Okay, so I've never played the original Driver series (Driver, Driver 2, Driv3r). That being said, I can't compare this game to those, and anyone reading this should take that into account if they're interested in the others. As for this game, it was an exercise in frustration. Yes, there were a few enjoyable moments, such as blasting through town at breakneck speeds, dodging the fuzz and even getting in a few really cool ramps. However, it was plagued by twitchy controls for most of the cars at any speed above 60 MPH, and about 3x worse for any of the motorcycles in the game. True, I was playing with a keyboard and mouse, but any decent racing game (in my opinion) should account for the fact that not everyone has a sweet controller for PC. In the end, I was able to finish the game, because I'm just stubborn that way. The story wasn't bad, just the execution of the handling. And most of the upgrades for the cars simply made them all the more squirrelly at high speeds. So, my advice is, don't bother with this one unless, A) you have excellent anger management skills, or B) the game is on sale for 50% or more off.
Having already left my review of Baldur's Gate, I feel compelled to leave one for BG2. I still have my CD-ROM collector's edition of this game as well as the GOG version. And if Beamdog ever gets around to making an Enhanced Edition of BG2, I'll buy that too. This game took all of the brilliance of the previous game and expanded it tenfold. Again, epic storytelling, unbeatable gameplay, and characters that just won't stop. There's some humor in there, but the story is certainly one of a foreboding nature. So if you're looking for laughs, look elsewhere. If you're looking for the greatest adventure of your life, or if you'd already experienced Baldur's Gate and want to continue to adventure, this game is for you. This is a must-have for any true CRPG fan. Get it. Now.
I have been a fan of Baldur's Gate since I first played it in 1999. Yeah, I was late to the show, but I didn't care. I played this game like my life depended on it. It was the first game to which I was completely and joyfully addicted. Incredible epic tale, wonderful characters, amazing gameplay. I have completed this game nearly 20 times and it always satisfies. I own the original CD-ROM collector's edition, the Enhanced Edition, and now the GOG version. And if GOG gets the Enhanced Edition on here, I'll probably buy it again. It's that good. Get it. Now.
