The Getaway Preview

As the most-hyped game in Sony's PS2 arsenal for Europe this Christmas, Team Soho's The Getaway has a lot to live up to. The game has gotten a good deal of attention since the first tantalizing screenshots were released back in May 2000, but at the moment, the game's graphics really don't compare favorably to those early visuals. However, since taking delivery of a preview build of the PAL version of the game, we're pleased to report that the same doesn't appear to be true of the gameplay.

The lengthy intro sequence shows the first of the game's two central characters, Mark Hammond, witnessing the murder of his wife and abduction of his young son by a gang of criminals who escape in a bright red car. When we played the game at ECTS earlier this year, we had some difficulties pursuing the criminals to their hideout. Although their car is bright red, the fact that they stood out in the traffic didn't help us much when they disappeared around a corner. This proved problematic mainly because Team Soho has admirably managed to develop a game that requires no onscreen energy bars, arrows, maps, or the expected trappings of an action game. The difficulty of the driving levels has now been addressed, though, through the introduction of flashing left and right indicator lights on whatever vehicle you're driving, which, while not as precise as an arrow or a pointer on a map, ensures that you always have at least some idea of the general direction in which you need to be traveling.

What the indicators don't do, thankfully, is take traffic laws into account when directing you, so at the same time you're watching your flashing lights, you'll need to be aware of London's one-way streets, roundabouts, and the like. Of course you can drive with a complete disregard for such things if you so choose, but in our experience, we've found that it's often much easier to just go with the traffic flow--particularly since The Getaway's police are, unlike those in the Grand Theft Auto games, willing and able to act upon relatively minor offences such as being involved in a small accident with another vehicle or speeding the wrong way down a one-way street. The police in our version of the game are a little strange in that their obvious enthusiasm for their jobs is undermined by their inefficiency. While officers are usually very quick to respond to your violations, and perhaps a little too quick to resort to using firearms in a crowded city, they're equally hasty in giving up the chase if things don't go their way. They're also not particularly effective when it comes to setting up roadblocks, and they often manage to leave gaps big enough for you to quite literally drive a double-decker bus through.

The handling of the numerous licensed vehicles that appear in the game takes a little while to get used to. Although all of them handle differently, you'll find that once you've mastered one you can pretty much jump into any vehicle in the game without too many problems. However, driving does become a problem if your car gets damaged in any way--the steering, acceleration, and top speed are often the first areas of the handling to suffer, but when dark smoke starts to pour out from under the hood, you'll also find your visibility becoming impaired. An especially nice touch in The Getaway is that once a vehicle has sustained a certain amount of damage, it will gradually get worse even if you're driving very carefully--engines will blow, tires will burst, and you'll soon be left looking for another set of wheels. Moving vehicles can be obtained with a single button press in much the same way as those in the Grand Theft Auto games, although it's definitely worth noting that even when you're brandishing a gun, a lot of drivers would rather run you over than stop--often with fatal consequences. For this reason you need to choose your targets a little more carefully if you have the time and perhaps acquire vehicles in heavy traffic or when they're stopped at intersections.

Unfortunately, while intersections are a great place to pick up vehicles, they're also a prime spot for you to get involved in accidents and sustain damage. This isn't because the traffic in the game doesn't adhere to traffic laws; it's because with only a single camera angle and no ability to look to the left, right, or rear of your vehicle, it's difficult to see all the cars around you. If you're being chased, your instinct is to look behind you, and if you're stopped at a junction, you need to look both ways before pulling out to avoid an accident. Neither of these actions is possible, unfortunately, and what's even more unfortunate is that the situation doesn't improve any when you're on foot--the problems are basically identical. While the camera issues aren't really detrimental to the gameplay in the excellent interior sections of the game, they can make crossing a street as dangerous as taking on a gang single-handedly.

Based on the first few levels of the game that we've played through, it's fair to say that the sections of the game where you're on foot inside buildings are the most enjoyable. In these levels you definitely need a certain amount of stealth because, although you'll generally end up killing all of your enemies anyway, you really don't want to be confronted by them simultaneously. If you take the time to stick close to walls, shoot from around corners, and use hostages as human shields, you'll find that your health lasts much longer.

In the same way that there's no energy bar in the game, there are also no power-ups or first-aid kits to be collected; instead, your injuries are represented by several visual cues. The most obvious is an increasingly noticeable bloodstain on your clothes, but you'll also notice that you'll limp rather than run. Energy can be slowly regained by leaning up against walls when there are no enemies around, but even an area that you've cleared won't remain safe for long, so rest periods need to be chosen wisely. Of course, the best way to progress through the levels is to avoid taking too much damage in the first place, and thanks to some well-implemented moves--ducking behind things, firing your gun blindly around and over objects, and rolling along the floor to evade fire--this can be accomplished in an effective and stylish manner that's sure to impress anyone watching you play.

Despite the fact that Team Soho recently finished work on the European version of The Getaway, the version of the game that we've been playing is not final code. We've been told that the final version will offer noticeable improvements in certain areas, including vehicle handling, and that there will be additional voice acting. We're also hoping that some work will be done to the camera so that you'll be able to get a sense of your surroundings by looking around, which is our main issue with the game. However, that said, The Getaway is shaping up to be quite a solid game, thanks to its engrossing storyline and interesting game mechanics. The Getaway is currently scheduled for release in Europe on December 11 and in North America in mid-January.