"RECREATES LONDON AMAZINGLY...QUESTIONAB LY THE BEST GAME OF THE YEAR" (The Getaway (PS2))

Member Name: ps2update

Product:	The Getaway (PS2)
Date:	09/01/03 (892 review reads)
Rating:

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Controversy, a word that by very simple definition means debatable, it is debatable because one must question whether it is right, it stirs a debate between people. One must debate whether or not the "controversial" matter should have taken place as it has aroused concern. Controversy within games seems to be forever increasing; when Resident Evil came out that was controversial, watching horror movies with zombies is one thing but playing in a game where you blow the head clean off a zombie and can get physically mutilated by a zombie is quite another. The problem with video games is that the public underestimate the intelligence of the gamer, they feel that these games will influence people to do things, to actually carry out these acts. They are absorbed into the video game therefore when it ends they will still have a craving for it and wish to go and recreate these things in public. True to say many didn't go out on the hunt for zombies but what about Doom way back in '95? Back in the day it was hailed controversial merely for the fact that you went around killing people with a gun, then when some idiot went and killed people in a school it was suddenly the fault of Doom!

It isn't just killing people that is controversial either, Duke Nukem was questioned for the occasional use of "explicit" language and showing the occasional breast. One would understand why it was hailed controversial if it was being sold to children of even adolescent fifteen year old boys but considering it carried an eighteen certificate children shouldn't have the game anyway and they would only get hold of it courtesy of irresponsible adults. Of course when talking about controversy the game that usually springs to mind, bar the twisted fear inducing Silent Hill, is of course Grand Theft Auto, a game that has brought pleasure to many as they get the chance to virtually rebel against the authorities and shout "fuck the system" in the process smiling. Grand Theft Auto is a game t
hat takes place in America where you can pick up prostitutes, take part in drug deals, commit hit and run offences, get chased by the police, kill people, and do whatever the hell else you want to do, there is a storyline there although it isn't exactly an epic but with a good dosage of the word "fuck" and controversy it sold a stack of games.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is the latest GTA instalment and is the game that many are comparing The Getaway to although it is in a way a false comparison. Sure The Getaway has its fair share of controversy but it has a storyline and it is far more realistic than GTA; GTA is a game for people whom like to create havoc whereas The Getaway is a game for those whom like to take part in a great storyline and go against the police at the same time. The question is after so much hype and so many comparisons does The Getaway live up to the exceedingly high expectations?

GAMEPLAY

There are some games out there that's gameplay works on the basis of cheap thrills such as joyriding and causing havoc as seen in GTA, then there are games that work on the basis of great storylines such as Deus Ex, and then there are games that rely on great gameplay with intelligent AI such as Max Payne. The Getaway amazingly combines elements of all three and produces something that the team at Rockstar would be very proud of indeed. The Getaway is everything Rockstar hasn't wanted to achieve yet Sony has done it in just one game an amazing achievement, there are stealth based intense gun fights seen in Max Payne, people running riot in the streets trashing things as seen in State Of Emergency (well the gangs cause havoc anyway), and the grand theft auto style mindless madness in vehicles.

The gamer plays Mark Hammond, a man whom has just came out of jail to return to a normal life. It is just a normal day in his life (isn't it always?) when out of nowhere some incompetent criminals capture his son Alex and inadverten
tly kill his wife due to their inability to successfully kidnap without killing. Hammond is understandably furious and goes to his dying wife who merely utters the words "get out boy back, get our boy" before dying. Hammond then meets Jolson, an old criminal whom smokes many a cigar and to quote the game Hammond goes "running all over the gaff." Jolson tells Hammond he wont get his boy back until he completes some missions for him, and so a storyline takes place whereby Hammond must do exactly what Jolson says, when he says if he is to get his boy back. The storyline takes some twists, as one would expect, and things don't run as smoothly for Hammond as he initially expected it as Jolson keeps asking him to carry out that one extra mission and then he will get his boy back.

The game uses a healthy combination of driving, stealth, shoot outs, and in game cut scenes to help the storyline progress. Driving is very similar to that of Grand Theft Auto except it is in good old London. For those familiar with England and in particular London this will prove a dream come true as one can drive Saab's, Rover's, Lexus', and many other cars typically seen in London not to mention the infamous double-decker buses. To take over a vehicle the gamer literally produces their gun and holds up the car as opposed to grabbing the door and throwing the driver out i.e. GTA. As this is London, the capital of England, if one doesn't have a gun then the cars aren't going to get out for you, they will merely ask "what's the hold up?" With the volume of traffic in London one can assume it would be very easy to get ran over and not all cars are going to stop for you if you run across the road, this happens in The Getaway because if Hammond runs out in front of a car and doesn't give it enough warning or stopping time then unsurprisingly it isn't going to stop and Hammond will be the result of car meets body!

There is a dangerously high amount of police patrolling London whet
her they're in panda cars or on foot, this means that Hammond has to be particularly careful unless he wants to end up down the old bill or in a fight with the police themselves. This means that it is important to keep a low profile when police are near, and often one will find themselves slowing down whenever they see a white car just on the off chance it is a cop car, or slowing right down at corners just in case a copper is lurking. Police will pursue you if you hold up pedestrians (whether in their cars or, and more fun, place a gun to their head and use them as a human shield!), drive on the wrong side of the road (this applies to one way roads of course as well), randomly shoot people, fight with a gang, smash into the back of another car, or just generally look suspicious or cause a disturbance. The fact that one can be picked up for so much means that one has to be extremely careful if they want to survive in London, oh and there is another small fact thus being that Hammond is the most wanted man in London after carrying out about two missions!

Cars handle amazingly accurately, and although some may slate a few vehicles being slow that is the whole idea as the speed or handling of the car reflects its real life counter part. This means; a bus isn't going to get you from place to place fast but will create carnage if smashed into other vehicles, a Lexus will get you places at immense speed, whereas a van will simply trundle along with no worries in the world at a leisurely speed. Another accuracy is that as the car gets more damaged one will be able to clearly see this with a smashed windscreen, dented door, bulging front, slashed tire or whatever happens to have been damaged. If the vehicle gets damaged too much it will set alight and if one doesn't exit the vehicle quickly they will be flamed to a crisp.
Overall The Getaway is a hugely entertaining game with an amazing storyline set in good old London.
23/25


GRAPHICS
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br>The Getaway recreates London amazingly well from the likes of Soho to the London Eye it is all there and for UK gamers it will prove a treat to travel down the streets of London and actually recognise the place and know where you're going. The graphics are quite a lot to take in at first and are realistic as opposed to cartoon like as seen in GTA and State Of Emergency. The nearest comparison to give to The Getaway is of the forthcoming Driver 3 although that still doesn't give this great looking game justice.
When in action scenes on foot it looks reminiscent of Max Payne as the gamer stealthily picks off opponents before running in all guns blazing. Blood is created well with a good splattering going against the wall when shooting an enemy although sadly no limbs or excessive detail goes into the gore factor of the game.

Enemies and vehicles all look realistic and one can distinguish different members of gangs from a distance if one has played the game enough. Each gang has a various set of cars and if in the gangs area one will be treated to an all out attack. Damage on the vehicle is depicting brilliantly, a small knock means a minor dent in the car, and anything more could mean a bulging door, a caved in boot, smashed up windscreen, black smoke from the engine or even for the car to explode into flames. The Getaway is one of the finest looking games on the PS2 and yes it does surpass the almighty Grand Theft Auto visually.

18/20

SOUND

Sadly there are no radios in the cars as seen in GTA but this can prove to be a good rather than bad thing as the gamer constantly feels that they are actually in London as they concentrate more on the screams, screeches of tyres and smashes. The script is typical for a gangster based game, with a fair portion of "fucks" but also some beautiful voice acting complete with authentic London accents really helping to set the scene. There isn't a lot more one can say about the sound but it
is appropriate to the game and all the noises sound on par which is just as well really.

18/20

LIFESPAN

When it comes to games with great storylines, unlike Grand Theft Auto, they never seem to last quite as long as one would expect and one could be forgiven for assuming this would be the case with The Getaway although with twenty four missions it quite clearly is not. Although missions don't last that long there are many that are worth replaying whether it is just to gloat or to enjoy the moment, let's face it who wouldn't enjoy killing a station full of policemen twice or killing criminals in a warehouse stealthily? When complete the gamer is treated to a free roaming mode which means the gamer can literally go wherever they want in London and can cause havoc GTA style, as it happens the gamer also starts with a nifty car that can go faster than any other vehicle and can create carnage, the only vehicle it can't destroy is the mighty double decker bus that stands superior over all vehicles! Aside from the free roaming mode and the opportunity to repeat missions The Getaway offers little else once completed but the experience first time round is so breath taking that Sony can be forgiven.
19/25

ORIGINALITY

The Getaway has technically not been done before, and in fact what has been achieved is very clever for an original game has been created by taking and adapting ideas from other successful games. In a sense this game is completely original because there hasn't been a gangster game set in London but at the same time it is completely unoriginal because everything has been done before. The stealth element comes from Hitman and Metal Gear, the action is reminiscent to Max Payne, and the auto mode is similar to GTA, however combine these three modes of gameplay and a unique storyline and you have an absolute classic game never seen before - brilliant.
7/10

OVERALL

Questionably the best game of the
year although with competitors such as Resident Evil, and Metal Gear Solid 2 it is hard to label it with such a prestigious title. This is a game that will be adored by mature gamers, fans of lock, stock, Londoners, gangsters, and people looking for a new game experience. One would hope for a sequel to this game, perhaps we will get The Getaway: Birmingham! I can see it now, a full scale map of Birmingham, cruising through New Street and creating havoc. This is a top class game, it would be "criminal" to miss it.




85%

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