Driver 76

Driver 76
Developer(s)	Sumo Digital Ubisoft Reflections
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Series	Driver
Platform(s)	PlayStation Portable
Release date(s)	NA May 8, 2007 EU May 11, 2007 AUS May 10, 2007
Genre(s)	Racing, Third-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer, Single-player
Rating(s)	BBFC: 15 ESRB: Mature OFLC: M PEGI: 18+

Driver 76 is a video game for the PlayStation Portable, which was released on May 8, 2007 in the US, and on May 11, 2007 in the EU.^[1] The game is a prequel to Driver: Parallel Lines, and is set two years prior. It is the first game in the Driver series for the PSP. It has been developed by Ubisoft Reflections and Sumo Digital, and published by Ubisoft. The game includes all-new missions and storyline, as well as downloadable content for the PSP.

Story

In the game you take the role of Ray (who was featured in Driver: Parallel Lines, a wheelman). He falls in love with Chen Chi, but she's already got someone, Jimmy. After gaining respect from her father, Ray is betrayed and has to earn money in the mean time. He eventually meets back with Zhou, Chen Chi's father, he tells him of how Jimmy is a traitor and for the remainder of the game you must take down Jimmy's empire. After Jimmy is presumably killed in an explosion, Zau gives Ray his blessing to go out with Chen Chi, but finds out that she has been kidnapped by a scarred Jimmy, however Ray manages to save Chen Chi and shoot down Jimmy's helicopter with a car.

Missions

Mission structure is similar to Driver: Parallel Lines, where driving is an important aspect in gameplay, shooting still remains in the game. Most missions are driving based while some are shootouts or when Ray sits in the back of a car and shoots incoming enemies.

One difference that sets Driver 76 from the rest of the Driver series is that it uses comic-styled illustrations rather than cinematic cutscenes, making the game behave more like a comic book.

There are 26 main missions, grouped into 6 chapters. The missions get harder as the player progresses through the chapters. Money, cars and weapons are rewarded if missions are successfully completed.

New York City

The simulation of New York City is similar to the previous installment, but since it is set two years before as a prequel, there are some differences. Mostly it is all the same, with a few differences in cars, buildings, landscape, and GPS's.

Key Features

All-New and Exclusively Developed for PSP - Features Twenty-seven all-new missions.

Over 40 Fully Customizable cars - Fine tune your car's body and engine.

Multiplayer Games - Race for Pink Slips in games like Street Racing and Carnage.

Downloadable Content - Download and swap parts with friends via Wi-Fi.

Authentic '70 Soundtrack - Features licensed hits from the 70's.

Soundtrack

• The Wrecking Crew - Bump And Boogie
• Sir Mack Rice - Bump Meat
• Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers - Bustin' Loose
• Dave Hamilton - Cracklin' Bread
• Maceo & The Macks - Cross The Tracks
• Billy (Sugar Billy) Garner - I Got Some
• Funkadelic - I'll Bet You
• Savoy Brown - I'm Tired
• The Pazant Brothers & The Beafourt Express - Loose And Juicy
• Iggy Pop - Neighbourhood Threat
• Blondie - One Way Or Another
• Billy Preston - Outa-Space
• The Temptations - Papa was a rolling stone
• The Stranglers - Peaches
• Roy Ayers - Running Away
• Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Shifting Gears
• Donald Byrd - Street Lady
• David Bowie - Suffragette City
• Labi Siffre - The Vulture
• War - Low Rider
• Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man
• Blondie - Denis
• Sam & Dave - Hold On I'm Comin'

The songs One Way or Another by Blondie and "Neighbourhood Threat" by Iggy Pop are used in the game that takes place in 1976, regardless of the fact that song first came out in 1978 and 1977, respectively.

Reception

Driver 76 received mixed reviews upon release. The game currently holds a 57/100 on review aggregate site Metacritic, citing "mixed or average reviews".^[2]

• 8/10 — Portable Video Gamer.com ^[3]
• 6/10 - GameSpot^[4]
• 7.5/10 - ExtremeGamer^[5]

References

1. ^ "IGN: Driver '76". IGN Entertainment, Inc.. http://au.psp.ign.com/objects/802/802487.html. Retrieved 2007-05-05. 
2. ^ "Driver 76 reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/driver76. Retrieved 2007-07-17. 
3. ^ Michael gives it a big 10/10!! Kris (2007-05-12). "PSP Review: Driver '76". Portablevideogamer.com. http://portablevideogamer.com/2007/05/psp-review-driver-76. Retrieved 2007-05-14. 
4. ^ Davis, Ryan (2007-05-16). "Driver '76 for PSP Review". CNET Networks, Incorporated.. http://www.gamespot.com/psp/driving/driver4/review.html. 
5. ^ Jimmy. "Extreme Gamer - Driver '76 PSP Review". Extreme Gamer. http://www.extremegamer.ca/psp/reviews/driver76.php. Retrieved 2007-05-16. 

External links

• Driver 76 | Official Site
• Ubisoft's Driver 76 page