So I Can Finally Enjoy This Game… (Again)

We've all got those nostalgic games from our childhoods. One I always bring up, is Gran Turismo 2, another I rarely bring up, is Driver 2, and that's not because Driver 2 matters less to me, it's because it was taken from me!

Yes, while my family were generally cool, they weren't cool enough to let their child play T-Rated video-games, let alone GTA. So when a copy of Driver 2 found its way in my house, it didn't stay there for too long. Honestly, it didn't need too though, within a few days, the game already massively helped me.

No, really.

When I was really little, I had no sense of direction. I knew Left, Right, Up, and Down, but West, East, North, and South?

My face would look like this.

Yet, for some reason, dicking around in Driver 2's open-world of Chicago to hunt down secret cars found via cheats on the internet, made it all click, and so well that, even twenty years later, I still remembered the Baseball stadium where that secret car in Chicago was…

So yeah, the game holds a special place in my heart, yet, I've never been able to get back into it as an adult, and it's not because the game's on a PS1.

I've got a copy, a PS2 that can play it, and I've revisited several games from that period, even played games from that generation for the first time and enjoyed them.

However, Driver 2 is well… check these reviews.

Driver 2 was the Cyberpunk 2077 of its day. After building so much hype with Driver 1 and all this speculation that Driver 2 was going to appear on PlayStation 2 and Dreamcast, meant Critics and Players were massively disappointed to buy a game that was both uglier, buggier, and slower than its predecessor.

The framerate is rather infamous, as the PS1 struggles so much with this game's open-worlds, that it effectively runs in slow-motion the entire time.

Now, I know emulation exists, and I love emulation, but I hadn't been aware of Duckstation or its enhancements. While emulation is fantastic, it is a time investment to get games on them running properly.

Thankfully, now, not only can Driver 2 be run. It can be run better than an emulator from a browser…

No, really. 

While Driver failed maintain its popularity in the pursuit of GTA's audience, it has retained one of the most passionate cult-fandoms out there, spending their time creating third party software, mods, games, and now, this remaster built entirely by the community for free.

It's an idiot proof launcher that could've been setup by my childhood self who couldn't understand directions.

Mapping Gas and Brake to my controller's triggers was the most that needed to be done before I could experience this game in glorious 60fps with no slow-down and no bugs.

Now, I'm not going to argue you're missing out on a good story or presentation.

Driver 2 is quite ugly.

The back of the box actually makes it a point to advertise it's curved road systems in the year 2000. Music's also quiet annoying with 10 second loops repeating over stock engine sounds. And not every mission in this game's a banger, especially when you're forced to tail somebody, a type of mission that's never been fun in any video-game.

However… this curiosity led to me beating the entire Chicago portion of this game in one sitting.

I just couldn't stop playing, because despite being Playstation 1 technology, these physics are fucking fun!

And fun in a way that I don't think you need to be a driving game fan to enjoy.

This game isn't about being a racing driver, but a movie driver.

Somebody who is constantly power sliding around tight corners in old beaters with the sophistication of mud, evading hordes of cops with the collective IQ of a single digit, and having tire smoke generate speed.

This game even simulates that, with a "burnout" button that's used to have the vehicle quickly launch from a standing start.

It breaks the laws of physics, and I love it!

There's something so satisfying about throwing around these weighty beasts in nail-biting missions that is just so addicting and appealing.

It really is a shame that later Driver entries would go on to emulate Grand Theft Auto's lame linear pho-cinematic missions, because Driver 2's formula, is still unique, and fun.

I loved being able to just hop from one mission to the next with little to no downtime, having a clear objective that could be achieved in minutes if you can maintain control.

It's funny…

You can release a game without the technology that'll let everyone appreciate it, like if the next big budget Hollywood film was forced to 4:3 Combo TVs.

Thankfully, in the case of Driver 2, those passionate enough were able to put it on the Silver Screen.