Atari/PC, PS2, Xbox (£34.99-£44.99)
The streetwise Miami cop Tanner returns in the latest edition of Atari’s car-chase franchise, this time on the trail of a gang of highly organised car thieves.
The original Driver appeared on the PlayStation and the car-chase spectacular was said to be the inspiration behind Grand Theft Auto. This new outing borrows something from GTA’s style, since you can now jump behind the controls of around 50 cars, trucks, boats or bikes (right). The game’s campaign is very linear, but most missions can be completed in more than one way, bringing a small element of strategy to the proceedings. Two-thirds of the missions call for skilful manipulation at the wheel, with the remaining challenges carried out on foot in a convincing first-person perspective mode.
The graphics are divine, with vast urban locales and spectacular crashes. The cars handle well, and each vehicle has its own characteristics. Yet this is no easy driving game — one of the reasons why, subject matter aside, it carries a 16+ rating. Pulling off more complex driving challenges requires the most dexterous button-jabbing, which takes a lot of practice.
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Tim Wapshott