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Gameplay:
Everybody knows Driver on the Playstation, you work for the mob, deliveringstolen cars, assisting a bank robbery etc. Well, it's pracically the same for the GameBoy Color version. You are equipped with a damage meter and a felony meter. The damage meter rises every time your car hits an object, and your felony meter rises almost each time you break the law (althought the "felony detection" can be a little dodgey at times). The higher the felony meter, the more the cops want you. If your felony meter is low, the cops will tail you, and they try to ram you when it is high. The cops can be hard to avoid sometimes but you'll soon work out their patttern, then it'll be easier. The first missions last maybe a minute or so, but it's so fun driving around Miami, LA and NY avoiding the cops. Besides the main game there are 4 other game variations plus "Take a ride" where you just drivearound. The 4 games are: Checkpoint (where you have to reach various checkpoints within a time limit), Getaway (where you must lose the cop on your tail with some evasive driving), Pursuit (where you must ram another car into submission) and Survival (where you start with a high felony meter and must drive for as long as you can before the cops get you). You cannot wipe your felony meter clean, that's Driver for you. Driver isn't about lengthy games, but more short bursts of kicking driving fun. The map can be viewed by pressing start, this also pauses the game. The direction arrow only points in 8 directions, so the map does come in handy. Both your location and the mission objective are visible on the map. The cars slide around in a MicroMachines kind of way, so it's got good handling. There isn't a 2 playerlink option, but there wasn't in the original either.

Graphics:
The cars are small, and the streets aren't too detailed, but they are suitable for this game. The overhead view works well, not losing too much from the original. Traffic detail is good, traffic cones that go flying when they are hit, houses, trees, lampposts etc. Cars are easily distinguishable from each other, taxis are yellow, cops are black and white with flashing lights etc. Your car leaves a satisfying trail of smoke when you burn a corner or get hit by the cops. LA looks cool at night, the roads are light by street lights. Title screens are good, and the menus are also well drawn (they are setout like it's bigger brother versions). The map is simple but functional also.

Sound:
Music isn't too special, it's actually pretty adverage. Sound effects are fairly standard GBC style. Both the music and sound effects can be switched off. It's best to leave the sound on so you can hear when the cops are coming, but I leave the music off (play it and find out why!).

Controls:
The controls are great, except they made Down the brake, and not B. Apart from this, the controls are easy. The levels are well planned. Police intelligence isn't so great. For example, you can drive the wrong way up a street past a cop, and he doesn't do anything. But when times are intense, the cops drive straight at you kamakazi style!, also it can be hard to lose a tail. The 4 other game modes add heaps to this game. The password system of four characters is simple and works well. Nevertheless, it lacks a save feature for those best times.

Final Comments:
This game is addicive in almost all resects. It shows just how far handheld gaming has come, and was one of the best, if not the best, launch title for the GBA. I highly recommend it to anyone. Go check it out, you will not be dissapointed!

Score:
Gameplay
Graphics
Sound
Controls
Personal Opinion

Game by:
Infogrames/Crawfish

Genre:
Action / Driving

Players:
1

Save:
Password (4 icons)

Released:
1999?

Reviewed by:
GameBoy Guru
(gb_guru@mbox.com.au)