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Guns and cars. Guns and cars. Oh, Lordy, how gaming has overdone guns and cars. Being able to claim it was one of the first mission-based driving titles in gaming history, Driver is slightly more justified in bringing a fourth installment to a genre more overflowing than John Goodman in a thong. However, the fact that this very series made us endure the flaming heap called Driv3r almost two years ago puts us in a less-than-forgiving mood.

Driv4r > Driv3r

If nothing else, we can say that Parallel Lines is much better than its predecessor. It may still be a white-bread title in most respects, but at least it doesn't have ugly green mold covering it like Driv3r did. You can play it without vomiting in your mouth a little bit; and that's a good thing, right?

The story follows TK on his journey from wheelman wannabe to cock of the walk. He's young, but has the skills and hunger to make it in New York circa 1978. He also looks like a graduate of the Iggy Pop/Anthony Kiedis School of Style. The other characters are colorful if a little stereotypical -- a pimp, a Latin tough, etc. -- but overall Parallel Lines features an above-average tale. This includes an element of backstabbing, of course, that gets TK tossed in the clink for a few decades, only to emerge again for the latter part of the game to party like it's 1999 -- give or take a few years.

Drive Me Crazy

Driver: Parallel Lines sticks to the conventions of the genre. You've done nearly every mission before either in GTA, True Crime, or a past Driver title. Destroy rival vehicles; race for first place in a circuit; and outrun cops aplenty. You'll also have to travel all the way across town to engage in your next activity.

The driving physics are adequate in most respects, and you'll find satisfaction in the Burnout-style crashes that occur -- provided you're not racing against the clock. Unfortunately, though, both steering and acceleration are a little too loose, and it's almost impossible to come to and stay at a full stop. This is especially annoying when you're waiting for a criminal to get in the passenger seat.

Adding customization options makes you feel connected to certain rides, as opposed to just jacking whatever car is nearby. Outfit your hooptie with bulletproof tires or tinted glass, mix your own paint color, or boost your engine power. Even if you wreck a car in the field, you can still resurrect it from a garage later. 

Walk on the Wild Side

On-foot escapades are drastically improved, but they too are only average when stacked up against all the other similar series. Shooting can be done through either lock-on targeting or free aim. It's not as frenetic as True Crime: New York City, but it's still relatively intuitive. TK moves relatively awkwardly in general, however, and is unable to jump. Blame puberty.

One unique element of Driver's gameplay is how the cops are either after your vehicle or you personally. This can drastically change your plan of escape. On one hand, you could simply switch cars once you shake the cops to get away scot-free. If the cops expressly see you, however, they're a much sharper thorn in your side. Police show up on Driver's user-friendly HUD with their field of vision displayed, sort of like Metal Gear Solid. They're smarter than your average video-game po-po, so you've really got to mind your manners when they're afoot -- we're talking busting you for turning right on a red light.

'70s Style, 2000's Tech

Driver: Parallel Lines holds its own in the production value department. The graphics are excellent with nice looking vehicles, a realistic environment and some groovy effects. It's intriguing to see the lay of the land change when you shift from the past to the present, as it encompasses everything from the vehicles to the HUD.

You won't find Driv3r's star-studded cast of voice actors in Parallel Lines, but the studio guys do just as well. The money was seemingly spent on the soundtrack instead. David Bowie's "Suffragette City" suits the game perfectly, and is accompanied by Blondie, The Temptations, and Dangerdoom.

Middle of the Road

How badly do you want to play another GTA rip-off? Driver: Parallel Lines is better than most, but it still can't hold a candle to Rockstar's flagship series -- regardless of which one was the bigger pioneer back in the day. While a definite bump in horsepower over Driv3r, this game still struggles to compete with the others in the packed genre, and is only worth a test drive if you've played them all before and still find yourself thirsty for more.