In a first for the series, players will assume the role of an eighteen year old wheelman known simply as “The Kid”. Tanner is no longer the main character in the game, and the game is set in 1978 in New York City. New York City is modeled with some real areas and some fictionalised areas, some of the outskirts of New York like New Jersey are also in the game.
Something bad is about to happen
One of the most promising features of the game is the fact that it offers an uninterrupted experience. The game is very open ended and if you fail a mission then it is simply a matter of finding another mission; there is no prerequisite to complete a previous mission to advance the story. The game also loads as you play, which means you can start missions without waiting for the game to load, this should help to keep the player more immersed.
The Xbox version of DRIV3R had bare Xbox Live support, but Parallel Lines features full online support for up to eight players. Atari have been very quiet about some of the game modes, but one of the modes lets one player take the part of a robber, whilst the other player tries to chase him down in the police cars. There is also a basic racing mode where the objective is just to come first, as well as a mode to try and carjack the most vehicles. We’re expecting a few other modes as well, but they have yet to be revealed.
So how does Parallel Lines compare to its predecessor? The AI has been significantly upgraded so that the player doesn’t feel like they are in an alien world this time around and the game features a roster of eighty different vehicles that all possess their own attributes. There is also a garage mode that allows a player to use their credits (which are earned from mini games) to repair, repaint and upgrade their vehicle.
I told you something bad was about to happen.
Speaking of the mini games, Reflections have included plenty of mini games that should occupy a lot of time. Some of the mini games include hitman contracts, demolition derbies and carjackings. These should ensure the game keeps the player entertained even after it is completed. The on foot sections of DRIV3R were dreadful, Reflections have cut down the on foot sections so that 85% of the game takes place in a vehicle, and the other part of the game is dedicated to on foot missions. The aiming system has been improved though, which should mean that it isn’t such a chore to get out of a vehicle.
With only a few months of development time left for Parallel Lines we’re still a little wary about the game. The game certainly sounds impressive, but we’re just not sure if Reflections can turn the series around as much as they hope to.
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