Metascore
69 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 41 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 41
  2. Negative: 0 out of 41
  1. It's a compelling tale, which is more than backed up by some fly graphics, cool soundtracks and smooth gameplay.
  2. The story isn't much, but the game itself is always fun to play - providing a strong, but fair challenge as you progress, while delivering the most thrilling car chases in gaming.
  3. It's fun to drive round a city far too fast. There's an imperfect framework in which to do that here, but it's a vast improvement on its predecessor.
  4. While the pseudo-sand box nature of this game does give it more than a passing resemblance to some of the best bits of the three GTA titles we all know and love, it has enough original content to save it from being accused of too much plagiarism.
  5. Driver: Parallel Lines is a slice of the '70's done right. [Apr 2006, p.63]
  6. Don't let the sour taste left by "Driv3r" put you off. Parallel Lines doesn't re-invent the wheel, but what it does, it does very well.
  7. This once-great series goes back to its roots in fine and tan style. [May 2006, p.89]
  8. Where "San Andreas" has size, variety and freedom, DPL has size, physics and handling. The mission design prevents the content from truly impressing. [Apr 2006, p.44]
  9. It's an overall solid effort, but there are some aspects of the game that should have gotten a bit more work. Maybe next time.
  10. A game that tries to be every major street driving game you can imagine. At the end of the day, Driver: Parallel Lines feels a bit dated and jaded. Some fun car chases and over-the-roof-top racing, though. And yes, good music. [Apr 2006]
  11. But it can't match San Andreas' scope, and as good as the game is, I found myself treading between boredom and frustration more than I'd like.
  12. 75
    The new innovations to the genre are likely to be copied by other games. Ultimately Driver Parallel Lines is definitely worth trying out.
  13. Trimming the unnecessary features and focusing on a very specific style of gameplay, it appears to be aimed at a slightly more sophisticated audience than GTA - the oft mentioned "we know what we want" crowd.
  14. Worth a purchase for fans of the original or great car chases.
  15. The game is actually better to listen to than play, but the point still is: Don't come a knockin' if this game is rockin'.
  16. Parallel Lines at least shows that the studio is on the right track.
  17. 72
    The improved out-of-car experience, better gun handling, added driving-and-shooting mechanic, and the slew of changes all culminate in this being a much better outing that "Driver 3."
  18. It could piss off fans of both Driver and GTA due to the unoriginal gameplay and shift in direction but there's no reason the average gamer can't have a ball with this game.
  19. Driver has escaped near-death with a captivating and colourful return, and one where everything from systems to cinematics is of a quality build. As surprises go, it's a juggernaut. [Apr 2006, p.84]
  20. While Parallel Lines is a decent offering, it feels very much like a watered-down Grand Theft Auto, with a more linear storyline and fewer random fun things to do outside of missions.
  21. It's a shame you have to wade through so much rubbish to reach the good stuff, but the second half of Parallel Lines is a blast. [Mar 2006, p.78]
  22. Overall this is a big improvement over "Driv3r"...Now, if only they'd make the next game 100% driving. As it stands, Parallel Lines can't help but come across as a pale imitation of "GTA: San Andreas."
  23. The good driving mechanic and excellent presentation found in Parallel Lines are only let down by some rather mundane missions.
  24. Sure, the improvements to the heat level are fantastic, and it's great to have a game that has really solid handling and physics, but it would have been nice to see the series break a little more new ground.
  25. The world is drab in this fourth Driver game and the missions are just plain boring, and with about 15 to 20 hours of gameplay, at least it's not excruciatingly long (nothing makes a mediocre game worse than making you trudge through it for 40+ hours to feel like you accomplished something).
  26. With a dash of humor and inspiration -- the two things Parallel Lines desperately needs -- this might have been a minor classic. Instead, it merely shows that attention to detail is nothing without a flash of life to drive the effort.
  27. The Driver franchise isn't quite ready for a bullet in the head, but it's definitely tired. Atari needs to let the series take some time off until there's a compelling non-financial reason to produce another installment, and Reflections should do some soul-searching to figure out which parts of the game work.
  28. Aside from the obvious problems, the real problem is that nearly every part of the now-aged Driver formula has been done better elsewhere. [May 2006, p.98]
  29. Driver: Parallel Lines is a mostly competent GTA clone, but the dull storyline and remedial gameplay prevent it from being recommendable.
  30. There were a few moments of intensity, and a few minutes of excitement, but it's not what it should be.
  31. While this is definitely a solid improvement on its dreadful predecessor, it needed to achieve a basic level of competence and build upon it, and it only does that to a very limited extent.
  32. Parallel Lines is a stylish game; everything from the cut-scenes and dialogue to the excellent soundtrack has been constructed meticulously to produce an almost Tarantino simulacrum of 1970s Americana. [Apr 2006, p.108]
  33. Overall, Parallel Lines is a step in the right direction for the series, but it ultimately feels like it's setting its ambitions way to low. [May 2006, p.73]
  34. 60
    Sure, it's derivative as hell, but there's nothing getting in the way of actually enjoying the game now.
  35. 60
    How badly do you want to play another GTA rip-off? Driver: Parallel Lines is better than most, but it still can't hold a candle to Rockstar's flagship series.
  36. 60
    Where GTA used humor, masses of distractions, OTT violence, and a giant game world with a real sense of space and depth to mask the unimpressive visuals, Driver is the opposite, using an impressive physics engine and city to hide repetitive and languid gameplay that's becoming increasingly difficult to enthuse about.
  37. Parallel Lines proves that effective story-telling sometimes makes up for mediocre gameplay. [July 2006, p.87]
  38. Pity the game lacks GTA's mischievous sense of humour and fun distractions.
  39. 58
    Arse controls. Feels like driving a trolley. [Issue#139, p.88]
  40. 55
    Driver: Parallel Lines is better than it's predecessor but far too much of a Grand Theft Auto clone to be anything other than an average game.
  41. I get the impression that far too much effort was put into locking up a great soundtrack.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. 7
    Don't let the awful Driv3r put you off this. It's got nice graphics, good selection of cars, all with much better handling than the arcade physics found in the PS2 GTA games. The shooting is decent, and the drive-bys are better than GTA due to a lock-on and you can still control the car well. Melee combat is practically non-existent. Story-wise, it's again nowhere near the monster that is GTA but it's a pretty good story of revenge, characters are average but i did like the protagonist, TK. He's got more personality than Tanner anyway. It has some decent car mods and missions are fine. All around good game but it doesn't have the depth of GTA. Full Review »
  2. Driver: Parallel Lines is a great driving game and defiantly an improvement over the last Driver game, Driv3r. The game play is better; most of the missions involve driving rather than on foot section shootouts, the driving physics are slightly better, you can now shoot while driving in a vehicle and theres more to do in terms of side jobs. Unlike past Driver games where you take control of Officer Tanner, you take control of someone called TK which possibly means that Driver: Parallel Lines doesn't follow after Driv3r and is more of a spin off. One great thing in this game is that you can now customise your vehicles that you bring to Ray's garage and put body kits, bullet proof tyres and performance parts on them. The vehicle damage that was awesome in Driv3r is back and the vehicles are more controllable now. There are a variety of missions to do in the main single player campaign and include more driving and chasing criminals missions than Driv3r which is more like it (it is a Driving game after all). There are also side missions which were lacking in Driv3r, like bringing cars to a garage via a tow truck, hitman missions and races to participate in. The city that Driver: Parallel lines is New York which is nicely detailed and is huge. DPL is more polished than Driv3r as well; there are fewer glitches, the graphics look a little bit better as well and the police AI is much better in which they won't get stuck behind a wall or go into super speed just to try to keep up with you. The great selling point of this game is the dual era in which this game is set in. About half of the game (in NYC) is set in 1978 and the second half is set in 2006 which is great because then you can drive old cars and newer cars and experience New York city in different era's. At times though, Driver: Parallel Lines does feel like your playing a Grand Theft Auto at times and there is no multiplayer mode either. However, Driver: Parallel Lines is a great driving game that definatly puts the Driver series back on track. Full Review »
  3. AdamB.
    7
    When comparing the game to GTA, as the critics seem to do, one immediately notices better graphics, physics, story, and police AI. But the GTA series has many more diversions and much more humor, which keeps it from being more than the pizza delivery mission game it's been since the original. Parallel Lines, having no such redeeming qualities other than being able to pimp out a school bus or ambulance, loses audience interest fast. In the future, Reflections should focus on differentiating itself from GTA such as including online multiplayer modes, custom character, city, and / or vehicle creation, and so on. Too many games today are too comfortable simply copying GTA's original formula, including the GTA series itself. Still, if you are a GTA or Driver fan, this game offers beautiful graphics, ultra-fast loading, a funky old-school style in the 70's era, and a score of collectable cars for your garage (yes, including the requisite invincible, grenade launching tank). Full Review »