successful revival of the cult series

From the first part of the series I am even today, 13 years later, a huge fan. Spectacular car chases in (for that time) huge, fully three-dimensional cities and in the style of iconic action movie of the 70s were, in this form unique until then. Unfortunately, the developer lost a little focus in the successors. Clearly it was still spectacular pursuits, but to foot passages and poorly controllable shooter deposits vermiesten but very fun at the titles. But now it is fortunately: Back to the basics!

The story is unusual, one might as well say trashy. The dreaded underworld boss Jericho breaks out of prison and the known from the predecessors John Tanner immediately takes over the prosecution. But while he gets ambushed and falls after a serious accident in a coma. But his restless spirit will thus not resign and leave without further ado Tanners body and now has the ability in almost every round moving residents from San Franciso to slip (in game "shifting"), and thus not only the actual driving also the focus of the gameplay forms.

Did you this story turn swallowed at the beginning first, you are now on the busy Handlungsort (SPIE title gives it away), San Francisco, to explore from the air. You see a car of like it, you click it on easy and already you ride (let passers-by do not click, to foot passages there is no) with him through the area. For successful stunts, such as driving in the oncoming traffic or spectacular drifts and jumps, you gain points which can you invest in new workshops and vehicles. Initially, the choice is limited here by the existence of tests of courage and side missions you can extend it but. These missions like story relevant contracts do not only need but laborious search, they can be comfortable clicking on the world map.

All orders make this a lot of fun, whether it be classical races, chases with the police (both in the role of refugees, as well as in the Cops) or various stunt variations. Variety, there are more than enough. The driving physics and damage model are typical Reflections, first class. Cool was thereby integrated the "shift feature." Runs as a race time not as desired, your spirit changes briefly into a driver of oncoming traffic, the rams and the leader frontally him stealing valuable seconds or equal throughout crashes him out of the race. With a short keypress, one then returns to his real car. Of course, this also works for the car chases.

Difficulty falling compared to previous Driver titles from very moderate. Especially the story missions, you simply put almost always problems on the first try. After all, at the side missions and tests of courage can be found here and there once something crisper challenges, but unfortunately, nothing can match what even close to the President mission. But was hidden as a small easteregg the park Mission of the first part. Addiction Just looking after the most famous time machine in film history;)

The technology is a double-edged sword. On the one hand affects the appearance, with their meager textures, chunky buildings and Spartan effects, more like a game for the original Xbox. On the other hand the game is thus also in the densest traffic (and reigns here actually always) always wonderfully smooth and perfectly playable. In the end, a good compromise, although the many other probably will not see so in my opinion.

When sound there fortunately nothing to complain about. A mix of license and songs specially composed pieces, including a remix of the title track Driver 1, the action accompanied always fit and atmospheric. The German Synchro also fits and makes cool sayings for a lot of humor.

By the way there's also an online multiplayer. To this end, I can not write about what big unfortunately, the servers were mostly empty. As an alternative, at the Splitsreen mode, which can at least take care of entertaining fun.

Although the large Herrausforderungen missing, thanks to first-class physics and fun Shift feature does Driver San Francisco right mood. Anyone without an approximately contemporary look can not live however, should be better access to Midnight Club LA or Burnout Paradise.