Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5228 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2003-09-19
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Getaway is basically Grand Theft Auto III/Vice City in London, albeit with a stronger storyline, slightly less variety and a slightly different control system.

You start the game in the rhythm and blues (shoes) of ex-cockney gangster Mark Hammond, who has to watch as his trouble and strife (wife) is killed and his dustbin lid (kid) kidnapped. As the game begins you tear off in hot pursuit along the impressively detailed fields of wheat(s) (streets) of London.

The driving is a notch more realistic than GTA's in terms of handling and the damage your jam jar (car) can take; this realism means The Getaway is not so immediately appealing as the GTA games, but it manages to be amusing enough since you're still allowed to run over people and half-inch (pinch) their cars.

Where the game is unquestionably better than GTA is in on-foot combat. This features much tighter controls, including two aiming modes and a wall-hugging option like that of Metal Gear Solid. No doubt Sony are also under the impression that the story is far superior to GTA's rather amorphous narrative, but it's certainly an acquired taste, featuring as it does enough non-subtle language, mockney accents and poor dialogue to make even Guy Ritchie blanch.

In terms of freedom of movement The Getaway is more restrictive than GTA--but what it loses in freedom it gains in tighter gameplay and, of course, the ability to drive on the right (i.e., left) side of the road without the Old Bill getting in a how's your father. --David Jenkins

Official PlayStation 2 Magazine
"A compelling trawl through London's criminal underworld. The most cinematic experience yet on PS2--a landmark title. 9/10."

Manufacturer's Description
Two men from opposites side of the law, Mark Hammond, on the run for the murder of his wife and the kidnap of his child;Frank Carter, vigilante copper, suspended from the Flying Squad… both manipulated by one man Charlie Jolson, notorious crime boss of London’s East End for more than thirty years. Two men desperate to clear their names, two men desperate for revenge, two men separated by the law but joined in their obsession to bring down London’s crime supremo.

Customer Reviews

REALISTICISM
ok, lets get things into perspective. this is not GTA3, not GTA vice city, not GTA comes to London. Not GTA full stop. The games are similar, but we are not comparing apples with apples here. GTA is a Braeburn apple, with its rich taste & texture. The Getaway is a Conference Pear. They both fruits which grows on trees sure but not the same at all.

Getaway has had a lot of criticism. mainly because it seems to live in GTA's shadow. if you look at it in its own merits its actually a really good game and in some ways better than the ultimate GTA series. The emphasis on this game is realism - you wont find random weapons floating 3ft above the ground glowing pink or green, there are no medikits lying on the pavements (although you can 'up your health by leaning against a wall - took me a while to work that one out), there aren't 100 packages of uncut cocaine hidden around the city, and there aren't super-de-duper 250mph cars available from hidden car parks. Don't get me wrong - I'm not dissing GTA at all - I love those games, and those features I mentioned make the game so enjoyable. But Getaway is centred around realism. Gritty, gory, nose bleed, dirty realism. And thank goodness.

You start off the game - as you all probably aware, playing a retired gangsta forced back into his gangsta ways after his wife is shot and kid kidnapped. And you have to do gangsta errands around London. around an incredibly realistic / detailed London. Missions vary through all sorts of crimes; theft / arson / buckets of killing / getaways (dah) / etc etc. When you get shot, you limp; another few times you will be dead. (there's that realism thing again). Part 2 is the cop following all this action. I wont give anymore away about the storyline than that. Half of the time as both characters you will be on foot, in and out of buildings (although note only mission buildings are enterable; approx 20) controls are a little difficult, but as with any game - a couple of hours and you're storming along. the other half time - you are in a variety of cars... less variety than GTA admitably but the cars on the roads are the cars out there on our roads! - you can see the badges of a citreon saxo, instantly recognise the rover metro (and its high pitched scream as you do a burnout pulling away), The black cabs although a shade of dark green are perfect imitations. Its almost refreshing. Even handling is accurate as anyone who has dared drive a nissan micra will know!

Police tactics are again realistic (really need a thesaurus - getting bored of typing this word). Expect chases (as opposed to random battering), experience the frustration of real life criminals and those evil spiked stinger traps (driving around with no tyres - a challenge to say the least), police will shoot tyres & radiators & set up roadblocks straight out of 'The Bill' textbook. I actually found losing the police the most enjoyable part of this game. - an unexpected swerve into back alley or a dive through a narrowing gap as a bus pulls out: Brilliant!

Weapons are limited to gangsta profile as opposed to out and out terrorist, and with exception of pistols, can only handle 1 at a time (where does Fido / Tommy conceal that bazooka and up to 99 molotov cocktails?!?) There is no directional map on the screen - a unique flash of indicators tells you where to go...

Overall opinion. Buy it, play it & enjoy it - (its platinum now so less than a tenner). Don't get caught up comparing it & arguing over which is better.

The final question - which do I prefer? I'm more of a Braeburn man myself, however I do like a good pair. er pear.

A glimpse of the future but a sniff of the past.
Opinion on The Getaway is at the very least polarised violently. You either love it or hate it. One other reviewer said that the Getaway would have been great 5 years ago. Although it is undeniable that the time this game has spent being tweaked, rewritten, altered and generally stalled has kicked it back from the status of a landmark title to something which has clearly dissapointed many people it still has some very strong plusses. So perhaps not 5 years late, but certainly 1 year late.
Okay, so if you are looking to pay your money and revisit the cathartic pleasures of GTA3 and Vice City forget it. The Getaway isn't free roaming. If as I have, you followed the development of this game, it is embarassingly obvious that it was meant to be. But they couldn't pull it off. But no disrespect guys, you can pick your own route through the streets of London. As you do so you will notice things are impressively bustling and busy and there are a good (but not great) selection of cars on the roads. However, in the heat of a car chase, don't try to abandon your vehicle and stealth-it to the next waypoint on foot. The game isn't deep enough to allow you to find your own way to complete a mission. And to hammer this home your character can't heal out on the streets, neither can he jump, climb or enter non-mission buildings. The navigation system too (the cars indicators, erm... indicate where you should turn off next) discourages exploring.
The linearity of drive around, then do a Max Payne style infiltration then drive again etc etc soon strikes home, but don't worry because if you are anything like me you will by now have been seduced by the games strengths. You'll be enjoying the cheesy gangster speak, giving it stylish twin 9mm action and generally larging it in the beautifully drawn locations. I deny anyone not to dig the way our protagonist throws down an empty AK47 and draws his handguns. The lack of an energy bar too pleased me. It means that the tactical player may be able to reduce replaying each level 1000 times by taking it carefully.
I won't deny there are some clanging glitches in this game. Police cars disapear and reappear during chases, you target the wrong person frequently and stealthy movement is often hit and miss due to the less than fluid movement system (I keep posting references to the brilliant Extermination movement system on Amazon, why won't game developers listen to me?). Perhaps most ridiculously of all when your character leans against a wall to recover and the camera lurks behind his back, his rhythmic movement and heavy panting makes it look like he's... well you get the picture.
Anyway, enough from me. I nearly gave this 4 stars but can't quite justify it to myself. To conclude, yes it does contain glimpses of the future. Yes, it is well made enough to be enjoyable. Yes, if you've completed Vice City it's worth buying. But if you haven't, stop reading this right now.

GTA III it's not!
The Getaway is a real opportunity missed and quite a disappointment in my opinion.

The graphics and FMV sequences are superb. A real Lockstock style game with language and characters to match.

Unfortunately, the problems and omissions far outweight the gorgeous graphics and innovation.

Firstly, and in my opinion the most ridiculous thing about this game (and it has a dramatic effect on gameplay) is the view-point. When driving, you can only see your vehicle from behind, making smooth driving impossible. Your car will obscure the car in front making it extremely difficult to judge how close to it you are or if it's even there. I find myself driving like a drunk trying to weave between cars whilst being chased by the police or rival gangs.

Also, you can't see behind you. There is no rear view. So, you only hear them coming.

There is no on-screen map or compass (there's no on-screen anything), so you have only your indicators to give you an idea of which way to turn. You do get a map with the game, but as there are no street signs you have no idea where you are unless the is a known structure: Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch etc.

The instructions for each mission can be insufficient, leaving you groping around until you stumble on the right solution.

The streets, cars and buildings are superb. It seems that the developers have spent most of their time faithfully rendering the London streets whilst ignoring important things like gameplay. Although, it does have a sterility about it with a lack of bustle on the pavements...

Finally, you have no choice but to watch the long FMV sequence before each mission. You can't jump it like most other games. And if this is your fifth attempt at the mission, it's wearing a little thin!

If you have GTA and Vice City (which have playability and longevity), I'd recommend you give this one a miss. It just isn't there yet. It feels like it was rushed to get it out before Christmas.