The Getaway
Developed in the United Kingdom by London-based Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) subsidiary, Team SOHO, and released in December of 2002. Both the original game and its sequel are set in London and take their cues from British gangster movies such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
follows Mark Hammond (played by Don Kembry), a former member of the Soho-based "Collins Gang" who, after five years in prison, decides to quit the gangster scene and settle down with his wife, Susie and their son, Alex. One day, Hammond awakes to find his wife murdered and son kidnapped by a large rival syndicate known as the "Bethnal Green Mob". Rushing to his family's aid, he picks up the murder weapon (incriminating himself - for the rest of the game, the police suspect that Mark is responsible for the murder of his wife) and witnesses his son being forcefully dragged into a nearby car. Consumed with rage, Hammond frantically tails the car to a warehouse operated as a legitimate transportation business front by the head of the "Bethnal Green Mob", Charlie Jolson (played by Ricky Hards), who takes Hammond's son hostage. Jolson uses Alex to coerce Mark into his "employment", forcing him to undertake virtual suicide missions almost always single-handedly. Hammond's payment? The promise of his son's safe return. Charlie Jolson, explains the "game" he intends to play with Mark.
Mark Hammond undertakes several jobs for Charlie, including burning down a restaurant owned and operated by his former colleagues, and ambushing a prisoner transport convoy to free Jolson's nephew, "Crazy" Jake Jolson (Dave Gold). The game then shifts the player's role to that of Flying Squad officer, DC Frank Carter (Joe Rice), as he attempts to take down Jolson and his gang. Carter's scenario takes place parallel to the events of Hammnond's scenario, causing the two to come into contact on several occasions. Carter's partner, Joe Fielding (Vic Robinson), is shot by Jake Jolsen at the beginning of the game, leaving Carter alone and without immediate armed assistance. After having finished the game completely, players are then able to select an additional option: "Free Roam", which gives the player the option of driving freely around London without mission objectives, time-limits or threat of attack by gangsters and/or law-enforcement officers (unless provoked by the player).
The game allows players to carry out each mission with about forty available vehicles. Unlike vehicles available in other games, such as those used in the Grand Theft Auto series, The Getaway features real vehicles, created by real manufacturers such as MG Rover, Saab, Renault, Citroën, Mercedes-Benz, Lotus, Nissan, Lexus and Mazda and takes players across a sprawling virtual representation of London. Compared to similar games, the variety of weaponry available to the player is limited. Weapons include: the Glock 17 pistol, the AK-47 assault rifle, the Remington M870 Tactical shotgun, and the Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun. Some of these weapons, such as the Glock 17 and the AK-47, are extremely common, whilst others, such as the MP5, are very rare. Melee weapons are also available, although said weapons are usually very ineffective in combat as the majority of opposing gang members and police officers carry firearms.
The game's soundtrack is complimented by a title song and cutscene soundtrack which can only be described as a jazzy and unmistakably "gangster" sound, performed by the London Session Orchestra. The story unfolds through the well-scripted, acted and detailed cutscenes mentioned above, with the player assuming control of currently selected character after each cutscene.
follows Mark Hammond (played by Don Kembry), a former member of the Soho-based "Collins Gang" who, after five years in prison, decides to quit the gangster scene and settle down with his wife, Susie and their son, Alex. One day, Hammond awakes to find his wife murdered and son kidnapped by a large rival syndicate known as the "Bethnal Green Mob". Rushing to his family's aid, he picks up the murder weapon (incriminating himself - for the rest of the game, the police suspect that Mark is responsible for the murder of his wife) and witnesses his son being forcefully dragged into a nearby car. Consumed with rage, Hammond frantically tails the car to a warehouse operated as a legitimate transportation business front by the head of the "Bethnal Green Mob", Charlie Jolson (played by Ricky Hards), who takes Hammond's son hostage. Jolson uses Alex to coerce Mark into his "employment", forcing him to undertake virtual suicide missions almost always single-handedly. Hammond's payment? The promise of his son's safe return. Charlie Jolson, explains the "game" he intends to play with Mark.
Mark Hammond undertakes several jobs for Charlie, including burning down a restaurant owned and operated by his former colleagues, and ambushing a prisoner transport convoy to free Jolson's nephew, "Crazy" Jake Jolson (Dave Gold). The game then shifts the player's role to that of Flying Squad officer, DC Frank Carter (Joe Rice), as he attempts to take down Jolson and his gang. Carter's scenario takes place parallel to the events of Hammnond's scenario, causing the two to come into contact on several occasions. Carter's partner, Joe Fielding (Vic Robinson), is shot by Jake Jolsen at the beginning of the game, leaving Carter alone and without immediate armed assistance. After having finished the game completely, players are then able to select an additional option: "Free Roam", which gives the player the option of driving freely around London without mission objectives, time-limits or threat of attack by gangsters and/or law-enforcement officers (unless provoked by the player).
The game allows players to carry out each mission with about forty available vehicles. Unlike vehicles available in other games, such as those used in the Grand Theft Auto series, The Getaway features real vehicles, created by real manufacturers such as MG Rover, Saab, Renault, Citroën, Mercedes-Benz, Lotus, Nissan, Lexus and Mazda and takes players across a sprawling virtual representation of London. Compared to similar games, the variety of weaponry available to the player is limited. Weapons include: the Glock 17 pistol, the AK-47 assault rifle, the Remington M870 Tactical shotgun, and the Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun. Some of these weapons, such as the Glock 17 and the AK-47, are extremely common, whilst others, such as the MP5, are very rare. Melee weapons are also available, although said weapons are usually very ineffective in combat as the majority of opposing gang members and police officers carry firearms.
The game's soundtrack is complimented by a title song and cutscene soundtrack which can only be described as a jazzy and unmistakably "gangster" sound, performed by the London Session Orchestra. The story unfolds through the well-scripted, acted and detailed cutscenes mentioned above, with the player assuming control of currently selected character after each cutscene.
Publisher: None/Unknown
