DRIV3R or Driver 3 is a racing action adventure game which released in 2005. It got mixed reactions from the audiences and negative reviews from the critics for its gameplay and overall feel. Talking from a pure gaming perspective, here are 7 things that went wrong with DRIV3R/ Driver 3.
Things That Went Wrong with DRIV3R
1. A Lack of Personality
Driv3r tries to be a better-looking & cooler version of GTA Vice City, but it goes all over the place and lands nowhere sadly. At times, it feels dark like GTA 3 Liberty City and at times, it feels like a James Bond movie ripoff – you just can’t fathom what DRIV3R represents. The modern-looking car textures, the old-school city graphics, the sky that belongs in a painting and the sandpaperish road – nothing gels together or seems believable. The graphics are extremely overwhelming – you won’t be able to rest your eyes as there’s going to be some graphical element every 5 seconds that just doesn’t fit in.
While playing this cheap knockoff version of GTA, you’re going to feel more & more respect for GTA Vice City with every passing second. The only original thing about DRIV3R is how uniquely annoying it is, other than that there’s no unique aspect of personality to this game.
2. Cheat codes that are too Polite
The legendary game Vice City, from which DRIV3R tries to copy had insanely entertaining cheat codes like Fanny Magnet, Nutter Tools, Leave Me Alone, WaterWays etc, which allowed you to spawn cool cars &weapons, drive on water, gather a crowd, blast all cars around you and do a ton of crazy stuff. Unlike GTA Vice City, DRIV3R’s cheat codes are the most boring, useless cheat codes that don’t even feel like cheating – Cheating is supposed to be fun right, and unlocking more missions, and getting unlimited ammo in an already boring game is not anyone’s idea of exciting times.
The cheat codes seem too nice & cultured – cheat codes are just a boring add-on to this yawnfest of a game. The game’s so devoid of any joy that you wouldn’t even feel like going on the internet and searching for its cheat codes.
3. Weapon Combat with no intensity whatsoever
The shooting mechanics feel cartoonish. The heart-pounding experience of shooting enemies, and NPCs and evading the police that you get in GTA Vice City – divide it by 100 and then subtract 100 from it i.e. -100, the exhilarating feeling of combat is in minus, it’s non-existent if we talk in general terms. Playing the cult-classic Duck Hunt game on the Nintendo gaming console is 10 times better than this forced shooting experience being provided in DRIV3R.
Compared to GTA Vice City’s gangster Tommy Vercetti, the protagonist in DRIV3R seems like a goofy accountant who is given a crash course on shooting & is on a mission to bore the gamer with the game’s dry missions. The enemies just bow down and accept their defeat without posing a challenge to the protagonist in DRIV3R – you’re not going to feel any sort of intimidation when the enemies are shooting at you, it’s disappointing honestly.
4. A Vanilla background music throughout the gameplay
Honestly, the music isn’t too terrible but it is too loud for the somber and gangster undertone that the game is trying to forcefully shove down your throat. For example :- the fast paced background music in DRIV3R looks suitable for a James Bond movie but while hearing it in DRIV3R’s gameplay, it feels plain-annoying mental disturbance and a case of noise pollution to the gamer’s ears. The background music overpowers the game itself & eliminates any sort of atmospheric ambience that the game could have provided during the driving & shooting missions.
If you want your ears to not bleed then please dont wear headphones while playing DRIV3R.
5. It feels like a Game while you’re playing it
It’s quite an antithetical thing to say about a game but it’s true – you’re not going to get a deeply immersive experience that you get in games like GTA Vice City, San Andreas, Need for Speed Most Wanted or Far Cry 1. You’re going to feel like you’re watching an average movie with characters that you can’t relate to at all – it’s quite hilarious, but you’re going to feel like you’re wasting your time while playing a video game.
Video games are purposely made to kill time but not DRIV3R – while playing this game, you will get a strong feeling that it’s time to go to college, get a degree, pursue a career and leave this childish gaming stuff for good. DRIV3R forces you to escape from the escapism that video games provide – it reminds you that responsibilities are waiting for you in the real world. If your child’s future is looking bleak, then please gift him/her DRIV3R.
6. Cinematic cutscenes that are devoid of any depth
The graphical style of the cutscenes is intended to be cinematic, gloomy, mafia and stylish but it looks comical and goofy, to say the least. You’re going to try your level best to take the animated cutscenes seriously but fail each time – the dialogues are not even 10 percent as witty, sarcastic or creative as Vice City. DRIV3R’s cutscenes try hard to look cool and intimidating but honestly are just average at best – the cutscenes are forgettable and won’t be leaving any emotional impact on you.
Oddly enough, the cutscenes are the best part about the game – you’re going to feel like you’re watching a mildly amusing “it’s so bad that it’s good” kind of movie with cool sound effects.
7. The Uninstall button starts to appeal you every 5 minutes
The fast paced background music that goes overboard, the glass shattering effects that look idiotic, the enemies that worship you and drop like flies when you engage in combat, confused visuals that dont commit completely to either modern or old-school, a lack of interactivity with the gaming environment like GTA, useless insertion of sex appeal and a bunch of boring missions – DRIV3R successfully fails in providing an unforgettable experience to the gamer.
You’re going to fall in love with the uninstall feature on your PC after you’re done with uninstalling this knockoff version of GTA Vice City.
Thanks for reading the article.
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