Driver 2
A Worthy Follow-up
Driver was a
massive success on the PlayStation. It instantly became a must-own title
for gamers on that particular system. It seemed only natural that a
sequel would follow. Follow it did with Driver 2, released in November
2000 on the PlayStation. This game was never ported to the PC, as the PC
version didn't sell nowhere near what it did on the PlayStation. Driver
2 was ported to the Gameboy Advance though. However, this article will
focus exclusively on the PlayStation version.
This game was significantly larger than the original, as it came on two disc. Their were 4 cities included in Driver 2. The included cities were larger in size compared to their predecessors. Like in games like Midtown Madness, Chicago is depicted in this game as well. Chicago has always been a favorite for 70's style car chases. The Blues Brothers come to mind. Havana is depicted as well, and can be played immediately. Las Vegas is depicted too, but it can only be accessed once all the missions in the first two cities are completed, as Rio de Janeiro, only becomes available once the Vegas missions are completed.
This game was significantly larger than the original, as it came on two disc. Their were 4 cities included in Driver 2. The included cities were larger in size compared to their predecessors. Like in games like Midtown Madness, Chicago is depicted in this game as well. Chicago has always been a favorite for 70's style car chases. The Blues Brothers come to mind. Havana is depicted as well, and can be played immediately. Las Vegas is depicted too, but it can only be accessed once all the missions in the first two cities are completed, as Rio de Janeiro, only becomes available once the Vegas missions are completed.
There are various cars depicted in the game, based on their real world
counterparts made by various car manufacturers like Ford, Chevy,
Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler, etc. Like the previous game, their are damage
physics in this game as well. One of the features in the first game, as
shown in one of the screenshots in the previous article, was the hubcap of the car coming off.
This happened constantly in the first game. This action was toned down in
this one to make it more realistic.
Like the first game, Driver 2 pays homage to the car chases from the 70's. The in-game music reflects this as well. If you don't like funk, then you can get the FUNK out! There's plenty of it, and if your a cool cat, then you will have no problem grooving with the music as your being chased by the popo!
Like the first game, Driver 2 pays homage to the car chases from the 70's. The in-game music reflects this as well. If you don't like funk, then you can get the FUNK out! There's plenty of it, and if your a cool cat, then you will have no problem grooving with the music as your being chased by the popo!
Driver 2 is largely based on the first one, just with different locations.
However that doesn't make it any less fun. Their's still plenty of
action and fun activities to do. Plenty of chases to get into. One thing
to note is that Driver 2 still does have to conform to the technical
specs of the PlayStation. It's not like the PC where games like Midtown
Madness were able to provide a lot more with hardware upgrades that
drove graphical innovations constantly. There was constraints that were
enforced by the PlayStation.
Despite these constraints, the developers at Reflection Studios
did a amazing job inking every ounce of performance from the hardware.
The destruction physics is still very amazing and enjoyable. The chases
are still just as invigorating in this game as in the first one. If
detected, the police will be on your tail in no time.
In the story-line
mode, you reprise your role as
Tanner, the under-cover cop from the first game. The player can exit the
vehicle now, but only at a complete stop, and not while while being
pursued by the police either.
Like in many of
these open-world driving games during this time, their were no
pedestrians to hit. Their are peds though, but they are rendered as
simple 2D sprites. As noted, detailed peds usually required significant
computing power to render, power that simply wasn't available on the
PlayStation.
Driver 2, like it's predecessor and contemporaries,
has various arcade elements designed to provide those 15 minutes burst
of fun.
OUUUUUU........
Retrospective
If you are a fan of
the first game, then this one is definitely worth playing. It's still
similar to the first game, but with the first one being so awesome,
that's a complement. With the different location, bigger maps, and
graphical and game-play tweaks made in various parts; it still feels
different enough to be a true sequel. Driver 2 is a classic still worth
playing.
Driver 2
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Driver 2
Fandom
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