mindset yet. You have to remember how we l337 few who are forcing ourselves to enjoy this shite game are MEANT to behave.

    You said:
    "I liked it. Simple as that really. If you don't, fair play to you."

    Where what you SHOULD have said was:

    "I like this game and anyone who doesn't is gh3y/l3sb14n/str41ght (circle where most offensive)"

    Please do try not to behave in quite such an unretarted way next time, hmmm?

  • oldfruit #145 8 years ago

    Well I got my copy last night (ordered before EG review). I was quite looking forward to it and believed that the Krudster was either going through the male menopause or hadn't got a free mug and t-shirt from Atari. But, no - I absolutely agree. 3 is bang on the spot, and IMO that's being generous. Yeah, you can find good in most games if you look for it and I'm not someone who sees the hole and not the donut...but when the bad impacts upon the overall experience like this then it's hard to enjoy any positives. The cars are cool and the handling is fun, damage modelling is cool too, but the engine can't deliver the level of graphical/lighting effects they wanted. Oh, and for some reason my copy didn't come with a game - it was just an unfinished technical demo. I wonder if someone made a mistake mastering the disk?

  • jawolf #146 8 years ago

    By the end of this thread we will have a walkthrough for the game at this rate. Just say it is hard to impossible and people will post video walkthroughs to show you it isn't. A game is pretty depressing if that is the case.

    Ah well I've made enough buggy code in my life... so I should just be quiet.

    I think I will have to rent this just to see what all the fuss is about. At least I have video instructions showing "non-linear" and "choose your own adventure"-eque elements to the game.

  • Thamuhacha #147 8 years ago

    >This has got to be one of the worst reviews of a game I have ever read. One self opinionated person trying to convince the world that yet again, something that ONE person doesn't actually like should be conceived as being gospel.

    What do you want from a review FFS? Of course it's one person's opinion. That's the point you gimp.

    >Halo had bugs and bad points but it's still that all time best xbox game (probably).

    In your opinion yeah?

    >To give this game a 3/10 nonsense.

    In your opinion!

    >I'm sure Atari must of sent you those copies to give away before you literally ripped apart their product.

    So your suggesting that they should have taken it as a bribe? That sending some copies of a game ensures a higher review score? Idiot.

    >I look forward to reading your review of Halo 3.

    On the Xbox 4 yes?

  • Homer Simpson #148 8 years ago

    OMG, OMG, OMG!!!! This game was finally out today! After all those delays! Hell Id thought itd be delayed yet again but it looked like I was wrong for once. Anyway, anybody got this game yet? And if so whats it like?

  • jaywalker2309 #149 8 years ago

    Heya Thamuhacha,

    You might remember me from such productions as, erm anything by the company you used to work for ;)

    I was never a massive Driver fan, only cos i didn't own a copy and my mate who did never let me play it ;)

    However having had a quick go on this i have to say i agree with the reviewer in what he's said about its shortfalls.

  • ThreeDecadeTwitcher #150 8 years ago

    Dont u shout at me
    Been playing this for about 5 hours on and off and iam really enjoying it.
    Not really had any prob with bugs or lamposts either
    cant say that i played gta for more than that before
    getting piss bored.
    also lots of games have hard bits and easy bits
    like Halo on Legendary
    Edited by 1 at 26/06/04 @ 16:12

  • i am tom #151 8 years ago

    Aphizm - nice conspiracy theory, but Atari were definitely not complicit in breaking street date on Driver. Because the game was released a week earlier in Europe, Central European distributors were able to hit their targets on Driver with one phone call to a third party distributor in the UK. Hence the independent sector was flooded with cheaper 'grey' stock which immediately went on sale, enabling Game, Gamestation and other nationals to start selling early as well. Atari's UK distributors got their stock out on the Monday after. Schoolboy error, really, but to view it as a conspiracy is misguided and cynical.

  • MoFo #152 8 years ago

    "...finally somebody somebody that makes sense."

    Unlike yourself!! :p

  • praxis22 #153 8 years ago

    I bought BG&E for 20 Euro's in Walmart for the Xbox, and I bought Prince of Persia full price in a mall in Thailand (10 Euros :)

    I may even hae to join a rental service just to see how bad this really is, I imagine there is some fun to be had shooting people as they fall from the sky and the like :)

  • Thamuhacha #154 8 years ago

    >jaywalker2309
    You might remember me from such productions as, erm anything by the company you used to work for ;)

    Hello Jason. How are you keeping?

  • Kengro #155 8 years ago

    Now i'm pissed off... This should newer have been realesed now. It's not finished, goddamn atari. They should have finished it before realese

  • Thamuhacha #156 8 years ago

    Homer Simpson's posts have to be some sort of wind up don't they?

  • MoFo #157 8 years ago

    Hey Homer, it's very easy to make you go away. You click "ignore poster". Infact I think I'll do that now.

  • Homer Simpson #158 8 years ago

    and ill ignore u hahahaha...

  • Homer Simpson #159 8 years ago

    ok i apoligise 4 annoying sum of u. from now on ill just post the same type of comments ever1 else seems 2 post, ill just agree with sum of u and make a good debate with the rest? how does that sound u ungrateful bastards?(mofo especially)

  • den davies #160 8 years ago

    because it's his opinion. it just seems that it's not the opinion of the majority of us who've played it and like it, lots

  • krudster #161 8 years ago

    Ah, the good old vocal minority. We do love you so.

  • den davies #162 8 years ago

    so by remaining silent, they are supporting your view?

  • MoFo #163 8 years ago

    it just seems that it's not the opinion of the majority of us who've played it and like it, lots

    So what you're saying is that the majority of people who liked it don't agree with this review? Well talk about revelation of the century! Do you also believe the majority of people who didn't like it, do agree with the review?

    I think this just goes to show the level of intelect required to enjoy Driv3l.

  • den davies #164 8 years ago

    MoFo wrote: So what you're saying is that the majority of people who liked it don't agree with this review?"

    level of intellect required, ha. if you'd bothered to read what i said it was "the majority of us who've played it, and like it", and posted their views in this thread and in the driver 3 threads in the forums. i haven't slated kristan's review, because he's entitled to his opinion. the thing is, his opinion carries more weight than mine or yours because he's employed by EG. some people can be easily influenced by the slating that driver 3 received, and seeing a 3/10 score, may decide not to even bother trying the game. there are bugs in it, yes, but none of them directly affect the gameplay. the same could, and has been said, about the gta games. how can a huge difference in the scores of these games be justified?
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/04 @ 14:47

  • pjmaybe #165 8 years ago

    Good post, and ditto here.

    I wouldn't violently disagree with the review. A review's just a review, but it's easy to see why it got a 3/10 when the guys here had already had access to the preview code, perhaps thought "Hmm, maybe the released version will fix the bugs" but it didn't.

    I'm a picky gamer, yet I enjoyed it (and am still enjoying it a week on) - Though I can see more merits than detriments to playing it, I can easily see why a lot of people were pissed off. My view is that if the game is this good "unfinished" - imagine what it would've been like running on some serious hardware and minus all the bugs!

    Peej

  • krudster #166 8 years ago

    Peej, as a regular contributor, and someone of exacting standards, I'm personally surprised you've got such a tolerant attitude to Driv3r.

    It's true that most of the bugs don't directly affect the gameplay (except the one that got me on the first four attempts of the first boat mission - the one that kills you as soon as you attempt to jump onto the front of your boat, and Tom is my witness on this, and it was a bug that also got me twice on the preview build), but some of the others provide pure comedy value - such as the failed bridge clearing attempt that resulted in Tanner getting up in mid air, or numerous other random wierdness. Not actual problematic in gameplay terms, but example of unfinished shoddiness.

    No, the real problem with Driv3r wasn't so much its unfinished state, but simply that it wasn't fun. It entertained me for approximately one hour out of the 20 I played it for, and for a substantial proportion of that time provoked disappointment, disgust and sometimes pure rage thanks to some dreadfully designed missions that made this review an often thankless task. As someone pointed out, I wasn't very jovial in this piece, mainly because it wasn't just offhand piss taking at a bad game, but genuine shock at how something potentially so good had ended up not just mediocre, but genuinely below average in almost every way relating to the actual gameplay. Spouting off about the (sometimes great) graphics and the visuals is about as useful as pointing out that Independence Day has good special effects.

    Games are about being entertained, not tortured.

    As for the amusing unregistered poster who keeps going on about lamp posts not popping up, maybe you should come round to my house and play the game on my set up and try and argue the same point. It's a mission specific complaint, and totally hampers any chance of success.

  • Tiger_Walts #167 8 years ago

    ...maybe you should come round to my house and play the game on my set up...

    Woot! LAN party round at Kristans!!!

    ;)

  • Frankyb0y #168 8 years ago

    I really don't see how you can give a game of this magnitude 3/10...

    3/10?? I mean cmon ffs you gave Counter-Strike 6/10 and it's absolutely shite(I love the pc version BTW) then again you only gave Far Cry 8/10 (another blatant crime) then of course the GTA Series 10/10

    It really to me makes no sense...

    If you hate bugs soo much why did this get 10/10 it has 100's of bugs in it for everyone to see... You seem like a GTA Fanboy to me and not the best person to be commenting on Driv3r.

    It has it flaws yes for everyone to see but 3/10 is a joke..


    LOL you even gave Finding Nemo 6/10 and that is absolutely awful(and yes I have played it before you ask)





  • pjmaybe #169 8 years ago

    "Peej, as a regular contributor, and someone of exacting standards, I'm personally surprised you've got such a tolerant attitude to Driv3r. "

    So am I to be honest. It's horribly addictive to me, I don't know why. Last night f'r instance, I was doing the old "Chase calita" thing, and it's a damned hard mission in Istanbul. Time and again I'd get wiped out at the first crossroads (some idiot not looking where they were going ploughs straight into my car, bam chase over) - but something kept me playing even though the Xbox locked up when I thought I'd done the mission. That's the main annoyance I've had with this. It made me curse blue murder at reflections, but I'm still playing and still enjoying despite the massive frustration at times that they couldn't just fine tune it.

    "It's true that most of the bugs don't directly affect the gameplay (except the one that got me on the first four attempts of the first boat mission - the one that kills you as soon as you attempt to jump onto the front of your boat, and Tom is my witness on this, and it was a bug that also got me twice on the preview build), but some of the others provide pure comedy value - such as the failed bridge clearing attempt that resulted in Tanner getting up in mid air, or numerous other random wierdness. Not actual problematic in gameplay terms, but example of unfinished shoddiness. "

    This has happened to me too. So I just stopped trying to jump onto the front of my boat. The boat missions are worse than the on foot missions but thankfully in most of 'em you've got the option to ditch the boat and get back on dry land ASAP.

    "No, the real problem with Driv3r wasn't so much its unfinished state, but simply that it wasn't fun. It entertained me for approximately one hour out of the 20 I played it for, and for a substantial proportion of that time provoked disappointment, disgust and sometimes pure rage thanks to some dreadfully designed missions that made this review an often thankless task. As someone pointed out, I wasn't very jovial in this piece, mainly because it wasn't just offhand piss taking at a bad game, but genuine shock at how something potentially so good had ended up not just mediocre, but genuinely below average in almost every way relating to the actual gameplay. Spouting off about the (sometimes great) graphics and the visuals is about as useful as pointing out that Independence Day has good special effects. "

    I'd disagree with you on this. I find it fun. I find it horribly addictive. If it hadn't had a bit of time lavished on its driving dynamics, and some of the other nice touches about the game, then it wouldn't have taken up a week of my gaming time. As it is though, it's damned good fun even if you just choose to play it Like Harry does, ie as a glorified sandbox toy.

    "Games are about being entertained, not tortured. "

    Absolutely agree. Driver 3 is torturous at times. But then again some of the best games I've played were too...I can't name one game that would feature in my top ten games of all time that didn't have moments in it that made me want to scream obscenities at the screen if I failed a mission or level or something. But that just made me come back and want to finish it even more in most cases. Driver 3 is one of those cases.

    "As for the amusing unregistered poster who keeps going on about lamp posts not popping up, maybe you should come round to my house and play the game on my set up and try and argue the same point. It's a mission specific complaint, and totally hampers any chance of success. "

    Forget all that stuff. The lamposts are irritating but then they would do that IRL. And yes they do pop up unfairly. What I don't understand is that they made the lamposts "car stoppers" but made certain other bits of scenery breakable like park benches, road signs etc. I think the lamposts in pretty much every other driving game behave in a breakaway fashion so it's unfamiliarity that drives us nuts in Driver 3.

    Peej

  • Phil_- #170 8 years ago

    Games are about being entertained, not tortured.

    I wonder if that's the point. Surely we've all enjoyed played games that have had us repeatedly muttering "oh piss, just one more go" for retry after retry (the boss battle at the end of BG&E, the occasional Splinter Cell stage, etc.). Perhaps the threshold where this crosses from enjoyment into torture varies from person to person?

    I've been enjoying Driver 3, but then I enjoyed Stuntman too (up until that bastard Indiana Jones level where you had to chase the Nazi car), a game lots of people found to be about as much fun as amputation.

    Maybe that narrow threshold is causing the polarised opinions?

    To me, the missions are more varied and entertaining than GTA, the chases are top notch edge-of-the-seat stuff (never quite knowing which route your target will take from retry to retry), the graphics are suitably spangly (try cruising past all those washed out art deco hotels on Miami beach in the daytime, then try again at night with the glowing neon), and it's just .. generally .. lots of fun.

    Sure it's got the odd bug and the occasional bit of slowdown, but so do lots of games. And they don't all get 3/10.
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/04 @ 16:42

  • pjmaybe #171 8 years ago

    I reckon the GTA double pack deserved 10 out of 10. Imagine you're an XBox-only gamer. You've heard PS2 owners rattling on about GTA, but have been unable to play it. Suddenly for the price of one game, you can pick up both GTA3 and Vice City, and they're slightly polished versions of the originals? Damn right they're worth 10 out of 10, bugs or no bugs, purely on value alone.

    It is sort of ironic that the GTA series has become the benchmark for this type of game, but that's Reflections' fault more than Rockstar's for cashing in on their ideas. That said, I think the whole genre needs to progress further. I think Driver 3 made a very brave stab at something possibly way too ambitious for the current hardware on the market, and didn't quite pull it off. I really hope that with the next few GTA games they don't just sit on the same slightly tired format, as I really would love to see a "semi-serious" GTA game hit the shelves...

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #172 8 years ago

    >"Driv3r never even comes close to matching the GTA titles for energy, cool, ambition, design, talent, craft, humour ...."

    ... Not a GTA biased review?

    Technically, saying one game is better than another is not bias. If I say that Accrington Stanley are miles away from Brazil in terms of footballing talent, style and ability, it's not bias. Disclaimer: not implying that Driv3r is Accrington Stanley and GTA is Brazil. Just pointing out a flaw in your accusation.

    >"True enough, GTA's not perfect either"

    ... Why did the double pack get get 10 out of 10?

    People really need to get over the double pack review score. Considering that you get two universally lauded games for the price of one don't you think it might be a bit of a different situation to Driv3r?

    I simply don't understand why some people can't just accept that a review is one person's opinion. OK, feel free to agree with it, but stop calling it flawed and incorrect just because the reviewer has reached a different conclusion to you. Just file Kristan down as someone you don't agree with, seek a second opinion on his opinion in future, and move on with your lives. Sheesh.

  • pjmaybe #173 8 years ago

    Good post, well said.

    On the other hand, can people stop giving me a hard time because I liked it? I'm sure there are worst games out there that you'd dare not admit to enjoying...!

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #174 8 years ago

    >On the other hand, can people stop giving me a hard time because I liked it? I'm sure there are worst games out there that you'd dare not admit to enjoying...!

    I haven't played it so don't know :-)

    But I would dare to admit completing Gladius twice (once with each school - probably over 60 hours in total) and I played Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance for 36 hours straight in 2 player. Does that count as bad?

  • den davies #175 8 years ago

    peej likes driver, neh neh ne neh neh!

  • Frankyb0y #176 8 years ago

    Champman was excellent though nick :)

    Why did you ever leave Eidos?

    I think Kristan's review is quite frankly utter bollocks, 3/10 is a total crime.

    As for people who say high reviews have been bought off what's to say the opposite isn't true??

    Let's say a website offered a publisher some space to advertise on their website and the publisher declined..

    Does that mean their review will be lower - 2 sides to every coin..

    Anyway I'll shut up on this subject :)

  • Monkeyboy #177 8 years ago

    *sigh* I bought this last week and took it back today for a refund. A disappointing game, maybe worth more than a 3/10 though. I'd give it about a 5.

    Some of the on-foot controls are bizarre. What's with the jumping? Tanner can only jump forwards. And if you're running backwards or sideways and hit jump, he stops dead and then jumps forward. How on earth did this pass any sort of quality control at Reflections?

  • Frankyb0y #178 8 years ago

    a mad bloke indeed...

  • Thamuhacha #179 8 years ago

    >Champman was excellent though nick :)

    Not sure if your smiley is sarcastic or not, but CM is indeed excellent, it was also great fun to work on. I am eagerly awaiting both the Eidos and new SI versions to see who does what.

    >As for people who say high reviews have been bought off what's to say the opposite isn't true??

    Let's say a website offered a publisher some space to advertise on their website and the publisher declined..

    Ouch. That's a fairly strong accusation. That kind of activity would see any website that tried it out of business fairly damn quickly. They simply would get no more advertising, review code, or competition prizes from any publisher.

    It's a shame that so many people seem to see the games industry as a hotbed of corruption. I have been in it for about 5 years and the conspiracy stories on most forums bear little comparison to my experiences.

    Edit - horrible American use of the word "ironic" removed and extremely poor HTML use changed.
    Edited by 2 at 28/06/04 @ 18:03

  • krudster #180 8 years ago

    Heh, I find it amusing that more people have contacted me personally to congratulate me on this "bollocks" review than any other in all my time as a writer. It is, of course, just opinion. That's all it is, and although there's plenty of fact to back up that opinion, all you can do in any review is back up your thoughts.

    I agree with Peej that some of my favourite games ever have been rage inducing, but among that rage has to be some sense of fun in there, and that it's *you* that's the problem, not the game. In Driv3r, so much of your failure is random, and down to sheer bad design and elements the player has no control over.
    I don't mind a challenge, but to design something so ill conceived that it forces experienced, patient, skilled professional gamers into a state of childish rage isn't a good sign. In fact, poor design is probably the worst crime a game can purpotrate upon its player - a test of tolerance and iron willl in the face of adversity rather than actual skill. I don't call that fun or entertainment, I call that arrogant, rushed, botched, and just greedy on the part of those who choose to try and make money out of gamers on the back of their blind loyalty.

    As for the GTA Double Pack not deserving 10/10. I'm literally speechless even having to begin trying to justify why two of the best selling, most critically acclaimed games in one pack deserve a 10. Yes, they do indeed have bugs, but Driv3r's problems extend to way more than just bugs.

  • wattoo #181 8 years ago

    Interesting, Thamu. My experience includes a journo who sat down in a pub with the producer of a game and had the producer check his article as he wrote it on the laptop so that it didn't portray the title in a bad light. If memory serves, the journo didn't pick up the tab.

  • Frankyb0y #182 8 years ago

    Nick,

    I genuinely love Champman - no sarcasm whatever was intended.

    I wasn't saying for one second that websites would ever do that I merely pointing out that people seemed to be accusing magazines of taking backhanders for good reviews and I'm merely pointing out what if the reverse was true as well - just something for people to think about.


    Kristan,

    I'm glad you've had so many e-mails from people bigging you up - that's something to write home to mummy about isn't it.

    I call your review arrogant and your scoring even worse, I've read a few of your reviews and some of them seriously take the piss. How can "Finding Nemo" and "Red Dead Revolver" warrant the same rating??

    8/10 for Far Cry as well? Cmon....

    Are you finding these games too hard for you so you give them a lesser score? This would explain the lower scores for the harder games. Maybe Finding Nemo is about your skill level?

    Watch out for those clams - they're evil :)

  • krudster #183 8 years ago

    Thanks Frank.

    Always nice to keep the tard count high in these threads, keep up the good work.

  • Frankyb0y #184 8 years ago

    The tard count exceeded all in that review...


  • Thamuhacha #185 8 years ago

    >wattoo
    Interesting, Thamu. My experience includes a journo who sat down in a pub with the producer of a game and had the producer check his article as he wrote it on the laptop so that it didn't portray the title in a bad light. If memory serves, the journo didn't pick up the tab.

    I never denied that it does happen. It just isn't as rife as people make out. Anyway, we all know journalists don't buy drinks :-)

    >Frankyb0y
    I genuinely love Champman - no sarcasm whatever was intended.

    I didn't think there was, but you never know as far as CM is concerned.

    However, I think your criticism of this review should take into account my comments about opinion above.

  • Frankyb0y #186 8 years ago

    It's all opinion as we all know :)

    My OPINION is that 3/10 is a joke..

    Kristan's OPINION is that Driv3r is lacking and warrants 3/10..

    I just don't see how anyone could give Finding Nemo 6/10 LOL :)

  • Homer Simpson #187 8 years ago

    OMG! OK! This is annoying now! Some of u r moaning about this review but yet others r saying about how crap this game really is. Right, lets have a vote! I want the next ten posters 2 tell me what they think (give it a mark out of ten). The more the gd votes then ill buy it but if there r more bad then ill forget it. If there r even then ill start another vote. So send on those comments please.

  • Frankyb0y #188 8 years ago

    :)
    Edited by 1 at 28/06/04 @ 19:24

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #189 8 years ago

    Yeah, it looked nice there, next to three driv3r adverts...

    Also, to the reflections staff member posting in this thread under various names, you should identify yourself...

  • krudster #190 8 years ago

    Ho ho, funny how he's not posting anymore. I did wonder if it was an insider. That's hilarious...the game's developer trying to pretend to be a member of the public.

    Comedy gold.

  • den davies #191 8 years ago

    this is just getting silly now. i can't see how anyone who's posted here can back down from their opinions because this is obviously one of those games that splits the gaming community into two groups, and the gap between them is one that's just too big to be bridged(not a pun/pop on the bridge mission kristan). kristan doesn't like it, he's not going to change his opinion. some of us do, we're not going to change ours, and no amount of tard calling from either side is going to make a difference....now, what's everyone's fastest time on the go-kart track?

  • pjmaybe #192 8 years ago

    OK it broke my resolve last night.

    2nd time I got to the end of the "Chase Calita" mission (you know, start off at the sports stadium facing the wrong way, chase her through a bunch of backstreets, she's got a jet engine, you're driving a reliant robin) - and I got to the bridge, she jumps over, cue a cut scene of her crashing, explosions, flame, she gets out, the screen goes black...and that's it! Fucker's done it TWICE now.

    I can forgive popup, I can forgive frame-dropping. I can even forgive dodgy texturing here and there, and slightly iffy boat/on-foot sections. Full game lockups though, nope, you lose me there...

    So I won't be evangelising about this game any more. It's good, but if it fucks me around like that then they can shove it sideways.

    Peej

  • Merefield #193 8 years ago

    And all this controversy goes to prove one thing - Driv3r is has all the hallmarks of a Cult Classic.

    I've played many levels now and I have to say I LOVE THIS GAME.

    Flawed in places but totally memorable with truck-loads of character.

    Well done Reflections - too bad Eurogamer chooses to kick them between the legs, when for many of the Reflections team, this must have been a labour of love (it shows imho) and they don't deserve this cheap dig of a score at all.

  • pjmaybe #194 8 years ago

    If I can't get past the level I'm stuck on because it crashes then the score's well justified IMHO!!

    Peej

  • tiddles #195 8 years ago

    Oh dear - even Peej has finally been repelled by Driv3r's charms. Were you playing the Xbox version or the PS2 version?

  • Merefield #196 8 years ago

    Peej

    I'm just buttering them up so they'll send me a bug-fixed disc free of charge ;)

    Sorry to hear about your frustrations - have you tried switching off ur XBox/PS2 and letting it cool down for a while...?

  • Talha #197 8 years ago

    Yeah, tons of character. BAD CHARACTER, INSUFFERABLE CHARACTER, that is. All Atari games (including Unreal) have a cheapo, bastardized look to them. This is no exception. That said, I think it is an attempt at a characterful game, released in a hurry.

  • pjmaybe #198 8 years ago

    Xbox version. Shouldn't be a cooling issue, my Xbox doesn't crash on any other titles...

    Stuff like that happening can turn a person though. Up till then I was quite willing to forgive its various foibles. But a system lockup at the end of a mission that's a complete bastard to complete anyway, that's just adding insult to Ian Dury!

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #199 8 years ago

    >All Atari games (including Unreal) have a cheapo, bastardized look to them.

    I disagree. I liked Transformers alot. And Unreal Tournament 2004 is fantastic.

  • pjmaybe #200 8 years ago

    Emailed atari's tech support for a laugh. Let's see if they even bother to reply (probably not. Probably a bit busy at the moment!)

    Peej

  • Phil_- #201 8 years ago

    OK it broke my resolve last night.

    Peej, I should leave it right there if I were you - it only gets worse. I finished the Calita mission last night on my third successful attempt (obviously these attempts were seperated by hundreds of tries ended by bouncing off lamp posts, walls, other cars, etc).

    On my first successful attempt, after seeing the cut scene where the bridge opens, I was presented with a message saying "Find another way across". So I bought up the map, noticed another bridge further along, turned the car around, "You've lost her". Shit.

    Second successful attempt, I got the black screen crash you mention. Ragh.

    This successful attempt, I just about did it. In case you ever try again - to save yourself having to start over, once that cut scene has finished you have to get out of the car, run to the right, then go down some steps where you'll find a boat which you can drive to the other side of the bridge.

    Anyway, that pales into insignificance compared to the gobsmacking mess that is the final mission.

    Imagine something a bit like the street shoot-out from Heat. Where you have to make your way along a street full of enemies who are hiding behind burnt out cars. But for some reason the burnt out cars are blessed with a magic invisible forcefield which stretches several feet above the actual metalwork, protecting the enemies behind (you can actually make bullet holes in thin air) but still allowing their bullets through to hit you. Then imagine the enemies also have the ability to appear and disappear at will - sometimes just feet from where you're standing. Then imagine you have a couple of "AI" guys helping you, who's supreme lack of intelligence and gunskill makes the Rainbow Six team look like the love-children of Stephen Hawking and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Oh - and if either of them get killed it's game over. Then imagine the final boss shoot out plays like that scene from Naked Gun where Frank Dreben and the bad guy are popping up from either end of a bench to take pot shots at each other (except Frank never had to cope with dodgy auto-aim or the chance that his bullets might be stopped by a one-way invisible barrier). The end cut scene is even worse, leaving you with an "eh?" expression as the credits roll.

    A real shame, because i'd enjoyed it up until the Calita mission. It's one of those game that's great compulsive fun, but tails off horribly and leaves a rather nasty taste once you've completed it. Which might explain the dodgy review scores.
    Edited by 2 at 29/06/04 @ 12:51

  • tiddles #202 8 years ago

    According to various forums, on the Calita mission you can also continue chasing her by finding the controls to lower the bridge.

    If your game doesn't lock up, of course...

  • pjmaybe #203 8 years ago

    Oh so it's not just me then.

    Cheers Phil, at least I know that one time in 5 you should be able to progress. I noticed one thing - every time I completed the mission it was when Calita went straight on along the coast road rather than turning right into that rats maze of back streets. Every time she turns right I give up the ghost cos there's no way I can catch her through there.

    So I'm one mission away from finishing it? At least I don't feel too badly about that but hell, it's fucking annoying when it locks like that. At least now I know it's bad coding rather than hardware failure.

    Cheers

    Peej

  • den davies #204 8 years ago

    *SPOILER* if you enter the control room beside the bridge, and lower it, you continue to chase her, whereby she gets on a motorbike and boots it again, and you have to chase her on a motorbike at full pelt for another few minutes. very tricky mission. about the end sequence, what does that mean for the chances of a DRIVE4(sorry!)

  • TheDifficult3rdAlbum #205 8 years ago

    Are we at 300 posts yet? What took you guys so long?

    /sits back down in chair + orders more popcorn

  • Phil_- #206 8 years ago

    Peej, there's actually one more part to that Calita mission (the short motorbike bit someone else mentioned) - but once you cross the river after the crash you get a new restart point, so that's ok. Then you'll find two more brief chase sequences, both of which are pretty easy leading up to the final "battle".

    Den, as far as I could tell, the end sequence meant that the plot hadn't actually advanced past the intro (which I found rather frustrating). No idea what that means for Dri4r, but we'll probably be dead of old age before they finish it.

  • Whizzo #207 8 years ago

    I think DrIVer would be a more suitable title for a sequel.

  • Merefield #208 8 years ago

    Oh very smart... :)
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/04 @ 15:56

  • Thamuhacha #209 8 years ago

    >I see Driver 3 as a graphic/physics overhaul of the previous entries with some additional bugs

    They missed the boat there didn't they?

    "NOW WITH EVEN MORE OF THE BUGS DRIVER FANS HAVE COME TO LOVE"

  • OnlyMe #210 8 years ago

    Perhaps they found out they had been working on this title for so long that they decided to leave the ending at there, and then continue in all secrecy to fix the game up for Driver 4. I mean, they already have the engine going, and the controls for the vehicles are perfect as it is. They only need to add three or four new cities, or they could just reuse the ones we already have, but add new stuff.

    Maybe we'll get an expansion disk, like GTA London.

    I can only hope...

    But the ending was very open. That's for sure. Gave them the possibility of ending the series completely, or continue it if they feel like it.

  • pjmaybe #211 8 years ago

    I'd like to see Reflections have another bash. Not this gen though, I seriously don't think the current crop of machines are up to doing what they were trying to achieve.

    Peej

  • den davies #212 8 years ago

    i think we can probably all agree on that peej, great name whizzo! better than my cack anyway

  • TheExterminator #213 8 years ago

    i think they acheived what they set out to acheive though. The game does what it says on the tin..

  • TheExterminator #214 8 years ago

    definately worth your hard-earned cash in my opinion...you get "real" cars to drive, shooting action, nice graphics. It's also pretty hard in places. What more could you want? :)

  • dr_zoidthrob #215 8 years ago

    terrible. truly awful.

  • TheExterminator #216 8 years ago

    what do you mean, awful?

  • MoFo #217 8 years ago

    Deffinatly worth your hard earned cash. And while you're at it would you like to buy some penis enlargement pills off me at the bargain price of £300. Guaranteed to work and satisfy you.

    Yours

    Phineas T. Barnum

  • Homer Simpson #218 8 years ago

    well i got this game 2day and i can say it wasnt really that bad. it was a bit jerky and stuff but it was gd. unlike gta vc u get real cars 2, of course u could in the getaway but this a bit better than that. so give this game a little credit. it still beats the first two games.

  • Homer Simpson #219 8 years ago

    No BanZai luv. This game is not shit, is it?

  • infoxicated #220 8 years ago

    For those of you who haven't yet bought the game, but thought the mini-games in the original were fun, it's important to note that the new versions of the mini-games suffer from the same design flaws as the main game.

    I remember spending hours playing Survival mode on the original, trying to beat my longest time. At first I wondered why Driv3r didn't keep track of the high score, until I realised it was pretty simple to cheat. From the default starting position in Miami, if you drive a hundred yards or so you can take a left into a multi-storey car park. Drive to any of the higher floors and you can sit there watching the time climb up as the cops smash relentlessly into the walls below you.

    Yesterday's trip to Game brought me the most satisfying refund I've ever gotten in my life. Especially since in Virgin next door they're already selling it for £34.99 - wouldn't have been worth a thing if I'd kept it to trade in later down the line. :)

  • infoxicated #221 8 years ago

    I've nothing against those who like it - but I think the harsh score given in this review and others is simply a warning to all of us. If we tolerate this, games can only get worse over time. If Atari can publish products that are rushed to the finish line, yet still sell millions, then what's to stop EA, for example, doing the same thing?

    Compare the polish of Burnout 2 to the lack of the same on Driver 3 and you have to ask yourself honestly whether you'd rather be paying for the quality of the former or the dogs dinner of the latter.

    Would Driver 3 have stood a chance if it came out towards the end of this year against (maybe) Gran Tourismo 4, Burnout 3, and GTA San Andreas?

    No - Driver 3 would be given away as a padder in bundle deals. Those games above are the reason that Driver 3 is on the shelves right now - not because if its quality, state of completion, or any other reason dreamt up by the PR department. It's on the shelves because it's an inferior product looking to steal your money in a summer where it has very little competition.

  • Homer Simpson #222 8 years ago

    BanZai, u seem 2 be posting alot on here, u shuold sign up 4 an acount. theyre 3 and its better 1ce uve signed up 4 many reasons as u can go in forums etc. mast of ur posts r gd stuff 2 so ull make a gd member

  • Thamuhacha #223 8 years ago

    You know, I am not sure you get Driv3r threads like you used to.

    /checks screenshot thread

    Yep. You do.

  • tiddles #224 8 years ago

    Someone doesn't understand 'framerate'

    Someone doesn't understand 'framerate' isn't everything?

  • krudster #225 8 years ago

    I believe Edge has given this 3/10 as well, co-incidentally.

  • snarfcan #226 8 years ago

    Well this debate is certainly divided, I guess that's for the best though as it shows we aren't all drones and can make our own judgements.

    I'm really enjoying Driv3r myself and the pre-release hype hasn't tarnished things for me, I think the balance is there and the essence of the Driver series has been retained.

    That makes the Snarf a happy bunny :)

  • TheExterminator #227 8 years ago

    Just because the games got bugs tho doesn't mean its not playable does it?

    The mini-games are great IMO. And altho the framerate drops a bit in the cut-scenes on the Xbox, they're still really good.

    Also, has anyone else noticed that its easier to shoot in 1st person mode?

  • snarfcan #228 8 years ago

    In reply to:

    "I believe Edge has given this 3/10 as well, co-incidentally. "

    I think you'll find that's not the case as the latest copy of Edge isn't out until the 8th July. And anyhow and the last mention of Driv3r in Edge was a very positive Preview.

  • tiddles #229 8 years ago

    Shame on you, krudster... agreeing with Edge.

  • TheExterminator #230 8 years ago

    The only way you'll find out if you like the game or not is to go and play it! reviews can be biased both ways. Some reviewers might have a grudge with Atari, some might worship them. At the end of the day you should make your own opinion on it :)

  • Razzajazz #231 8 years ago

    I have read somewhere else that Edge gave it 3/10, but if it's not even out yet, then I can't be sure! What's the cheapest anyone has seen Driv3r for (including preowned)? I might pick up a copy to see what all the fuss is about!
    Edited by 1 at 30/06/04 @ 16:21

  • MBar #232 8 years ago

    £30, you say?

    Clicky

    and if that doesn't work :

    www.MX2.co.uk
    Edited by 1 at 30/06/04 @ 16:49

  • snarfcan #233 8 years ago

    Unless Edge have leaked there review score...... er why would that happen?

    Then they havn't given it a score yet.

    I even went into the shop to pick up the latest copy after reading the previous post; implying that the latest issue was out, and as I'm really sad and have every issue from 9 onward I thought I'd best go pick it up.

    Alas there is still only last months on sale and if you have a quick leaf through you'll find no review of driv3r gracing their pages.

  • pjmaybe #234 8 years ago

    Gamesplanet are doing this for 27.99 (PS2) and 29.99 (Xbox)

    Peej

  • pjmaybe #235 8 years ago

    Yup. Xbox version. Completed it. Enjoyed it. Still playing "Take a ride" and some of the driving mini-games.

    Well worth a punt.

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #236 8 years ago

    >Well worth a punt.

    Hark at the change of tune here :-)

    No more lock ups then?

  • pjmaybe #237 8 years ago

    Nah I still think it's worth it, even with the lockups...

    though you wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere near the maybe household when it happened!!!

    Peej

  • Thamuhacha #238 8 years ago

    >though you wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere near the maybe household when it happened!!!

    Try playing Stick Cricket on Mousebreaker.net

    It's a complete bastard to beat New Zealand, and then the password for the next round isn't recognised, so you have to do it each time just to get to Sri lanka. Who are impossible.

  • TheExterminator #239 8 years ago

    Some of the glitches make the game more amusing anyway :) I'd say its worth a go any day. I'm still enjoying it.

  • den davies #240 8 years ago

    agreed. finished it, still enjoying it. haven't even scratched the surface in director mode yet

  • snarfcan #241 8 years ago

    In some weird game dev utopia that may be possible I'm afraid not though.

    Really though like TheExterminator said some of the glitches make the game more amusing anyhow, and I have to agree. Its the TJ Hooker physics that crack me up, makes it a blast!

  • 205gti #242 8 years ago

    Everyone seems to be suffering from memory loss....Driver 1 was unfinished, rushed and bugged with pop-up, linear mission structure (albeit with some confusing branching), cliched script, half-finished mini-games and unimaginative missions. But the Take a ride was great,the chases/replay/film director were excellent and it sold bucketloads.
    I'm going to get this and to hell with credibility or making a statement. If it's fun, I'll keep it.

    My only comment is how much better is the Xbox version as I hate the controller and would rather get it on the Ps2. Anyone played both?
    Edited by 2 at 30/06/04 @ 20:42

  • snarfcan #243 8 years ago

    Oh yes! Theres a beauty of a Ramp in Miama somewhere! Been pulling stunts off it all night hehe; I'll try and give you better directions in the morning once my neighbours bugger off!

  • krudster #244 8 years ago

    The Edge score came from someone in the know, an ex Future bod. I've not actually seen the review, but will be interested to see what they made of it.

  • snarfcan #245 8 years ago

    Yeah me too, however Edge can be a little pretentious sometimes. If a game isn't on the 'bleeding Edge' of game design then it'll get marked down. Then again I believe they gave Sing Star 8/10! Anyone enjoy their Karaoke that much? lol

  • TheExterminator #246 8 years ago

    I've played both the Xbox and PS2 versions. They're both pretty similar really, but I'd have to say the Xbox edges it. The controls are easy to use on both, even if they are layed out differently. But then I might be a bit biased :-D

  • MoFo #247 8 years ago

    IF 5/10 = average then 3/10 = below average non?

    If the reviewer thought the game was below average then the score is fair. Ofcourse we've all got accustomed to 7/10 = average so tough shit to us all for being idiots.
    Edited by 1 at 04/07/04 @ 17:19

  • WoodenSpoon #248 8 years ago

    BBC guy wrote
    "Personally, I have not played a game that has made me lose the will to live as rapidly as Driver3 for a long while."

    Heh

  • Black Hawk CZ #249 8 years ago

    I like this game.It have very good gameplay,grafic..atd.

  • Black Hawk CZ #250 8 years ago

    I like this game:)

  • ThwartedEfforts #251 8 years ago

    That was a spectacularly good read over a very dull lunch. Three out of ten had the desired effect. Had more than the usual number of joiners these past few weeks?

  • PeteDeeUK #252 8 years ago

    So many comments so little time....

    Anyway, back to the game:

    Yes, its unfinished, yes there are bugs, yes atari rushed it when it could have being better, no you shouldn't take it back the day you bought it, no its not as good as GTA, yes it is worth at least a couple of hours play.

    I've managed to finish it today, it was an ok experiance, it could have being better if reflections had stuck more to what they are good at (driving, physics, damage and cop chases) and less to what they are bad at (storyline, on foot shooting and boats) Reflections have tried really hard to create a GTA:VC alike whilst still making it there own, however the managed to put the bad stuff in there without any of the good stuff.

    Firstly the game never gives you enough time to explore and make you own path, you either go one way and get to a point in time or you fail, you either win and go onto the next mission or your fail and retry and retry and retry again until you pass, there is non of GTA's sandbox "play around and see what happens" stuff, you never get to choose you own path which more than slightly ironic considering atari's "be good, be bad, be both" tagline for the game.

    Next time, give us more freedom and less bugs.

    EDIT: Oh yea, and who came up with the idea for the last mission? seriously worst.end.mission.ever
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/04 @ 02:17

  • silver-jon #253 8 years ago

    I've been buying videogames for a long long time (Commodore 64, anyone ?). One of the best things a consumer like me can have is an objective ally who'll tell him when a game sucks. The fact that Eurogamer give this game 3/10 while other sources give it 90% or 91% shows that Eurogamer is firmly placed on our side of the fence and simply not accepting shoddy work.
    I find it's often the same with PC Gamer magazine who aren't afraid to dish out crap to game developers/distributors who dish out crap to an unwary public.

    While EG may not have the big membership today, with HONEST reviews you'll build a faithful following. Much better for us to get the info from an independent source than from 12 people on Amazon (etc) most of whom are probably employees of the manufacturer.

    Good on you, EG ! Shame on you, Atari !

  • leedsloiner #254 8 years ago

    im very pleased i was at a friends house watching this load of crap!!!dont buy it, save your money and spend it on something that eg says is worth it, becuase this isnt, my opinion yes but also that of many others well done eg.
    Edited by 1 at 14/07/04 @ 22:04

  • pylon #255 8 years ago

    eh? the music is SHIT.

  • Homer Simpson #256 8 years ago

    why are you all still mocking this game? i personally think its not a bad game but can we please move on and forget about all this?

  • #257 8 years ago

    this game SUCKS!! SUCKS! OMG OMG OMG!! IT'S SO BAD! WORST GAME EVER! EVEEEEEEEER!! OMGGG!!

  • Homer Simpson #258 8 years ago

    Exactly!

  • MoFo #259 8 years ago

    you are all sad fuks its a game not real but a game and its pretty good ... not!

  • Homer Simpson #260 8 years ago

    look ppl! i agree this isnt exactly a brill game but its not 2 bad either! it has real models, fairly gd graphics etc. there r sum bad points i admit but still this game is still more fun than the getaway ryt?

  • #261 8 years ago

    the replay?

  • Homer Simpson #262 8 years ago

    Wow! The 380th comment! Most of these comments are agianst the game as well!

  • Homer Simpson #263 8 years ago

    Now I can see how shit this game really is! A friend of mine recently completed it and he claims its still no fun even once you've done everything 'good' on there... 'tis the shitest ever game after all!

  • Xinch #264 8 years ago

    Only a total fool could look at the on foot sections of Driv3r and not come away with at least the sense that something has gone very wrong in the development process for it to end up this way

    Thank you eurogamer

  • #265 8 years ago

    yeah. it's eurogamer that did the onfoot sections of driver3. yep, sir. yes yes. it is, it is.

  • WoodenSpoon #266 7 years ago

    You can swim in GTA!