Developer : GT Interactive Software
Release date : June 25, 1999
Synopsis :
Driver (known as Driver: You Are the Wheelman in North America) is an action driving video game and the first installment in the Driver series. Developed by Reflections Interactive and published by GT Interactive Software, it was released on the PlayStation on 25 June 1999. The game, inspired by movie car chases, sees players driving around four real-life cities – Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York – using a variety of vehicles, with the plot focusing on the work of an undercover police officer, John Tanner, who infiltrates a criminal outfit to investigate their operations, only to discover a plot by their boss to assassinate the President of the United States.
The game proved a commercial hit upon release, and received favorable reviews from critics. Additional versions were created and released at later dates – two ports for Microsoft Windows and Mac were released on 11 October 1999 and in December 2000 respectively; and handheld remakes for the Game Boy Color, developed Crawfish Interactive and published by Infogrames, and for iOS, developed and published by Gameloft, were released in May 2000 and on 8 December 2009 respectively. The game was re-released on the PlayStation Network on 14 October 2008. The game’s success led to further sequels, including Driver 2 in November 2000 and Driver 3 in June 2004.
NYPD detective and former racing driver John Tanner is sent undercover by Lieutenant McKenzie to investigate a crime syndicate led by Castaldi; McKenzie instructs Tanner to go to Miami and meet a pimp named Rufus. After arriving in Miami, Tanner uses his driving skills to prove himself to some gangsters in a parking garage, and becomes their getaway driver.
Tanner carries out jobs for various criminals before meeting Rufus, who tasks Tanner with rescuing Jean-Paul, one of his associates. Rufus is later shot by his girlfriend Jesse, who is apprehended by Tanner, and she reveals that Jean-Paul is now in San Francisco.
Tanner goes to San Francisco, where he finally meets Castaldi and begins working directly for him. He also meets Rusty Slater, his former racing rival, who also works for Castaldi. Tanner later learns that Castaldi is working with a man named Don Hancock, who is running for president. He later suspects that Slater has been spying on him and wrecks Slater’s car during a chase, resulting in Slater being arrested.
Castaldi’s syndicate move to Los Angeles, where Castaldi plans to assassinate FBI agent Bill Maddox. Tanner instructs Leck, a police associate, to ensure Maddox turns up, otherwise his cover may be blown. The assassination is unsuccessful and the police ambush the gangsters, forcing Tanner to take them to safety. Tanner convinces the suspicious gangsters that Slater told the police about the planned assassination. Leck later tells Tanner that McKenzie recently met with Marcus Vaughn, a corrupt FBI agent who is working with Castaldi and Hancock.
The syndicate then moves to New York, where Castaldi plans a high profile assassination. Tanner is told by his police associates that McKenzie wants him to pull out of the undercover operation, as he worries for Tanner’s cover, and Leck tells Tanner that Hancock has bribed several people in the FBI. Tanner remains undercover and continues working for Castaldi, intent on uncovering his plan.
Tanner eventually learns that Castaldi plans to assassinate the President of the United States, and Tanner is tasked with driving the President’s car. However, he ignores all instructions and takes the President to safety. McKenzie then arrives and tells Tanner that Castaldi and all of his associates, including Hancock and Vaughn, have been arrested. However, Tanner suspects that the police and FBI were involved with Castaldi, and he leaves, ignoring McKenzie completely.
Source : Wikipedia
