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.
Don't listen to the review[s] out there that are knocking the crap out of this game. Driv3r is not that bad at all. It is a game that is far from perfect but you may find yourself having a good time with it.
We can probably all agree that this game is far from perfect, there are a LOT of bugs, but for some reason I have always enjoyed it. The story line is just really fun, the difficulty is just right, the atmosphere is amazing and the gameplay is a lot of fun. All 3 maps manage to really give you the idea that you're in a different country and although there isn't much to do in free roam, you can have hours of fun just messing with the bridges. This one of the few games which would really deserve a remake in my opinion. Just imagine this game without its bug, modern graphics and just a bit more activities in free roam and it would probably be the best game ever.
concept/story: 9/10
gameplay: 8/10
graphics: 8/10
level design: 10/10
quality: 2/10
overall: 7/10
This game did not need to be a bad one: the premise remains ripe with extraordinary possibilities. This, however, simply squanders them, showing a determination to prioritise style over substance which cripples the game and damages gaming as a whole. [Aug 2004, p.94]
Definitely a game with a lot of wasted potential. The driving physics have aged amazingly well, car deformation is extremely good for 2004 standards, and the action it provides in high speed chases is enough to keep you engaged and get through the “undercover” mode. However, the most criticized aspect of this title is obvious as soon as you play any of the game modes where Tanner is able to move on foot, which is when you notice the awkward movement the developers designed(or where designing at that point of the game, which is of course in an unfinished state). Shooting segments feel dull and cheap due to this issue. Bugs and glitches are always present, and these may ruin the single player story mode in any of the available missions, making attempts of beating “undercover” mode more frustrating than they should be. If Atari had not pressured Reflections to release the game before the correct date of launch, DRIV3R could have beaten the now giant Grand Theft Auto series, but unrealistic deadlines and an unstable state of release, made the third title to one of the best driving games from the end of the 1990’s a failure which would affect the rest of the franchise’s games.
A game which effectively slowed a series' success by trying to mimic its competition's strong points, Driver 3 anything but good -- but its not without merit either. There's some interesting ideas interwoven within this game that could've made this a moderate success otherwise.
I really enjoyed the graphics, and the way that this game chose to present its story. The storyline, and the three main setting featured are highly reminiscent of action films from directors such as Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino. It's no doubt that Driver 3 is one of the best looking games from the original Xbox / PS2 era - and the visuals are elevated by the Nice and Istanbul locations that you visit throughout the course of the game.
As with previous Driver games, the core mechanics of driving and car chases have always been a high point and the same can be said here. Some of the game's missions, particularly ones focused on vehicle sections, were made memorable as a result of the way vehicle physics are handled. It's also really exhilarating to see cars explode, but vehicle explosions aren't too great since you can still enter the same car as a wrecked chasse.
While I found the driving controls very responsive and made the game more fun, I really didn't understand the need for the on-foot combat sections; the shooting is really boring and I just wanted each section to be over and done with. The AI also felt extremely basic and poorly-scripted, enemies will stay in place and don't really seem to move all that much - making a lot of combat scenarios much easier than they should be. Beyond that, I also experienced a handful of bugs during my time of play. Many of the bugs I witnessed froze or soft locked my console and ultimately forced me to reset.
Would I recommend this game to anyone? Probably not. But if you have a love games from this time period, or even have a strong passion for action, you may find something that you will like about Driver 3 - but don't take my word for it. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas came out much stronger than this one, and is much more recommendable in my books.
DRIV3R certainly divided opinion upon its release but, while it certainly has its flaws, the thrill of chasing around a packed city remained entertaining throughout. Add in a detailed 'director mode' that allowed for players to make there own mini-movies and you had a reasonable title.
It was an epiphany when I played the first Driver game on PlayStation as a child. The third installment Driv3r was extremely advertised, so the hype was gigantic. It wasn´t able to keep up with the expectations. The graphics, synchronization and story are pretty good, but almost everything else is broken. The controls feel like a potato, gameplay is boring and the missions are frustrating and repetitive. Even if you try to finish this game, the bugs and glitches will spoil all of the fun. Not a total loss but mediocre thoroughly.
SummaryDRIV3R is an action-packed driving adventure game that recreates the excitement of a Hollywood blockbuster and plays like an interactive movie. DRIV3R stays true to its roots, incorporating the cinematic gameplay and gritty street crime of its predecessors with ground breaking graphics and three mammoth wide open city environments. Featu...