Driver® Parallel Lines
- February 13, 2009
- Ubisoft Reflections
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Driver: Parallel Lines" is a thrilling action-adventure game set in New York's criminal underworld, where you seek revenge after being wrongfully imprisoned for 28 years. The game features two time periods, the 70's and modern times, and offers a wide range of customizable vehicles and weapons. Your mission is to rise through the ranks of the criminal world and settle the score with those who betrayed you.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 2
Wii
Xbox
Reviews
- Nostalgic experience with a great soundtrack that captures the 70s vibe.
- Engaging storyline with a unique dual-era setting (1978 and 2006) that adds depth to the gameplay.
- Fun driving mechanics and a variety of vehicles to customize and explore the open world.
- Repetitive missions and some frustrating controls, particularly in shooting and vehicle handling.
- The game can crash frequently, especially when navigating menus or during missions.
- Graphics and overall presentation feel dated, which may detract from the experience for new players.
- story495 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is set across two distinct timelines, 1978 and 2006, featuring a revenge narrative that many players found engaging, particularly due to its nostalgic 70s atmosphere and soundtrack. However, critiques highlight that the main storyline is relatively short, often feeling rushed and predictable, with some players expressing a desire for more depth and variety in side missions. Overall, while the story has its strengths, including memorable twists and character development, it is often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and mission design.
“The 70s setting, with its music and cars, was amazing, and the twist in the story was one of the most memorable ones in my childhood.”
“Set in the 1970s and 2006, this game offers a unique blend of classic car chase action and gripping storytelling that keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
“The storyline is interesting and has many twists which keep you engaged, the car and gun gameplay is brilliant and the characters are all voiced well.”
“The story is really boring though; you can pretty much skip the cut-scenes.”
“The story is not something special, and some people might find it predictable, which is totally understandable.”
“The main campaign feels rushed; there should have been more missions revolving around the main characters.”
- music234 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised, particularly the 1970s soundtrack, which features iconic artists like David Bowie and Marvin Gaye, creating a nostalgic and immersive atmosphere. While the 2006 soundtrack is generally considered less impressive, many players recommend using mods to restore removed tracks for an enhanced experience. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment, making it a standout feature for players.
“The soundtrack in this game is phenomenal, with the likes of David Bowie and War in the 1978 soundtrack plus the Audio Bullys and Yeah Yeah Yeahs in the 2006 soundtrack.”
“The immersion is supreme, with two distinct eras, 1978 and 2006, the soundtrack is just amazing in every way imaginable, the cars are great fun to drive, the map is expansive, and the police, while a bit annoying, introduce a challenge to a game finally where the car gets heat and will be chased on sight if you, say run someone over or shoot a car.”
“Now I mentioned music and I need to talk about that because the 70's soundtrack is absolutely awesome; it even got nominated for MTV's best video game soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack's been neutered, but there's a mod to restore it somewhere in the guides.”
“Once the story stepped into the 21st century, I simply couldn't stand the songs on the radio and had to turn that obnoxious sound cacophony off.”
“The modern era OST is absolute garbage, which is rather sad in my opinion.”
- gameplay140 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its strong driving mechanics, which many players find enjoyable and ahead of its time, offering a mix of fast-paced driving and action-packed missions. However, criticisms arise from repetitive missions, clunky shooting mechanics, and some frustrating elements like the need for specific funds to access main missions. Overall, while the driving experience is praised, the on-foot gameplay and certain mechanics feel dated, leading to a mixed reception.
“The gameplay is a perfect balance of fast-paced driving and intense, action-packed missions.”
“The gameplay and driving physics were fantastic and way ahead of its time.”
“It seriously has one of the best driving mechanics that I've experienced in my life and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a good driving game.”
“Repetitive missions, fixed camera view, clunky shooting mechanics.”
“In terms of gameplay, I can't say many positive things about it.”
“Gameplay is a joke that doesn't make you laugh.”
- graphics132 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its release period around 2006-2009, with many reviewers noting that while they may not be impressive by modern standards, they are adequate for the gameplay experience. Some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and the smooth performance on lower-end systems, while others criticize the visuals for being cartoonish or lacking detail. Overall, the graphics do not detract significantly from the enjoyment of the game, especially for those willing to overlook its age.
“The graphics were great for the time and still hold up today.”
“Honestly, I expected the port to be bad, but I was surprised. I played the game from start to finish without a single problem; it ran smoothly, and for a PS2 game, the graphics look very good.”
“Graphics and gameplay look really good for its age, and adding the widescreen patch makes it look a bit more modern.”
“Graphically, it looks like everything is made out of paper.”
“This is a POS game: jerky controls, janky graphics, no redeeming qualities as far as I've seen.”
“The game graphics are really minimal; it seems that the PC version of this game is a portable version of the PlayStation version.”
- atmosphere32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Driver: Parallel Lines" is widely praised for its immersive quality and attention to detail, effectively capturing the distinct vibes of both the 1970s and 2000s through music, city design, and environmental elements. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the game's ability to transport them to different eras, although some note that the transition between timelines can feel jarring. Overall, the game's atmosphere, complemented by a strong soundtrack and engaging storyline, stands out as a key highlight, making it a recommended experience for fans of open-world driving games.
“What sets Driver: Parallel Lines apart is its immersive atmosphere and attention to detail.”
“Driver: Parallel Lines has the perfect mood, atmosphere, setting, sounds, and interactions to make you feel like you are truly in the game.”
“The real joy of this game, to me at least, is the cool 70s soundtrack, classic cars, 70s atmosphere and brilliant story.”
“The only thing that I didn't like was the stark change of atmosphere between the two eras that the game takes place: the changed radar, the completely different weaponry, not seeing a single car on the streets from the previous era, but I suppose that would be accurate for getting out of prison twenty-eight years later.”
“Comparing it to GTA: the atmosphere isn't as active or dynamic, and the combat isn't as fun.”
“No, all of the above problems are still persistent and never left, but there is one thing which this game got just right: atmosphere.”
- stability16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, frame rate drops, and occasional crashes, particularly on PC. While some users report smoother performance on specific setups, the overall experience is marred by optimization problems, especially for older titles running on newer hardware.
“I'm using Windows 10 and an Xbox One controller, and it runs great.”
“Runs great on my ThinkPad!”
“After that, though, it runs great.”
“Sadly, I was hoping to try out this game, but it really seems unoptimized. What I was experiencing is that it's running at 10-15fps with freezes and had the game crash on me once. But oh well, what can you do with these older games running on newer hardware?”
“Regardless of these basic improvements, the game was still a buggy mess.”
“Dunno why this game is so buggy on PC, but it's pretty bad.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. While some players highlight its strong replay value and the ability to save and replay missions, others feel that it lacks depth for extended play. The consensus suggests that it offers enjoyable replayability, particularly for those who appreciate classic games.
“Classic game with great replayability.”
“This game has great replayability too.”
“So I think it's a good game to try, only it doesn't have a lot of replay value.”
“Replayable (can make loads of saves and replay missions though you need to 100% the game, I think).”
“Npc are stupid, the cops are impossible, and man does it have replay value I can't stop playing it!”
- optimization12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance on mid-range hardware, while others report significant issues such as low frame rates (10-15fps), freezes, and crashes. Overall, while the graphics and story are praised, there are concerns about the game's optimization, particularly for those using older hardware.
“Fun, great city, graphics hold up very well, and it runs smoothly.”
“The story is so awesome and the game is wonderfully optimized.”
“Anyways this one hour (at the time of writing this) was all good, no performance issue I am running on a GTX 1650 Max Q, so nothing fancy here.”
“Sadly, I was hoping to try out this game, but it really seems unoptimized. What I was experiencing is that it's running at 10-15 fps with freezes and had the game crash on me once. But oh well, what can you do with these older games running on newer hardware?”
“I know this is all to do with optimizations and whatnot; I still expected some decent performance in this game.”
“Shooting feels awful, but that's easy to forgive thanks to good characters, driving, soundtrack, story, and performance.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from the poorly coded NPCs and their absurd behaviors, leading to unintentionally funny moments. Players find amusement in chaotic in-game events, such as smashing a donut stand to provoke cops, and the nostalgic yet often cringeworthy 00s music adds to the comedic experience. Overall, the combination of silly AI mishaps and quirky interactions contributes to a lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.
“The NPCs are so poorly coded and really stupid, it's funny.”
“There are often hilarious AI-controlled accidents that occur throughout the game.”
“The 00s era's music they chose is 95% garbage, but it does make it funny sometimes.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that while the game features impressive music and character design, the character development is lacking and could be improved. However, "Driver: Parallel Lines" is noted for its strong storyline and better-than-expected character development, making it a standout in this aspect.
“Driver Parallel Lines is an amazing driving game from Reflections; this game has a brilliant storyline and character development.”
“The character design is pretty good, even great at times, and the story is better than one would expect.”
“The game needed better character development.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling immersed in the role of a getaway driver as they navigate NYC streets while listening to nostalgic 70s music. The dynamic environment, including the passage of time and engaging characters, enhances this emotional experience, fostering a deep attachment to the game's world.
“Watching time pass in the city, the characters, guns, and the vehicles really created an emotional attachment in this game.”
“I somehow managed to get my wheel to work, and it truly made me feel like a getaway driver, speeding down NYC streets, diving through traffic trying to lose the cops, all the while listening to some sick tunes from the 70s.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization model of "Might & Magic: Duel of Champions," a free-to-play game with microtransactions, faced significant criticism due to its abrupt closure, which not only removed the game from stores but also erased player achievements and statistics, leaving users without access to important account information.
“A more serious case was that of Might & Magic: Duel of Champions, a free-to-play game with microtransactions, whose closure not only removed the game from stores but also erased achievements and statistics from accounts, rendering important player information inaccessible.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game is so demanding that it may require a second life, suggesting that the effort needed to progress can be excessive and potentially frustrating.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
