Well, if you have played earlier versions of Driver series (even though DRIV3R was a disappointment), then this game has everything which will make you say “worth every penny”. If you’re a road freak, then this game really deserves some of your “pizza money”. The only way you’re gonna hate it is if you’re a parent whose child spends a lot of time on gaming, or if you work for Fox News. So lets take a look why is it worth (for everyone else) to save some bucks on pizza (or laundry if washing clothes is your pastime activity).
TRAILER
The Plot
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| John Tanner |
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| Chris Jericho |
If you’re a fan of Driver Series, than the plot of Driver: San Francisco has all the ingredients to keep you glued to your chairs. In the game, you are John Tanner, a hard-boiled detective who has spent his life chasing criminals and putting them behind bars. Your enemy, a criminal lord named Charles Jericho whose presence on the streets of San Francisco can bring a lot of trouble. Your job is simple, bring him to justice, but that’s not that simple as you’ll find out.
The story starts after the events of DRIV3R (Driver 3). Both Jericho and Tanner survived the shootout that took place in Istanbul. Afterwards, both men recovered and Jericho fled to San Francisco with Tanner on his tail. Somehow, Jericho got captured and was transported in the back of a prison truck but managed to get free with a vial of acid hidden in his mouth. Overpowering the guard, he hijacked the truck and tried to escape. Tanner, along with his partner Jones, witnessed this and gives him a chase. In an alleyway, he got in front of Jericho who pushed him in front of a tractor trailer. Tanner got a hard crash and gets in a coma. The rest of the game progresses in his coma in San Francisco streets.
The "Shift" Feature
Ubisoft is known to introduce “unconventional” features in its games, for example, the time reversal feature in Prince of Persia Trilogy. This time too, they have not disappointed its fans. In Driver: San Francisco, you have the ability to shift yourself from one car to another anytime, whenever you want. The question arises, isn’t it unrealistic? The answer is simple, recall that John Tanner (You) is in coma and the game is progressing in your coma. Remember though that “shift” feature is an exhaustible and can be refilled by taking sharp turns, big jumps, or power slides. Also, you have to upgrade this feature from time to time so that you can shift yourself into more distant cars and to other parts of the city. If you jump away from mission critical cars, don’t worry, because the car will be set automatically set to autopilot and you can jump back when you feel the “time is right”.
When it was inquired from the developers about the introduction of this feature, the developers replied that it was originally the returning back to Driver II feature, in which the player can leave the car and hijack another one. But since, this feature has been introduced in so many games, it was decided to introduce “shift” feature.
Driver: San Francisco Cars List
Whether you’re a fan of 70s cars or like modern vehicles, Driver: San Francisco has a long list of cars to fulfill your appetite. With brands like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jaguar and Dodge, I’m certain that you’ll find your “Dream Car” (though not in real life, but hey, it isn’t bad either). Here is the list of cars that are introduced in Driver: San Francisco.
Abarth 500 (2008)
Abarth Fiat 695 ss Assetto Corse (1970)
Alfa Romeo 159 Ti (2009)
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2007)
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 (1965)
Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010)
Alfa Romeo Mito (2009)
Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto (1966)
AMC Pacer (1980)
Aston Martin Cygnet (2011)
Aston Martin DB5 (1963)
Aston Martin DB9 Volante (2010)
Aston Martin Rapide (2010)
Aston Martin V12 Vantage (2010)
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI (2010)
Audi Q7 4.2 FSI quattro (2010)
Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro (2010)
Audi RS 6 Avant (2008)
Audi S5 Coupe (2010)
Audi Sport quattro S1 - Rally (1985)
Audi TT RS Coupe (2010)
Bentley Arnage T (2005)
Bentley Continental Supersports (2010)
Cadillac CTS-V (2010)
Cadillac DTS (2010)
Cadillac Eldorado (1959)
Cadillac Escalade (2007)
Cadillac Escalade - Cop (2007)
Cadillac XLR-V (2009)
Chevrolet Bel Air (1957)
Chevrolet Blazer (2001)
Chevrolet C10 (1965)
Chevrolet C10 - Tow-Truck (1965)
Chevrolet Camaro SS (1968)
Chevrolet Camaro SS - Jones' car (2010)
Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (1986)
Chevrolet Chevelle SS (1970)
Chevrolet Corvette (1960)
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - Drift (2009)
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (2010)
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - Cop (2010)
Chevrolet El Camino (1973)
Chevrolet Impala (2006)
Chevrolet Impala - Taxi (2006)
Chevrolet Volt (2011)
DeLorean DMC-12 (1983)
Dodge Challenger R/T - Tanner's car (1970)
Dodge Challenger SRT8 (2009)
Dodge Charger R/T (1969)
Dodge Charger SRT8 (2009)
Dodge Charger SRT8 - Cop (2009)
Dodge Grand Caravan (2009)
Dodge Grand Caravan - Taxi (2009)
Dodge Monaco (1974)
Dodge Monaco - Cop (1974)
Dodge Neon (2002)
Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie (2010)
Dodge Ram SRT10 - Jericho's car (2006)
Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR (2009)
Ford Crown Victoria (1999)
Ford Crown Victoria - Cop (1999)
Ford Crown Victoria - Taxi (1999)
Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew (2010)
Ford F-350 Super Duty (2008)
Ford Gran Torino (1974)
Ford GT (2006)
Ford Mustang Convertible (2008)
Ford Mustang GT Fastback (1968)
Ford Mustang Mach 1 (1973)
Ford RS200 - Rally (1985)
Ford Shelby GT500 (2010)
Ford Taurus SHO (2010)
GMC C5500 (2008)
GMC C5500 - Ambulance (2008)
GMC Savana - News Van (2005)
GMC Sierra (1998)
GMC Sierra - Monster Truck (1998)
GMC Vandura (1983)
Hudson Hornet (1951)
Hummer H3X (2009)
Jaguar E-Type (1966)
Jaguar XFR (2010)
Jaguar XKR (2010)
Jeep Wrangler (1988)
Lamborghini Countach LP400S (1978)
Lamborghini Diablo VT (1994)
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 (2009)
Lamborghini Jalpa (1986)
Lamborghini Miura (1972)
Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 (2007)
Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV (2009)
Lancia Stratos - Rally (1974)
Lincoln Town Car (2010)
Maserati GranTurismo S (2008)
McLaren F1 (1997)
McLaren MP4-12C (2011)
McLaren SLR (2008)
Nissan 370Z (2009)
Nissan 370Z - Drift (2009)
Nissan GT-R (2010)
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) - Drift (1998)
Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 (1970)
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (1972)
Pagani Zonda Cinque (2009)
Pontiac GTO The Judge (1970)
Pontiac Lemans (1971)
Pontiac Solstice GXP (2009)
Pontiac Solstice GXP - Drift (2009)
Pontiac Trans Am (1975)
Pontiac Trans Am (1977)
Pontiac Trans Am (1980)
Range Rover Sport Supercharged (2010)
Ruf CTR 3 (2010)
Ruf CTR Yellow Bird (1987)
Ruf RK Coupe (2010)
Ruf RK Spyder (2009)
Ruf Rt 12 (2010)
Shelby Cobra 427 (1966)
Shelby GT500 (1967)
Volkswagen Camper (1965)
Volkswagen Scirocco R (2009)
Volkswagen Scirocco R - Rally (2009)
Volkswagen Baja Buggy (1963)
Volkswagen Beetle (1963)
Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (2009)
Abarth Fiat 695 ss Assetto Corse (1970)
Alfa Romeo 159 Ti (2009)
Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2007)
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 (1965)
Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010)
Alfa Romeo Mito (2009)
Alfa Romeo Spider Duetto (1966)
AMC Pacer (1980)
Aston Martin Cygnet (2011)
Aston Martin DB5 (1963)
Aston Martin DB9 Volante (2010)
Aston Martin Rapide (2010)
Aston Martin V12 Vantage (2010)
Audi A4 2.0 TFSI (2010)
Audi Q7 4.2 FSI quattro (2010)
Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro (2010)
Audi RS 6 Avant (2008)
Audi S5 Coupe (2010)
Audi Sport quattro S1 - Rally (1985)
Audi TT RS Coupe (2010)
Bentley Arnage T (2005)
Bentley Continental Supersports (2010)
Cadillac CTS-V (2010)
Cadillac DTS (2010)
Cadillac Eldorado (1959)
Cadillac Escalade (2007)
Cadillac Escalade - Cop (2007)
Cadillac XLR-V (2009)
Chevrolet Bel Air (1957)
Chevrolet Blazer (2001)
Chevrolet C10 (1965)
Chevrolet C10 - Tow-Truck (1965)
Chevrolet Camaro SS (1968)
Chevrolet Camaro SS - Jones' car (2010)
Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (1986)
Chevrolet Chevelle SS (1970)
Chevrolet Corvette (1960)
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 - Drift (2009)
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (2010)
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 - Cop (2010)
Chevrolet El Camino (1973)
Chevrolet Impala (2006)
Chevrolet Impala - Taxi (2006)
Chevrolet Volt (2011)
DeLorean DMC-12 (1983)
Dodge Challenger R/T - Tanner's car (1970)
Dodge Challenger SRT8 (2009)
Dodge Charger R/T (1969)
Dodge Charger SRT8 (2009)
Dodge Charger SRT8 - Cop (2009)
Dodge Grand Caravan (2009)
Dodge Grand Caravan - Taxi (2009)
Dodge Monaco (1974)
Dodge Monaco - Cop (1974)
Dodge Neon (2002)
Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie (2010)
Dodge Ram SRT10 - Jericho's car (2006)
Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR (2009)
Ford Crown Victoria (1999)
Ford Crown Victoria - Cop (1999)
Ford Crown Victoria - Taxi (1999)
Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew (2010)
Ford F-350 Super Duty (2008)
Ford Gran Torino (1974)
Ford GT (2006)
Ford Mustang Convertible (2008)
Ford Mustang GT Fastback (1968)
Ford Mustang Mach 1 (1973)
Ford RS200 - Rally (1985)
Ford Shelby GT500 (2010)
Ford Taurus SHO (2010)
GMC C5500 (2008)
GMC C5500 - Ambulance (2008)
GMC Savana - News Van (2005)
GMC Sierra (1998)
GMC Sierra - Monster Truck (1998)
GMC Vandura (1983)
Hudson Hornet (1951)
Hummer H3X (2009)
Jaguar E-Type (1966)
Jaguar XFR (2010)
Jaguar XKR (2010)
Jeep Wrangler (1988)
Lamborghini Countach LP400S (1978)
Lamborghini Diablo VT (1994)
Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 (2009)
Lamborghini Jalpa (1986)
Lamborghini Miura (1972)
Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 (2007)
Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV (2009)
Lancia Stratos - Rally (1974)
Lincoln Town Car (2010)
Maserati GranTurismo S (2008)
McLaren F1 (1997)
McLaren MP4-12C (2011)
McLaren SLR (2008)
Nissan 370Z (2009)
Nissan 370Z - Drift (2009)
Nissan GT-R (2010)
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R33) - Drift (1998)
Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 (1970)
Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (1972)
Pagani Zonda Cinque (2009)
Pontiac GTO The Judge (1970)
Pontiac Lemans (1971)
Pontiac Solstice GXP (2009)
Pontiac Solstice GXP - Drift (2009)
Pontiac Trans Am (1975)
Pontiac Trans Am (1977)
Pontiac Trans Am (1980)
Range Rover Sport Supercharged (2010)
Ruf CTR 3 (2010)
Ruf CTR Yellow Bird (1987)
Ruf RK Coupe (2010)
Ruf RK Spyder (2009)
Ruf Rt 12 (2010)
Shelby Cobra 427 (1966)
Shelby GT500 (1967)
Volkswagen Camper (1965)
Volkswagen Scirocco R (2009)
Volkswagen Scirocco R - Rally (2009)
Volkswagen Baja Buggy (1963)
Volkswagen Beetle (1963)
Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (2009)
Take a look
Reception, Awards, and Final Word
The game has received quite positively by the critics, with an average score of 8/10. Also, it received the Best Racing Game award from Machinima.com and Best Driving Game of E3 2010 award from Ripten. Don’t worry about the graphics or sound; they are awesome. The point is, if you’re a fan of racing games, than Driver San Francisco is made specifically for you. If not, still try it, I’m sure you’ll love it.
