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Driv3r
Reviews. Were PSM2 & XBW honest? (Part
II)
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Steve
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Joined: 08 Jul 2002
Posts:
7344
Location: Hill Valley circa 1955

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:02
pm    Post
subject: Driv3r Reviews. Were PSM2 & XBW
honest? (Part II)

Yes it’s
another Driv3r topic but shut up and listen to
what I have to say as this needs addressing.

People have read the reviews and they’re
not convinced what PSM2 & XBW have written is:

A. Accurate
B. Trustworthy

I
have watched in astonishment at the decline in
many of the magazines on the shelves today and
I’ve had enough of reading crap written by people
who to be perfectly honest aren’t very good at
their jobs. Is this because they are not allowed
to give their own personal opinion on
articles/reviews they write? Are they told by
their superiors that certain games need to be
scored within a certain margin? Before any Admins
or magazine staff say “no, that’s not true” don’t
even bother because I know what goes on with
certain publications, it might not necessarily be
yours that have ever stooped this low although I’m
almost convinced a large brown envelope stuffed
with fifty pound notes may have influenced the
score lines handed to Driv3r in PSM2 & XBW.

Anyway, back to the point of this topic.
People have started to get copies of Driv3r
delivered through the post and people are finding
all sorts of bugs that should have been mentioned
in the reviews if they were honest.

I must
stress that I haven’t played Driv3r so I cannot
personally claim to have witnessed the bugs being
mentioned but this one is a classic:

Jonny_Darko
wrote:

I was watching my mate play
Driver 3 on Xbox Friday night...he finished a
mission, and as usual, his character got into
the car for the cutscene.

He put the
joypad down, and we watched the cutscene. The
car drove off...then crashed, as if into an
invisible wall. Damage even appeared on the car.
The humorous thing was that he crashed into
nothing. We watched the replay from numerous
angles. There was nothing there!

These
are "real-time" cutscenes so in theory, if the
game is buggy, then bugs could interrupt them
with some funny results. But I've never even
heard of something like this happening
before.

This wasn’t mentioned in
certain reviews because………? (Those who reviewed
Driv3r please fill in the blank spaces.

And this is taken from RllMuk (written by
‘Fazz’):

Quote:

Well I read all of your comments
about Driv3r but being a huge fan of the first
game I had to find out for myself so I nipped
out today and got it (XBox version)

My,
it's bad, I mean really bad.

I went
straight for Free Ride mode and sat there for a
moment to marvel at how well my XBox generates
the wonderful PS2 graphics. I think they've
forgotten to put the textures in Miami. Still
not driving I observed a woman walk past my car
and walk by an identical woman; same hair, same
looks, even down to the same dress. Now if that
was me I'd have stopped to say something, I mean
it’s not everyday you bump into a twin you never
knew you had. I pressed a button and I got out
of the car. I have no idea why one of the twins
screamed when I carried out this simple act but
it didn't do much for my self-esteem I can tell
you.

I managed to manoeuvre myself to
the car, which was a bit difficult as I couldn't
seem to turn very fast. I hit the accelerator
and headed off down the road. I was amazed to
hit some sort of stasis bubble because for a
moment time stood still and everything around me
froze. A second later the bubble must have burst
because I was off again. As I was on a straight
bit of road I thought I'd open the throttle on
my spanking sports car to find out what it could
do. About 60mph I reckon. Burnout 3 this ain't
(or 2 or 1). As I approached my first
right-hander I discovered that the mechanics had
screwed my car up because as I turned my
steering wheel hard my handbrake automatically
came on. Damn it I hated this when they did this
to Driver 2 and they've done the same thing!
I'LL DECIDE WHEN TO PULL THE HANDBRAKE THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.

I drove around for a few more
minutes (occasionally hitting more stasis
bubbles) when I couldn't stand the music any
longer so I paused to the options and turned the
music off. I then discovered that my sports car
doesn't run on petrol because the sound that
came from my exhausts sounded like the car was
high on helium. I found a car park with a load
of motorbikes in so I nicked one (the owner must
have left the keys in 'cos I had no trouble
starting it). Once again I noticed the lack of
high end power. I guess, what with it being a
hot day and all, the tarmac must have melted a
bit slowing me down. I crashed the bike
(weirdly), hijacked a car, hit a lamppost and
crashed into a river. I'm dead then, I thought
to myself (thinking of GTA) but no, up I pop and
bob up and down. I find I can swim! Great news!
So there I am swimming about trying to find a
way up the vertical bank. I must have swum for a
minute or so but was unable to find a way out.
Just as well really because the message,'You
Died' appeared on my screen just then. I haven't
found out why I died yet because, as I write,
this Tanner is currently bobbing up and down in
a swimming pool and has been for the past 15
minutes . Perhaps piranhas lurk beneath the
surface of Miami's waterways.

I decided
to start the main Undercover mode. I couldn't
see a difficulty setting so I thank my lucky
stars that the developers are gifted enough to
know that I like games to be hard and
(hopefully) programmed it accordingly. The FMV
played through but there was something strange
about the sound i.e. there wasn't any. I could
see guns being fired but the noise must have
been far slower than the speed of sound because
it wasn't reaching MY ears. Surely, I thought,
it can't be because I turned the music off in
Free Ride mode can it? Surely not. Well, after
investigation, it surely was! I turned the music
back on, restarted the game and the FMV played
in all it's glory....voices, guns, everything.
In fact everything you'd associate with 'music'.

So, onto the main game (again). The FMV
told me that I need to get to the police station
to use their firing range. I manoeuvred myself
i.e. did a strange sort of jig, through the
door, out of the building, hopped in the car and
followed the radar to my destination. I duly
arrived after taking about five turns where I
was informed that I had finished Mission 1.
Christ that was hard. Phew, the adrenaline and
action from that mission has left me shaking
like a leaf. Can't wait to play that baby again.

Onto the shooting range and shooting pop
out cardboard enemies. Not easy as your turning
speed gets faster the longer you hold it. At
first these 'criminals' were too good for me and
ducked back in before I managed to fire a bullet
in the direction I wanted it to. Either that or
they were scared at the way I walked.

A
couple of missions later (i.e. 5 minutes) I'm
running around a hotel (with identical furnished
levels) without a clue why I was
there.....something about 'finding a car in the
hotel'?!?. I 'burst' into a room and get
immediately shot at. I do this wonderful roll
forward but, still under fire, I realise I
cannot roll left, right or backwards. I run out
of the room (the difficulty level set to max to
do this) and shoot though the doorway. The
criminals are dumb bastards because they just
stand there taking the bullets I fire at them.
It could be that they have difficulty in walking
as well but I suspect the lack of intelligence
is the real reason. Another room later and I'm
fatally shot and I simply cannot be arsed to
play this anymore.

As a fan of the first
I can honestly say it's not as good as that was.
The driving is ok but blighted by the
'longer-you-hold-the-steering-wheel-the-faster-you-turn'
handling. It all feels sluggish making you want
to adjust the sensitivity up but all this does
is make it easier to fishtail.

The AI of
the 'people' is a joke. The graphics are sub
par. It's glitchy, buggy, and outdated. It's
like GTA never happened.

Bloody
awful.

Another post from the same
thread (written by ‘Monkichi 2.0'):

Quote:

…I bypassed Edge's review and
went straight through to my opinion based on
many hours of playing the game rather than what
one person said about it in a magazine which is
known for occasionaly going against the grain
for what seems to be the sheer hell of it.

I don't want to turn this into a Galleon
rant as I think I'm becoming obsessed with the
bloody thing but I can see why people may be
able to tolerate its flaws and try to have fun
with it. That's fine and dandy, and I wish you
the best. What really gets on my nerves more
than words can express is people outright
denying the obvious. Sychronated Undertaker got
it just right when he said we need to stop
tolerating major flaws in games. Galleon and
Driv3r are actualy good games spoilt by cack
handedness when it came to putting great ideas
into actual code.

It's f**k bollocks
that I can clip through the scenery and fall off
in certain parts of the game and I'm then
REQUIRED to use that very scenery as a way to
progress on another level. It's sh*t that an
action game with mandatory fighting sections has
the sort of fighting system and implementation
that wouldn't look out of place on a Spectrum
game. It's rubbish that a DRIVING game can't
bloody well get driving sections done right.

At the end of the day if people keep
giving mediocre/flawed games good reviews and
people actualy make excuses for these games then
f**k it, enjoy your broken
games.

None of this was mentioned
in certain reviews because………? (Those who reviewed
Driv3r please fill in the blank spaces.

And this is my personal favourite. A
flying car!!

Please be patient while this
downloads. You really must see this!

http://www.iguides.net/driv3r/video/nowayitsaflyingcar.mov

AI by all accounts is about as advanced as
the AI found in Pacman and from what I’ve seen and
heard Driv3r is nothing more than a poor mans
GTAIII. And how old is GTAIII again?

I’d
be really keen to hear of any other bugs that
people have found in Driv3r and I’ve really love
to hear from those lovely people at PSM2 & XBW
as I really want to understand why a game that has
more bugs in it than a rain forest managed to
score so highly and above all please convince me
that you haven’t been influenced by the
publishers, Atari.

Again, I must reiterate
that I haven’t played the game before anyone from
Future starts saying anything to the contrary. I
am simply using this game as a bloody good example
to illustrate that magazine reviews are no longer
trustworthy. It’s now down to you to put the
record straight, if you
can.
_________________
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OctogenarianPussy
Experienced Member

Joined: 19 Sep 2003
Posts:
648
Location: Retard Proof Clothing - Available
now

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:19
pm    Post
subject:

I refuse to get
into this bloody argument again.

You know
how I feel about it. These issues have been well
documented in the past and leave a very nasty
taste in the mouth. And this is hard to discuss
here because the website itself is a magazine
publishers product. If cash or incentives (or
threats) are used to secure a shocking game a
decent score then everyone involved should be
punished.
_________________
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KKLEIN
Veteran Member

Joined: 15 Jul 2002
Posts:
8444
Location: Misery Guts Avenue

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:25
pm    Post
subject:

In issue 50 of
PSM2, a paragraph, that graces every single Future
Publishing publication reads:

Quote:

The Future Network produces
carefully targeted specialist magazines for
people who share a passion. We aim to satisfy
that passion by creating titles offering value
for money, reliable information, smart buying
advice & which are a pleasure to read.

In every single issue of
PSM2 it states:

Quote:

Waffle free, no bullshit reviews
that say what a game really plays
like, good or bad.

We know that games
cost over £30 - that's why PSM2 offers genuine
buying advice.

Games are fun - but it's
no fun buying a stinker. That's why we mark hard
but fair at PSM2. It means you can trust our
marking. If you see a high score in PSM2, you're
guaranteed a great
game!

Lies. All of it. Xbox World
review Driv3r first, give it 9 - 2 weeks later
when the games released there's a sticker on the
box & free voucher inside. Coincidence?
Bollocks - more like a deal that was struck up
before hand that works for both sides. Xbox World
get's free advertisement, Driv3r get's a good
score that gamers will see on the box and believe.
Every time I now read magazine reviews I feel like
I'm being taken for a right
mug.
_________________
That's a disc drive.
What's been in them you ask? Well:

PS2 - Smackdown
HCTP, PSM2 disc 51.
Xbox - Driv3r

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Eighthours
Moderator

Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts:
6603
Location: Certainty

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:29
pm    Post
subject:

Well, we've
already been told by Mike that we were "talking
bollocks" when talking about inducements, but I
understand that with PSM2 published by Future, he
has a good reason to take the party line on the
issue.

Unfortunately the mags have ballsed
up with this one, and in a really bad way. Usually
these "exclusive reviews" are slightly dodgy, but
nothing too spectacularly wrong. With Driv3r
though, it's absolutely obvious beyond a shadow of
a doubt that it isn't worth 9/10. It's not a
matter of opinion at all, it just isn't worth 9/10,
for many of the reasons that Steve put in his post
and a hundred more.

Trouble is, most
people on this forum know that certain reviews are
dodgy as hell. People from mags post on forums
like rllmuk and say about how their mag was asked
to do such-and-such. Unfortunately nobody's gone
full-out and totally whistleblown on the practise,
citing specific examples for a specific mag,
authorised by a specific person. And I really wish
they would, because until that happens the mags
can still fob us off with lame
excuses.
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NickSCFC
Experienced Member

Joined: 03 Jun 2003
Posts:
1566
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, UK

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:32
pm    Post
subject:

A reminder of
the scores please.
_________________
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My collection

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dodgy_dave
Experienced Member

Joined: 15 Jul 2002
Posts:
1779

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:32
pm    Post
subject:

Eighthours
wrote:

Unfortunately nobody's gone
full-out and totally whistleblown on the
practise, citing specific examples for a
specific mag, authorised by a specific person.
And I really wish they would, because until that
happens the mags can still fob us off with lame
excuses.

Ok I have the Xbox version
of Driver 3 and PSM2. What would you like me to
do?
_________________
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Eighthours
Moderator

Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts:
6603
Location: Certainty

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:34
pm    Post
subject:

dodgy_dave
wrote:

Eighthours
wrote:

Unfortunately nobody's gone
full-out and totally whistleblown on the
practise, citing specific examples for a
specific mag, authorised by a specific person.
And I really wish they would, because until that
happens the mags can still fob us off with lame
excuses.

Ok I have the Xbox
version of Driver 3 and PSM2. What would you
like me to
do?

With all due respect, you
don't work for PSM2. And you think that Driv3r is
worth 9/10.
_________________
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Confront Juliet
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KKLEIN
Veteran Member

Joined: 15 Jul 2002
Posts:
8444
Location: Misery Guts Avenue

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:37
pm    Post
subject:

There is an
interview on the Net with a former EDGE editor
that actually reveals everything. It was posted on
Playstation.co.uk's forums but quickly (& I
mean real quickly, removed by Admin). I can't find
the damn thing now.

I think it was on a
French site?
_________________
That's a disc drive.
What's been in them you ask? Well:

PS2 - Smackdown
HCTP, PSM2 disc 51.
Xbox - Driv3r

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dodgy_dave
Experienced Member

Joined: 15 Jul 2002
Posts:
1779

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:38
pm    Post
subject:

Eighthours
wrote:

dodgy_dave
wrote:

Eighthours
wrote:

Unfortunately nobody's gone
full-out and totally whistleblown on the
practise, citing specific examples for a
specific mag, authorised by a specific person.
And I really wish they would, because until that
happens the mags can still fob us off with lame
excuses.

Ok I have the Xbox
version of Driver 3 and PSM2. What would you
like me to
do?

And you think that Driv3r
is worth
9/10.

Yes I do. Does that mean to
say that my opinion doesn't count. Because
otherwise this arguments going nowhere if you're
just gonna hold a biased attitude the whole way
through.

You have yet to play the game, so
therefore all you know is through word of mouth.
How can you possibly slate something that you
haven't even
played.
_________________
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SoulSeeker86

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OctogenarianPussy
Experienced Member

Joined: 19 Sep 2003
Posts:
648
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:38
pm    Post
subject:

In this case
we'll have to wait until all the reviews are in
before casting doubts over the validity of the
OPS2 and XBW score. If everyone gives it a high
score then I'll find it unlikely that Atari have
deep enough pockets or influence to buy off
everyone.
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Eighthours
Moderator

Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts:
6603
Location: Certainty

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:39
pm    Post
subject:

dodgy_dave
wrote:

Eighthours
wrote:

dodgy_dave
wrote:

Eighthours
wrote:

Unfortunately nobody's gone
full-out and totally whistleblown on the
practise, citing specific examples for a
specific mag, authorised by a specific person.
And I really wish they would, because until that
happens the mags can still fob us off with lame
excuses.

Ok I have the Xbox
version of Driver 3 and PSM2. What would you
like me to
do?

And you think that Driv3r
is worth
9/10.

Yes I do. Does that mean
to say that my opinion doesn't count. Because
otherwise this arguments going nowhere if you're
just gonna hold a biased attitude the whole way
through.

You have yet to play the game,
so therefore all you know is through word of
mouth. How can you possibly slate something that
you haven't even
played.

1. I have played it.
2.
All the rumours are
true.
_________________
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KKLEIN
Veteran Member

Joined: 15 Jul 2002
Posts:
8444
Location: Misery Guts Avenue

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:40
pm    Post
subject:

Eurogamer

Atari
Playstation.co.uk
Rllmuk

GameFaqs
Us

All these forums hate
it. They can't all be
wrong.
_________________
That's a disc drive.
What's been in them you ask? Well:

PS2 - Smackdown
HCTP, PSM2 disc 51.
Xbox - Driv3r

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Eighthours
Moderator

Joined: 23 Oct 2003
Posts:
6603
Location: Certainty

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:41
pm    Post
subject:

dodgy_dave
wrote:

Eighthours
wrote:

dodgy_dave
wrote:

Eighthours
wrote:

Unfortunately nobody's gone
full-out and totally whistleblown on the
practise, citing specific examples for a
specific mag, authorised by a specific person.
And I really wish they would, because until that
happens the mags can still fob us off with lame
excuses.

Ok I have the Xbox
version of Driver 3 and PSM2. What would you
like me to
do?

And you think that Driv3r
is worth
9/10.

Yes I do. Does that mean
to say that my opinion doesn't count. Because
otherwise this arguments going nowhere if you're
just gonna hold a biased attitude the whole way
through.

You have yet to play the game,
so therefore all you know is through word of
mouth. How can you possibly slate something that
you haven't even
played.

What I am saying is that
your opinion is not the same as the hundreds of
people who've gone onto videogame forums
specifically to slate the game, and write
incredibly long posts full of evidence for their
viewpoint. I could count on the fingers of one
hand the number of people who agree with you. And
having played the game myself, I'm happy that you
enjoyed something that I found to be utter
tripe.
_________________
Humiliate John Rodney Bennett

Trash CompDeck
Confront Juliet
But do
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OctogenarianPussy
Experienced Member

Joined: 19 Sep 2003
Posts:
648
Location: Retard Proof Clothing - Available
now

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:41
pm    Post
subject:

dodgy_dave
wrote:

Yes I do. Does that mean
to say that my opinion doesn't count. Because
otherwise this arguments going nowhere if you're
just gonna hold a biased attitude the whole way
through.

You have yet to play the game,
so therefore all you know is through word of
mouth. How can you possibly slate something that
you haven't even
played.

No Dave your opinion is
perfectly valid. However you must be able to sense
the growing feeling amongst the community that
something can't be right here with these two
magazine scores?
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SillySprout
Moderator

Joined: 06 Aug 2002
Posts:
6329
Location: Xbox Live & PS2 Online:
SillySprout

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 1:45
pm    Post
subject:

If half the stuff that I've
read on here is true, it's absolutely appalling
that Driv3r got these sorts of review scores. It's
absolutely disgraceful that magazines should be
critical of one game, then take a pay off to
recommend another. A month down the line, the
makers of these magazines are going to look as
stupid as fluff, and deservedly so.

I
honestly hope they got rapped for
it.
_________________
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