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Rainbow Six 3: BA
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Pub.: Ubisoft
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Dev.:
Ubisoft
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Score: 8.0 |
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DRIV3R Review
by 007
For years, developer Reflections has been at it with the profound Driver series. The series is known for the hunt, the thrill of the chase, not for combining genres. Driv3r fits the bill just like the previous versions has, but it's plagued with underdevelopment issues in many areas. Even though Driv3r is the first installment on the Xbox console, it could very well be the last, unless Reflections is able to marvel a complete turnaround.
Features:
-Single Player Only
-Xbox Live Award
-Online Scoreboards
-480 Progressive Scan Input
-5.1 Dolby Digital
Gameplay:
Driv3r plays like the previous installments in the series have. The game is primarily based upon in-car and out-car missions filled action and chases. Gamers will take on the role of Tanner (also in the first two titles), an undercover cop that has a knack for fighting crime very well. The task at hand this time is to stop a car theft organization from stealing cars, reminiscent of the story in Gone in 60 Seconds.
Following the roots of the name, Driv3r allows gamers to take control of numerous vehicles: automobiles, motorcycles, and boats. There's a wide variety of cars to drive that are used in missions. Motorcycles are new to the series, but they're very difficult to control despite their high speeds. Boats will be used in some missions, and if you happen to fall off, you'll be able to swim in the water.
Missions will have multiple ways to be completed, an advantage to gamers that have trouble in completing objectives that have one and only one strict route to be completed. Well over 70% of the game will contain driving missions, so while taking on an objective, it's best to take the best possible route and not creating problems. For missions where Tanner will have to be on foot, the execution can cause many problems. It's clear to see that since the game is more focused on the driving missions, the missions on foot are poorly displayed and weakly executed.
Game Controls:
Left Thumbstick: Steer
Right Thumbstick: Look
Left Trigger: Brake/Reverse, Crouch
Right Trigger: Accelerate/Fire weapon
A Button: Handbrake
B Button: Burnout/Reload Weapon
X Button: Exit Vehicle
Y Button: Jump/Change Weapon
Back Button: Change Camera
Driv3r's control scheme comes fairly standard and simple. There's not much to it that'll keep you looking at the instruction manual because you couldn't remember how to perform a car maneuver or shoot a weapon. It's all fairly standard, and keeping it simple makes the controls more presentable to gamers.
The game offers three modes of gameplay: undercover, take a ride, and driver mini missions. For the most part, Driv3r is a very difficult game, and it shouldn't take long to complete. Albeit there are three modes of gameplay, there certainly isn't a lot of depth. The Xbox Live support is there, but very limited. Driv3r boasts the new Xbox Live Aware feature and online scoreboards.
Graphics:
Driv3r visuals can be quite deceiving. There will be many times where you'll be under the impression that you're witnessing some magnificent environments, when in close it's merely subpar. On the plus side, cars are fully destructible to the point where there are little pieces shattered on the ground. Speed is of the essence in Driv3r, and while driving the environments around you seem almost unclear. However, when you begin to slowdown everything seems to reappear. The framerate tends to drop at times but is steady throughout the course of the game.
Audio:
There's plenty of big voice acting talent in Driv3r. Big names such as Ving Rhames, Michelle Rodriguez, Mickey Rourke, and Iggy Pop all lend their voices in Driv3r. This definitely brings more life to the story, but it can't carry the game. The sound effects come across as bland and lifeless. Crashes just don't seem to have the effect that you think they would, while the actual car just seems to be too quiet. Gunfire and explosions are far too ordinary to be spectactular. 5.1 Dolby Digital is support, but really won't make a considerable difference.
Overall:
While there was a great deal put into the release of Driv3r, it really comes off as a bitter disappointment. Fans of the series will feel that the game was rushed for its release, and maybe a delay would have done the game some good. There's no doubting the games story and direction, but the execution is what is definitely lacking. There's too many games in this genre to recommend Driv3r as a must buy, when it's really questionable rental.
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| Rating |
| Gameplay: | 5 |
| Graphics: | 7 |
| Sound: | 6 |
| Value: | 6 |
| Tilt: | 5 |
| Overall: 5.8 |
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