Driver: Parallel Lines (Wii) - Review by yoshimn

Introduction

Driver is a game that I go back quite a few years with. I remember its release on the old Playstation One, and the commotion caused by the game. Particular attention was paid to its video creation tools where you could re-create your own fast action Starsky and Hutch style chases; camera positions and angles could all be added into your replays with impressive results. This car-chase aesthetic was further extenuated by the design of the environments. Every street had umpteen different side alleys, complete with trash cans, hobos and cardboard boxes, all perfectly set-up for you to barrel through in your retro tricked out crook mobile. With the famously over zealous police it was a trick you were cleverly forced into throughout the game. Although not the main point of the action, this TV chase ethic became what the series was best known for.

Gameplay

This latest release, Parallel lines, continues this heritage whilst fleshing it out to compete with the Grand Theft Auto's (GTA) of the genre. The game world is believable and well populated. It pulls of the impressive trick of providing enough variety to make the place feel designed rather than generated. Something that lesser incarnations of this style of game often fall down on. You play the part of TK, an up and coming hot shot in the 1970's. As you explore the starting city you soon start making connections and being offered a variety of side-quests to keep the local bad-boys on side and earn enough money to keep you stocked with cars. Once you have a suitable car you can lay it down at one of the many race tracks and earn some money by more traditional means.

As the game progresses, you enjoy getting to know the environment more and more, and start to develop your favourite dodge side-alleys, top short-cuts across the parks or empty lots and the best places to pick-up those all important money earning jobs. Then suddenly, without wanting to give too much away, you are wrenched out of this familiarity and find yourself transported to 2006, where it seems you need to start the process all over again; although this time, you are obviously more than half familiar with the environment, albeit some 30 years later.

Controls

Driver Parallel lines is another game that introduces Wii controls back into an existing game, and unfortunately it shows. The key aspect of the game, as its name suggests, is the driving. However, this is one of the weakest parts of the control scheme. The Nun-chuck is used to control the car, steering on the analogue stick and acceleration and braking on the Z and C buttons. Leaving aside the start stop feeling of digital acceleration, there has been a half hearted attempt to include motion sensitivity for steering. This turns out to be too unresponsive to use, but unfortunately responsive enough to interfere with the analogue stick steering. With no option to turn the gesture steering mechanic off, you often find yourself frustrated by a tired hand inadvertently veering towards the oncoming traffic. Once out the car things are a little better, although a calibration options like we have seen recently in Scarface, would have made the experience so much more enjoyable.

Graphics

Driver's greatest visual success is in the overall aesthetic of the game. It manages to pull together its live action cut scenes, pre-rendered sections and in game content to create a coherent whole. This is more successful in the 1970 sections, which are able to add a bit more swagger to proceedings. In game, the graphics are easily on a par with the likes of Godfather: Blackhand Edition and Scarface. But although Driver trumps the drab environments of Godfather, it doesn't manage its depth of experience or connection to the on screen action. This is not to say that Driver is without its moments in the Sun, such as the slow motion camera angles and crash camera, but it seems that more time could have been spent on deepening their high gloss finish to deliver a more substantial and visceral game experience. This lack of connection is obviously not only dependant on the art design and level construction, the game controls play a vital part in convincing the player that this is something worth spending time on.

Sound

The music is particularly good in the 1970's section. Not only does it add to the overall 70s vibe of the environment, but it gives you something to tap your foot to while you are driving to your next mission. Sound wise, the game is also pretty good with the sound effects adding weight to the various crashes and driving mishaps that you inevitably end up in. Voice work too, whilst not outstanding, is pretty good.

Final comments

When the original Parallel Lines was released on the last generation consoles, it really did give GTA a good run for its money. But now, with GTA IV almost upon us, Driver is starting to feel its age a bit more. It goes to show that 6 months is a long time in the game industry. That said, if you don't have Godfather or Scarface on the Wii already and are looking for a more glossy stylised experience then you will probably get good mileage out of Parallel lines. There is plenty here to entertain although its not going to present you with any emotional or moral dilemmas, it will certainly provide an excellent way to pass our long wet summer.

Pro: Realistic and well designed environments .
Con: With the approach of GTA IV the Driver franchise once again has some catching up to do.
Final score: 6.8

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