Driver

Driver (1999) is a groundbreaking action-racing game where players take on the role of Tanner, an undercover police officer and skilled driver. In a crime and action-packed storyline, players infiltrate criminal organizations while performing thrilling chases and missions in four major American cities: Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.

The game is known for its impressive open-world structure and realistic vehicle physics, making it a unique blend of racing and action. Driver is considered one of the predecessors of modern sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto III.

5 fun facts

1. The infamous training mission:

The tutorial in the parking garage is often cited as one of the hardest tutorials ever, as players have to perform a list of stunts without explanation.

2. Open world before GTA III:

Driver offered an open-world experience before it became a standard, with fully explorable cities and dynamic chases.

3. Cinematic inspiration:

The game is inspired by classic chase films such as Bullitt (1968) and The French Connection (1971), which is evident in the intense chase scenes.

4. No pedestrians:

To circumvent the limitations of the PS1 hardware, there were no pedestrians in the cities, only other vehicles and objects.

5. Police AI:

The police in Driver are very aggressive and react immediately to violations such as speeding or collisions, increasing the tension during missions and free rides.