New Driver: Parallel Lines details @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on December 22, 2005

News: The storyline, for those so inclined.

While Driver 3 was a disappointment to many (and a springboard to last summer's "Do companies buy good reviews?" controversey), Atari is pushing ahead with more adventures of the Wheelman.

This time the Driver story is split between two time periods, the 1970s and present day New York. This is reflected in the title, Driver: Parallel Lines.

Parallel Lines will be coming to the PS2 and Xbox this Spring with 35 missions and a fully interactive New York that will feature no load times. The game tells the story of celebrated 70s Wheelman TK and according to Atari, is a return to the roots of the Driver franchise.

Here's the story, also from Atari:

The first half of Driver: Parallel Lines is set in New York City during the 1970s and centers on TK, an 18 year-old driving prodigy seeking fortune and fame. Gifted, popular and arrogant as hell, TK is one of the best drivers-for-hire in town and is known by everyone - from the pimped-out street hustlers, petty criminals, and racer boys to the shadowy crime figures that pay for his skills at the wheel.

TK gets involved with a scheming group bent on taking down one of the biggest names in the underground crime scene. With TK as the getaway driver and the crew as back up, nothing could possibly go wrong. However, in a matter of moments, TK's life dramatically changes. No longer is he a free-wheeling hotshot. Instead he has been double crossed and ultimately is imprisoned for 28 years.

Fast forward to 2006 where the action kicks back in, and TK is older, meaner, and hell bent on settling some serious scores. TK needs to call on every driving trick in his considerable repertoire to tame the over-powered road machines that 2006 presents him. After twenty-plus years in jail, it's time to hit the streets once again.

"While returning to its roots with adrenaline-pumping Hollywood-style car chases and unprecedented vehicle dynamics and physics, Driver: Parallel Lines will offer fans a whole new intriguing storyline that is full of twists and surprises," said Gareth Edmondson, Studio Manager, Reflections Interactive.

We'll have more on Driver: Parallel Lines shortly.