A dream world where you can teleport between cars
In short: In Driver: San Francisco, a police detective's coma becomes a surreal playground. After a devastating crash during a pursuit, protagonist John Tanner discovers he can inhabit the bodies of other drivers, using a mechanic called Shift to navigate a fictionalized Bay Area and hunt his nemesis.
Released in 2011 by Ubisoft, the game serves as a sequel to Driver 3. The narrative follows detective John Tanner as he navigates a dream world triggered by a coma. This surreal state is driven by his subconscious hearing real-world television broadcasts. While in this state, Tanner utilizes a unique ability known as 'Shift,' which allows him to teleport from one vehicle to another without ending a mission. This mechanic was inspired by Google Earth and was intended to move the series away from simply having characters exit their vehicles.
The game's setting is a detailed, fictionalized recreation of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, including landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. The map encompasses approximately 208 miles of roads, covering regions such as Oakland and Marin County. Unlike previous installments, this entry features 140 fully damageable vehicles based on real-world models from marques such as Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Ford, including Tanner's signature 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T.
The plot involves a complex scheme by the antagonist, Charles Jericho, who uses a chemical bomb threat as a smokescreen to facilitate a prison breakout. Tanner must navigate the dreamscape to uncover Jericho's true intentions and eventually arrest him. While the main versions for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC follow this storyline, a distinct Wii version serves as a prequel to the original game and lacks the Shift mechanic, instead allowing players to use various firearms while driving.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Driver: San Francisco
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