Driver: Parallel Lines is not GTA, but it never intended to be. It is what the title states, DRIVER!
Too much has gone into comparing the Driver franchise with GTA, which is actually an unfair comparison, as GTA is character based, spiced with the ability to drive and fly multiple modes of transportation, while Driver is VEHICLE BASED.
The physics and fidelity of the Driver vehicle models far out shine those of GTA, and the chase sequences in Driver are far more adrenaline pumping than GTA, bu shouldn't this be the case for a game called Driver?
Not much attention is placed on the character's needs, as in GTA. No, he doesn't have to eat, sleep, drink, have sex with butt-ugly, pixelated hookers or work out to keep from getting fat. No, he doesn't have the ability to add to his wardrobe. Why? Because it's not about the characer as much as it is about providing a game that has adrenaline pumping car chases and the most scenic driveable environments of the genre.
New York City, boh in the 70's and 21st century era's has been meticulously recreated, so much so that in the 70's you see the massive World Trade Center complex, but in the 2006 era, all that remains is a vast construction site. The alleys and streets are cluttered with multiple trash objects, including newspapers that go flying in the air as you drive over them. In 2006, NYC was cleaned up quite a bit to reflect the urban renewal that took place over the years.
The bridges are all there, and each one is a 3D artist's masterpiece! I have yet to locate the UN, but the city is so large, maybe I'm just overlooking it.
On to driving: You've NEVER driven a computer generated car like those in the Driver series. At first you might think, hey, this is too hard, the cars slip and slide a bit too much, but once you get used to the high fidelity of the car physics, you're in for one heck of a ride and some of the best car chases, races and high speed get-aways available in ANY game.
The biggest let down is that DPL has for some strange reason, removed the HEART of the Driver series, The Film Director. Why? This was one of the greatest features of the series, to actually edit your own Hollywood style car chases. Now, all you can do is look and gawk at the awesome cityscape, but you can never play back any of your fantastic car chases through the streets of NYC.
Put back the Film Director - if even in a patch, UBISoft, that's the heart and soul of Driver!
Other than the missing Film Director, Driver is well worth it's budget price.
Enjoy the ride.