The Getaway is as big of a leap for video games as Max Payne, Mafia, or Grand Theft Auto 3.
If you thought Max Payne had it bad, just wait till you meet Mark Hammond. Your wife is dead, your son kidnapped, and he will be killed if you don't do everything the resident crime lord tells you to: this is all within the first ten minutes of the game. After 12 missions in the shoes of our unlucky protagonist, the perspective changes to that of a renegade cop, hellbent on bringing down said crime lord, no matter what the cost. The effect is nothing short of breathtaking, and Getaway's presentation, script, cinematography, and acting can hold its own with any of its genre's celluloid companions.
The Getaway's attempts at being a cinematic experience doesn't equate with making the game an interactive movie, like with many of the titles on today's market. While there is a fair amount of cutscenes in the game, The Getaway opts to blur the line between movie and game through more unconventional means. Taking a cue from Rare's Donkey Kong Country, there are no life bars, score gauges, or other indicators of any kind on screen. Instead, you know you're hurt when you start to limp, and when blood starts to soak through your jacket. You know you're out of ammo when your gun clicks. You know it's time to turn a corner when the blinker turns on. It's all very intuitive stuff, and helps to broaden the game's appeal. This is how we'll be playing games in 10 years, my friends. The driving can be controlled with either the traditional gas/brake button setup, or the dual stick "Halo" method, and you'll find that the latter provides for the most exhilarating car chases this side of Grand Theft Auto. I cannot express in words how satisfying it is to be darting down the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic, like a scene out of Ronin, dash in a narrow space between two cars, and have your pursuers not quite make it. Add in the fact that you're doing this in a painstakingly realistic model of London, with real, licensed cars that (gasp!) take damage, and you may find yourself driving on the left side of the road in real life.
Then, there is the shooting portion: again, Team Soho hits a home run. A perfect, ecstasy-inducing mix of the best parts of Dead to Rights, Max Payne, and Winback; The Getaway had me calling Mark "Mr. White" more times than you can shake a wanker at, what with his dual pistols and all. It's morbid fun for even the most jaded violent-minded gamer as well, since Markie-boy can take any character in the game hostage – even civilians - then execute them gangland-style with the press of a button! And thanks to the excellent physics engine, their brains will splatter all up against the wall, should there be one nearby. Just wait till you reach the funhouse that is the museum!
This is the part where I need to make a few complaints, only because I feel like a fanboy for not doing so. About the only problem I can find with The Getaway, and this is a stretch, is the idea that you are going to use your blinker in the middle of a high-speed chase. Some may also take offense at the idea of healing your wounds by taking a rest against a wall, but action movies have been using this cliché for years, and that's what The Getaway is…one big action movie that casts you as the star. Team Soho has attempted to create one of the most ambitious games ever, and has come out with one of the very early frontrunners for game of the year.
-George
Editor's Comments
I hardly ever say anything about a reviewer's review, but this one has caused me to pipe up. Personally I called The Getaway, the best game of E3 2002. When I received the demo from Sony a few months latter I was so disappointed with the final product. It didn't feel right to me and I hated it. When the review copy showed up I gave it to George with the shrinkwrap still on! After he sent me his review I could not believe the score he gave it and had to play the game myself before I posted such a high score on my site. Well, you know what? Once I started playing the game and stopped looking for every flaw I could find and instead enjoyed what I had in front of me, I really got into this game. The story and presentation are the best ever, hands down. I kept saying I would play one more mission just to see what happens...next thing you know it is 3 in the morning!
The more you play the game the more you appreciate it. The Driving parts are some of the best I have had in gaming. At first I hated them, the cars seemed slow, the handling seemed too loose. Turns out I was just jacking the wrong cars! Once I got a nice Lexus and was in total control, whipping around London, weaving through HEAVY traffic, with "The Filth" on my rear end, I was on the edge of my seat. I do wish there was a map however. I never felt like I was navigating around London, but rather just driving straight til a turn signal told me I needed to adjust my direction.
The on foot parts are where I really hated the game at first. I thought this was the worst game I had ever played. No way of knowing how much ammo I had, when to reload or how much health I had left! Then by the time I got to the Police station scene with the double MP5s and felt exactly like the Terminator, I was replaying scenes just because they were so kick ass! These parts are not perfect by a long shot however. Not being able to rotate the camera with the right stick and a very jerky camera system can get aggravating at times, but the lock on system almost always did exactly what I wanted it to do.
I am so glad George's review convinced me to give the game a second chance and not judge it too quickly and get the fact that it is a GTA 3 clone out of my head and enjoy it for what it is. A playable action movie! I especially can't thank Sony and Team Soho enough for treating me like an adult and not toning down the game's language or violance. That is truly an M rated game!
-Scott
Company Line
Live on both sides of the law.
Mark is a professional bank-robber, trying in vain to leave his past behind him. But when his son is kidnapped by gangland boss, Charlie Jolson, he is unwillingly dragged back into the seedy underworld of vice and corruption in order to free his son from the clutches of the most feared man in organised crime.
The player will journey through a genre busting action adventure in the shoes of a professional criminal and an embittered police detective, seeing the story unfold from two completely different characters with their own agendas.
THE GETAWAY is a first for video-gaming. The team has painstakingly recreated over 50 square kilometres of the heart of London. Gamers will be able to explore the city on foot or steal a car and drive through any street from Kensington Palace to the Tower of London; it's all there. Over 50 cars are available; all based on real-life car models. Players will be able to perform astounding car-stunts such as two-wheel races down back alleys, jumps and skids.
Incorporating film production techniques, the team has managed to fuse the interactive fun of video games with the high production standards more accustomed to Hollywood. Real life actors have been hired to give the characters a level of depth unheard of within the video game industry, and with a script writer and art director employed from the film industry, at times the player could be mistaken for thinking they are directing their own movie!
Players will have the sensation that they are entering a real, living city, with pedestrians and other drivers all getting on with their lives, as you try to save your own – even if it means stealing, reckless driving and widespread mayhem. The many varied characters that the player will interact with have been created through the use of REAL actors' likenesses to give them depth and personality which results in a gritty realism rarely seen in video-games.
Game Features:
· Players will be able to explore vast areas of Central London on foot or by car with an unprecendented level of freedom as they can take any car, anywhere, anytime and enter and exit buildings at will.
· REAL-actor likenesses and motion capture are used to give the characters more realism and emotion with incredible new facial animation technology brings the story to life like never before.
· Getaway incorporates evolving Environments react to the players' actions within the game. For example streets that get damaged during car chases are being repaired when you return to them on subsequent missions.
· Special attention has been paid to creating a deeply involving atmosphere where London is alive with people and traffic and has a real gritty gangster feel, typified so well by films such as "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" and "The Long Good Friday."
· Players must steal and generally cause mayhem if they are to achieve their goals and advance through 24 missions (12 per character.) Interweaving story lines allow the player to see the events from unique perspectives, which will involve and entertain even the most experienced gamers.
· Over 50 'playable' cars are available, all based on their real-life counterparts and players will be able to perform spectacular stunts if they push their cars to the limit by performing two-wheel driving, jumps and skids.
· Team Soho have paid incredible attention to detail throughout the game in order to faithfully re-create over 50sq Kilometres of London with pain-staking accuracy. In addition the team have commissioned the services of a Hollywood Art Director to create all the storyboards and building interiors.
Create an Account
Member Login
