Driver: Parallel Lines

Spoiler Warning:Plot and/or ending details are in the text which follows.

Driver: Parallel Lines

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Driver: Parallel Lines Cover Art

Driver: Parallel Lines (also known asDriver PL orDriver 4) is the fourth installment to theDriver series. It was released on four gaming platforms, with theXbox andPS2 versions being released first on March 14th 2006 (March 17th in Europe), then theWii and PC versions on June 26th 2007 (June 26th 2006 in Europe).

The game was released by two different publishers,Atari andUbisoft; Atari released the game on the Xbox and PS2 platforms, while Ubisoft released the game on PC and Wii.

Overview[]

Driver: Parallel Lines takes place inNew York, and is the first game in the series to take place in two eras -1978 era and2006 era. The player is able to take both on-foot and in car gameplay to the next level with its improved physics engine.

Unlike past titles, the game focuses its plot around the story of a criminal rather than a police officer. The player

Gameplay[]

The game's open world environment gives the player plenty of freedom. Featuring a large variety of vehicles to drive, the player is able to travel across a range of urban and sub-urban surroundings both on and off-mission.Driver: Parallel Lines offers a range of structured and unstructured gameplay, alongside over 30 main storyline missions; a variety of side-missions and jobs are available, such asracing (includingoff-road,street andcircuits),demolition derby and a range ofodd-jobs andpursuitmissions. All of these mission can be accessed within the game world through bright-colored coronas.

A huge array of new gameplay features are included, such as a new Auto-aim feature, allowing the player to lock-on to any target with most weapons, even when in a vehicle. The game also introduces acurrency system. The player will receive money as a reward for completing missions and side-missions, which can be spent onvehicle upgrades andweapons.

Various gameplay elements from previous titles have been lifted and improved, including bullet sound and visual effects, improved fire and smoke effects, vehicle handling and a larger range of environment destruction (eg, lamps, fences and fire hydrants.).

The game does not feature an in-game clock, but does feature a realistic time cycle. According to the game files, two minutes of real-time represents an hour of game-time, meaning it would take 48 real-time minutes to cycle an entire day in the game.^[1] There is no weather pattern, although realistic sunrise and sunset effects are represented.

Vehicles[]

The game is the first in the Driver series to feature customizable cars and features a wide range (almost 100) of vehicles to choose from, with almost all of these being modifiable in some way. Customization options include respraying, bodywork options and engine and performance upgrades. Each car has a set of 4 unique bodywork upgrades to choose from, changing the livery or design of the car.

Vehicles can be found driving on the street, denser in the city, and traffic density can be changed on the PC version of the game. Once a vehicle is stolen, the player can drive it to the nearestRay's Autos garage, where they can store the vehicle. From here, options including repairing the vehicle, removing vehicle felony (if obtained), and testing the vehicle around the garage's test track can be selected. Vehicles stored in the garage are sorted into categories relevant to the vehicle's style, for example 4-door, 2-door, commercial, utility, and motorcycles.

Weapons[]

Driver: Parallel Lines features a selection of weapons available, varying from handguns, shotguns, rifles and explosive weapons. The era-change feature means the 1978 era features older weapons, whereas the 2006 introduces new weapons, and weapons that are meant to replace the 1978 counterparts.

Weapons are unlocked through the story line. Some weapons, like theLI-15,RPG, andGrenade Launcher, are unlocked when they are used in the missions, whereas others are unlocked from the beginning of the era. TK first learns to use weapons in the missionGunman. After the mission, he is given aRevolver with infinite ammo. In the 2006 era, he gains thePistol as his first weapon, which also has infinite ammo.

Unlike vehicles, weapons cannot be used in the opposite era; a 2006 era weapon cannot be used nor found in the 1978 era, and vice versa. Weapon ammo can be purchased at theGarage.

Characters[]

The game features a wide array of characters who are discovered throughout the story. The main protagonist the plays as is of courseTerry Kidumms, who has his best friendRay Davies by his side right from the beginning of the game, and according to the introduction, since 1976. TK gets involved with work forSlink, who in turn introduces him to his "crew", himself,The Mexican,Bishop, andCandy, lead byCorrigan. Each of these characters has different roles in this crew and get TK involved in crime.

When the game shifts to the 2006 era, TK turns on his crew since they manipulated him and used him as a scapegoat. This way, he findsMaria, who had her hate forCorrigan, the murder of herfather, for years. She wants as much revenge as TK does.

Setting[]

The game is set in a scaled-down rendition of the real-world New York City, as well as a portion ofNew Jersey. The city itself includes renditions of the key boroughs ofManhattan,Queens,Brooklyn, andThe Bronx. Many of the iconic landmarks found in New York can be found in-game, including depictions of theBrooklyn Bridge, theEmpire State Building and theStatue of Liberty (the latter of which is unreachable in normal gameplay).

While the game offers a largely open-world experience, various areas of the city are strictly limited from the player, similar to pastDriver titles.

Eras[]

One of the game's most unique features is its twoeras. The player starts the game in the first era,1978, in which half of the main storyline is played through.

1978 represents the "golden age" ofT.K.'s story, during which, he finds himself partying and having fun. He lives at his friendRay's auto repair store and is a professional getaway driver. His friend Ray introduces TK toSlink, founder of theFunky Rabbit strip club and drug dealer behind the surface. Slink teaches TK everything there is to know about gunfighting and eventually introduces him to the rest of his crew ran byCorrigan, a corrupt cop in-the-making.

During the 70s, New York City is represented as a developing city, with new high-rise apartments and complexes under construction across all 5 boroughs. On the streets, classic coupes and muscle cars cruise around, and thepeople of NY sport the latest trends including shades and flares.

After being stitched up by Corrigan's gang, T.K. finds himself locked up inSing Sing for 28 years. When he is finally let out in2006, he's ready for revenge.

2006 represents TK's revenge. His old friend Ray meets up with him after being freed, and helps him plan his next steps. TK seeks to take out all of the gang's members, starting withThe Mexican, who now works in an arcade inConey Island. Carefully planning his every move, TK also has to arise to changes in the modern day world, includingusing a television remote at Ray's. He meetsMaria Cortez, the daughter ofRafael Martinez who was killed byCorrigan. She sets out to help TK on his path to kill Corrigan.

In 2006, New York City is a bustling metropolitan, with new apartment blocks across the city and across also the river inNew Jersey. Perhaps one of the most notable differences is the lack of theWorld Trade Center in theFinancial District of Manhattan due to the real worldSeptember 11 attacks. There are also various new additions to the city's skyline, including theAdam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building inHarlem andOne Court Square inQueens. New saloon cars and SUVs are found all over the city streets, and the player can encounter many new sports and super cars during races.

A key difference between the two eras is not only TK's own story and his change in appearance, but also the impact it has on gameplay; the color schemes of the two eras appears to be reflected on by TK's glasses, with his bright orange/sepia shades in the1978 era causing the brightly colored sun-stroke city mood the player finds themselves in, while his darker shades in2006 produce a darker blue mood. It could also be said that these two color schemes are also a visual narrative of the storyline.

Plot[]

The story-line features 31 missions, which follow a certain storyboard. Unlike the previous installments, the main character is more of a criminal than an FBI agent like the well-known John Tanner found in the past three Driver games. In the first cutscene of the game,TK, the main protagonist, is introduced to the player:

Terry Kidumms (or, as called in gameplay, ‘TK’ or ‘The Kid’) is an eighteen-year-old ‘country boy’ who grew up on an American farm. Despite this, ‘home was too slow and too dull for him’. As soon as TK could get the money together, the first place he headed wasNew York City. It’s the place where he plans to live the American Dream using the one marketable skill he’s got – driving. TK’s best friendRay came to New York in 1975 at the age of twenty and set up a repair shop inQueens as cover for a car-ringing outfit, where he since then made a living fixing cars and doing tune-ups. It was Ray who taught TK to drive when they were still at the farm. After TK moves into New York, Ray introduces TK to his friendSlink, the owner of several strip clubs throughout the city and a local drug dealer. During this meeting, TK has to prove himself byshowing off his driving skills. After the second meeting with Slink, TK decides he wants to get deeper into the criminal world and becomes Slink's wheelman. Later on, Slink teaches TKhow to use firearms so he can ‘handle himself’ whenever he gets in a ‘situation’. With this expertise, TKdoesvariousjobsfor Slink.

After TK has proved himself to Slink, Slink gets TK in contact with another criminal,The Mexican. At first, The Mexican believes TK is too young to serve as his driver, but then he changes his mind and lets TK prove himself by competing against The Mexican's old driver in amotorcycle race. After TK wins the race, he doesvariousjobs for The Mexican as well.

The next morning, when TK awakes, another member of the gang,Bishop, is standing in hisnew apartment. Bishop makes it clear he knows Slink and says he has been sent by his bossCorrigan. Bishop needs TK to getCandy out of the prison ofRiker's Island. TK is instructed to carry out preparation missions for the prison breakout bystealing aPrison Van in order to get into the prison andobtaining information from one of the security guards. The same security guard also gives TK entry to the prison by opening the first gate. After smashing through a compound wall with a bulldozer and an intense fight with the guards, TK manages to find Candy andescapes the prison complex by aDelivery Van. After getting Candy out of the prison, TK is introduced to the gang featuring Slink, Candy, Bishop, the Mexican and Corrigan:

Eventually, Corrigan comes up with the idea to start a lucrative dealership in drugs, in particular, cocaine, sensing huge potential profit:

However, another drug gang – theColombians – are already monopolizing the cocaine business in New York. Corrigan plans to scare the gang off by kidnapping their drug lordRafael Martinez and demanding a ransom. Together, the gang thinks out a detailed plan, with each of the crew member being involved.

Later on, Rafael Martinez, who was doing deals inNew Jersey, heads toLa Guardia Airport with his convoy to pick up a planeload of cocaine. TK tracks the convoy and detonates a bomb he previouslyplanted in one of the escort cars to get rid of one of the security cars. In order to divert the convoy and lead it to the so-called killing field in Queens, TK plants and detonates several bombs throughout the city. After arriving at the killing field and eliminating the guards assisted by several other gangsters, TKextracts the limo with Rafael Martinez and brings him to a warehouse inHunts Point. The Colombians thereafter, want their leader back and announce the location of the ransom money; a package on the back of a bike on a multi-story parking garage inManhattan, nearCentral Park. TK arrives at the arranged location. The Colombians however, try to stop TK in every way possible. By escaping across the roofs, TK makes it back to the ground, where The Mexican is waiting with atruck. After a dangerous pursuit, TK manages toget the ransom money back to the warehouse where Rafael is tied up.

When he arrives at the warehouse, Corrigan suddenly ‘changes plans’ and kills Rafael Martinez. It turns out TK has been used by the gang as a scapegoat to take the responsibility for the kidnap and murder of Martinez:

After Corrigan attached his police badge, he makes clear that TK will be the scapegoat, and shoots him. TK, surviving his injuries, gets charged with kidnap, extortion, and murder and is sentenced to 28 years in the Sing-Sing prison. TK however, feeling betrayed, wants to take revenge and spends his time in prison by setting up plans for the ultimate retaliation:

After twenty-eight years in prison, TK leaves the prison at the age of forty-six. Both TK and New York appear to be different. TK is not a ‘kid’ anymore and New York breathes a new, modern atmosphere. Under the new facade, however, the city is still as dirty and dangerous as it was in 1978:

All the former gang members have also changed. Slink became a drug producer and a porno director, turning his Harlem club into a film and music studio, a front for a huge drug business. Bishop is now leader of a successful drug-trafficking organization, earning a lot of money dealing heroin. Corrigan became Chief of Police. Only The Mexican dropped down. He had lost his money and the successful criminal life he had in 1978 and became an alcoholic, working in an arcade room inQueens. Being a relatively easy target, TK decidesto kill the Mexican first.

Once TK arrives at an arcade room in Queens to eliminate The Mexican, The Mexican manages to escape by train and steps out inBrooklyn. After an intense fight in an abandoned amusement park with several of The Mexicans gunmen, TK manages to kill him. That evening, TK drives past Corrigan's residence in Greenwich Village and drops The Mexicans corpse in front of him to let him know TK is back, seeking revenge against him and the other gang members. Later on, Ray (who helps TK avenging the gang members by setting up plans to hurt their businesses) introduces TK toMaria Cortez, an assistant of Candy. TK uses her for his plans to kill Candy. TK does two jobs for her,involving guarding her and helping her to transport anAntilli VO3 Specialto one of Candy’s clients. At the same time, TK impairs the businesses of Slink and Bishop bydestroying Slinks porn shops and leading the police to the location of Bishop’ssmuggling operations. To bring an end to TK’s intimidation, Bishop arranges a meeting with him to compete against him in a matter of life and death, the last change:

When TK heads to Bishop’s mansion inEdgewater, Bishop can be seen driving aNegotiator, and feels very confident about his situation:‘Like my new toy? Let’s end this. Man, you never should'a come here!’ Nevertheless, in the following battle TK still manages todestroy his amphibious tank and kill him.

With Slinks porn shops destroyed, TK heads to theFunky Rabbit inHarlem for the real work: to kill Slink. When Slink sees TK, he immediately realizes it was TK who destroyed his shops:‘Motherfucker! It was you been messing with my shit.’ Slink tries to flee, but after a car chase, TKassassinates him too.

Lastly, TK goes to Candy’s house inEnglewood to deal with Candy. When TK meets him there, Candy, still being the perfectionist he’s always been, regrets the choice the gang made in 1978 to let TK live:

Candy tells TK (who is being held at gunpoint by two of Candy’s guards) that it’s time to ‘go back to the seventies for good’:

While Candy leaves, the two guards try to poison TK with a drug overdose. However, TK manages to pull one of the guard’s guns and shoots them both. Because the guards couldn’t finish their action, TK does not receive a lethal dose and steps in a vehicle. With the drugs already taking effect, TK hunts down Candy andkills him.

That evening, TK arrives at his apartment inHunts Point. In the living room, Corrigan is sitting on a couch with a silenced gun in his hand. Corrigan ‘thanks’ TK for killing the gang members:

TK gets annoyed and tells him that it wasn’t a kidnap but an ordinary assassination and that Corrigan knew that. Then Corrigan changes the subject and tells TK that Ray has been addicted to gambling all his life. Due to his debts, Ray does everything to clear them. It appears that Ray worked together with Corrigan by helping TK to get rid of the others. In return, Corrigan would help Ray getting rid of his debts:

Ray replies by saying that he is ‘no fucking angel’. Corrigan tells him that ‘now's the time to find out.’ Thereon, he raises his gun and kills Ray by shooting him three times in the chest. Then Corrigan points his gun at TK while stating that he ‘should have done this right [getting rid of TK] the first time.’

When Corrigan is about to shoot TK too, suddenly the sound of an unlocking door handle comes from a closet. Corrigan shoots at it a couple of times. However, the person inside the closet fires back. Thereafter a firefight follows, with TK being involved too. After Corrigan manages to flee, the person in the closet appears to be Maria Cortez. She was seeking the assassin of Rafael Martinez (who appears to be her father). Because she suspected TK, she was hiding in his closet to monitor him. She heard the entire conversation, and now knows who killed her father:

Telling that she wants Corrigan dead as much as TK wants, TK and Maria decide to work together to avenge Corrigan.

To let Corrigan know he isn’t as invulnerable as he thinks he is, TK plants and detonates aC4 on his desk at the police headquarter andkills all of his bodyguards at his home in Englewood. Then TK startstaking his final revenge. He heads to Corrigan's safe house inNew Jersey. After a heavy fight with his guards, TK can’t manage to kill Corrigan. Corrigan escapes in a helicopter and lures TK into a tunnel in New Jersey. When TK drives into the tunnel, Corrigan gives the command to blow it up. TK however, narrowly manages to survive. After a pursuit through Englewood, TK shoots down Corrigan's helicopter. Both Maria and TK arrive at the wrecked helicopter. Corrigan is still alive. Although TK initially wanted to kill him, Maria suggests TK gives Corrigan to her. She promises TK she will let him suffer more then he will. TK agrees and stands still, while Maria drives away. Realizing that New York is his again, TK’s old smile he used to have in 1978 reappears.

Reception[]

The game received mixed reviews across the platforms it is available on. IGN gave the game a 7.2/10 rating, claiming "It's still not perfect, but it's not broken either." GameSpot gave the same versions 6.5/10 and called it "a competent GTA clone, but far from being recommendable." 1UP.com rated it a C+ and claimed, "Sure, it's derivative as hell, but there's nothing getting in the way of actually enjoying the game now." Eurogamer gave the PS2 version 6/10, stating that "There's not too much shame in trying to do what GTA does, of course (and at least it's not about bloody gang warfare for once), but while this is definitely a solid improvement on its dreadful predecessor, it needed to achieve a basic level of competence and build upon it, and it only does that to a very limited extent."

Requirements[]

Supported Video Cards at Time of Release:

• NVIDIA® GeForce™ 3/4/5/FX/6/7 families (excluding GeForce 4 MX)
• ATI® Radeon™ 9/X families

Settings & Controls[]

The game features numerous settings for controls, video, gameplay and audio. The PC release has many new video setting features allowing the player to choose different shader versions, enable or disable shadows, and adjust the amount of gamma.

References[]