Driver ($6.99)
Version – 1.1.1
REVIEW – “Test your driving skills with this intense action game!”
If you’ve been gaming for a while you may remember a game that was released originally for the PS one that predated similar games such as Grand Theft Auto and Crazy Taxi. Driver is a game where you are challenged with evading the cops to do all kinds of various missions such as helping bank robbers in a getaway, and rescuing people that are being transported to prison. If you are a fan of games like this you will not be disappointed at what Driver has to offer!
The first thing I noticed with this game is that the download is considerably larger than the majority of games in the 
atmosphere. Once you get it downloaded you will see why. From the amazing intro movie and character voices, down to the amazing textures that you see during gameplay this game is a visual and auditory masterpiece!
Once you have finished watching the intro movie, or skipped by touching the screen and touching the “skip” button in the upper left corner you will see a title screen and then the main 
menu. The music here is nice and sets the mood, while the menu is simple yet very sharp looking with a car on the left side.
You will notice from the menu that there are several different play modes available. I would recommend that you go to the “Training” mode first and familiarize yourself with the controls before you do anything else. A lot of the more modern games are pretty easy so that anyone can play them but Driver was not and is not that way. Thankfully the Developers did include an “Easy” mode in the game as well as a mode with the original difficulty settings.
As I played this game I noticed that there it extremely 
easy to spin your tires and that there is was also a little difficult to differentiate between the control pad buttons without constantly checking where your finger is. The controls do make sense, but I think it would be better if the “peel out” and “emergency brake” buttons were not so close to your directional buttons. This gets a little confusing, and you really don’t want to be peeling out while trying to turn as it just causes you to spin in circles.
If you find the control pad too difficult there is also the option to control with the accelerometer but, the I thought that control pad was easier at least for me. Once you are familiar with the controls you can play driving games, “take a ride” or get started with the main game “Undercover.” In the main story you are Tanner, an undercover cop who is working to expose a national crime ring. You do various 
“jobs” for these criminals in an effort to work your way to the top and take them down.
The cut scenes are very well done with great voice acting and visuals. There are few games that offer a story as deep and well emphasized as Driver does. If you have played the original game before there will be nothing new, but to new gamers or those of us that missed this game the first time it adds a lot of depth to the gameplay.
If you love games where you avoid cops and the emphasis is on driving skill then you should definitely take a look at Driver because it is one of the best driving games I have played on the iPhone. The maps that you race on are large and there is a lot going on. I was extremely impressed that the game doesn’t slow down at all even when there are tons of objects and cars on the screen!
To sum it all up I would say that, while this game might be frustrating to a new generation of gamers that think they ought to be able to breeze through any game on the first try, if you stick with this game is a lot of fun! It is a very good port of the original and it will offers you several hours of enjoyment. The question I had is whether the game is worth the hefty price-tag of $6.99. To this I would have to say resoundingly yes! It is obvious that Gameloft put in the man hours with one and I very much enjoyed reviewing it. Whether you are looking for an app to kill some time, or a full gaming experience look for “Driver” in the App Store today!
- David H.
Download Now!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Developer – Gameloft
URL: http://www.gameloft.com/iphone-games/driver
DEVELOPERS NOTES
“Though Gameloft kept the seventies groove of the original Driver, the upgraded visuals are immediately noticeable. It’s not just that car models and building architecture are cleaner. Gameloft gave Driver a fresh paint job” (IGN)
————————————————–
Discover the most stunning racing game ever created for the iPhone. Driver, the game that introduced a new genre of driving games, is back with its amazing physics and fully revamped graphics.
You are Tanner, an undercover cop posing as a getaway driver with the goal of exposing a national crime ring. The investigation will take you to Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
- A breathtaking story mode with 40 missions spanning 4 giant cities, and additional modes to keep the interest up (Training, Free Play mode, Driving games)
- Unprecedented driving physics: unbelievable stunts with flinging turns, stomach-dropping jumps and impressive crashes. Your car takes damage and can potentially explode!
- The most realistic urban environments on iPhone, with revamped visuals, detailed textures and beautiful lighting effects. Each city has working traffic lights, wandering pedestrians, moving traffic and vigilant cops on patrol.
- A great soundtrack, with 3 radio stations broadcasting tracks inspired by 70s music
With Driver, you are the wheelman.
————————————————–
Other Gameloft games you may like: Gangstar: West Coast Hustle, Asphalt 5, Skater Nation, Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X, James Cameron’s Avatar and N.O.V.A. – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance.
Download Now!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
© 2009, Davidh. All rights reserved.