Driver: San Francisco

 PC
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 461 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 273 out of 461
  2. Mixed: 131 out of 461
  3. Negative: 57 out of 461
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  1. quood
    Jun 20, 2012
    4
    The absence of gamepad support for Mac owners is a critical flaw. Why TF am I driving around trying to negotiate space (handbrake) c (turbo) z (rapid shift) and alt (ram charge) with my left hand, whilst my darned 360 controller is sitting in front of my keyboard doing the square root of naff all? I ploughed through Assassin's Creed Brotherhood using keyboard only. And, tbh, it kindaThe absence of gamepad support for Mac owners is a critical flaw. Why TF am I driving around trying to negotiate space (handbrake) c (turbo) z (rapid shift) and alt (ram charge) with my left hand, whilst my darned 360 controller is sitting in front of my keyboard doing the square root of naff all? I ploughed through Assassin's Creed Brotherhood using keyboard only. And, tbh, it kinda worked. But driving games without gamepad support? It's a total mess, and borderline unforgivable.… Expand
  2. sinadoom
    Apr 24, 2013
    1
    I suppose I haven't really given this game a fair chance, but then again I see no reason to either. First of all, only Xbox 360 controller will work (and keyboard controls are simply horrible in this game). Second, if you have an AMD graphics card you will get a lock of 24Hz in full screen so you have to use Fake Fullscreen software to combat this. Third, the in-game graphics are the mostI suppose I haven't really given this game a fair chance, but then again I see no reason to either. First of all, only Xbox 360 controller will work (and keyboard controls are simply horrible in this game). Second, if you have an AMD graphics card you will get a lock of 24Hz in full screen so you have to use Fake Fullscreen software to combat this. Third, the in-game graphics are the most pathetic I've seen even on max. Fourth, the driving mechanics are amongst the most ancient and lifeless I've ever come across. Fifth, various problems with starting the game. Sixth, it doesn't do what a driving game should. Eight, too many cutscenes for a racing game. Need I go on? The only thing I can possibly give credit to is the facial detail in cutscenes and that it's actually trying to do a 'Starsky and Hutch' style story, something you don't see in newer racing games. But seriously, if you want a decent game like this either play Starsky and Hutch or Midtown Madness 2 SE. At least with Midtown Madness 2, you know the game has been made by professionals (Rockstar San Diego, published by Microsoft). Driver San Fransisco not only has horrible controls, laughable graphics and driving physics, but also poorly optimised for PC. Unless you have zero experience with racing games you can't possibly think these driving mechanics are acceptable. Sure, you get interior view but what's the use if you can't have manual transmission and the animations and graphics are shockingly bad?… Expand
  3. Nodeghost
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    Does not have wheel support worth mentioning. Did not know this when I bought the game. Waste of money, as playing a driving game without a wheel is a no go for me.
  4. diesalot
    Mar 23, 2017
    1
    Somewhat fun at times (see below), but a bad port of a console game, obviously. Also, it doesn't matter HOW good you get, the opponents will always cheat. Gets very, very aggravating.
    - Boost out of range? Opponents always have rubber band cars - no matter how fast you're going, they go faster and catch up as if tied to you by rubber bands. Then they stay in a group in front of you and    Somewhat fun at times (see below), but a bad port of a console game, obviously. Also, it doesn't matter HOW good you get, the opponents will always cheat. Gets very, very aggravating.
    - Boost out of range? Opponents always have rubber band cars - no matter how fast you're going, they go faster and catch up as if tied to you by rubber bands. Then they stay in a group in front of you and block.
    - If you crash, you'll rarely catch up. If they crash, they're on your tail and passing you in seconds. Again.
    - If they hit you, you take massive damage. If you hit them, minor dings at best, even with ramming.
    - if they hit you you WILL spin out. If you hit them... it's like they're driving a heavy truck with infinite traction - no effect most times. Even when there is, see above about rubber band cars. Might as well have no effect.

    The list goes on and on. So yeah, the solo races can be fun, so 2/10 for those. Soon as there's an opponent, the only way the developers know to give a challenge is to change the physics in favour of the computer, instead of doing it right and having an AI that actually plays the game. I guess that's why they didn't bother having "difficulty levels" for novice players, because they only knew one way to make the game a "challenge" - the annoying way. Since there are "must do" opponent races in the game, it gets very frustrating, very quickly. I play for FUN, not to be frustrated by games poorly programmed by lazy developers.

    Specific example:
    In the Baja race, you have 3 opponents. Even if you crash a damn BUS head-on into an opponent using your shift ability, they will take no more than a tiny sliver of damage. If you PIN the opponent against the fence until the rest of the field is 1/2 way through the race, the opponent WILL CATCH UP by the next gate, pass you, then stay in front.
    Again, if you fall behind and use boost, you can in fact catch up to the three opponents. You can pass them. Soon as you do, they're faster and stronger than you and will muscle you out of the race by slamming you into a wall.
    I'm guessing that the only people to beat the game just let the autopilot race for them until the last couple of gates (the autopilot will always keep you just behind the opponents). Then you MIGHT be able to pass them in one mad dash for the finish. If you fail, try again. Nothing else seems to work. It's a closed track so you can't keep ramming with shifted vehicles until they finally die (takes a LOT of ramming when you do this with other races!). You cannot pass and stay passed - they're ALWAYS faster than you when they're behind you, and they will always force you into a wall each time they hit you - unlike when you hit them, which forces YOU into the wall. Yeah, they're driving disguised tanks.

    Lowered the score to 1. Just for the solo races. Because luck should not be a feature of a game that is supposed to be about skilled driving, and these races are all about luck, not about skill.

    ps: yes, I beat that race and others. It was just... stupidly annoying, when it didn't have to be.    … Expand
  5. Jonathanp55
    Nov 27, 2011
    2
    This game was a disappointment. Other Driver series were pretty good. You have freedom. Do what you want. The last driver had cars you can customize to the extreme. This driver you are stuck in a car, or different cars you "shift" to. You cant walk on the streets or anything. The AI drivers are more like back to Driver 1, The cars are brand named, but are limited. Once you bet the game,This game was a disappointment. Other Driver series were pretty good. You have freedom. Do what you want. The last driver had cars you can customize to the extreme. This driver you are stuck in a car, or different cars you "shift" to. You cant walk on the streets or anything. The AI drivers are more like back to Driver 1, The cars are brand named, but are limited. Once you bet the game, you have new cars, but the old cars you drove at the beginning are GONE! Basically just take away all freedom and put me back in Driver 1. Good side of it is the police are fun to play. Cars look good inside and out, and are detailed. Overall, not worth paying for.… Expand
  6. BridgetFisher
    Jul 22, 2012
    0
    This game is filled with bugs and has a black border around it. Cant even play the game because it puts a black border around the whole game making the viewing window very small on a big screen. For anyone who enjoys gaming I would avoid this game. it also has DRM from ubisoft on it which is known to ruin computers.
  7. joe2
    Sep 28, 2011
    0
    two big problems:
    1) keyboard driving is TERRIBLE. the smallest touch to turn left or right swings you 45 degrees. it's very hard to just go straight after a turn. there is no way to make small corrections. this is likely due to it being a bad console port
    2) zero parity with real san francisco. i live in SF and wanted to drive around the city but other than a few gimmicky landmarks    two big problems:
    1) keyboard driving is TERRIBLE. the smallest touch to turn left or right swings you 45 degrees. it's very hard to just go straight after a turn. there is no way to make small corrections. this is likely due to it being a bad console port
    2) zero parity with real san francisco. i live in SF and wanted to drive around the city but other than a few gimmicky landmarks (transamerica pyramid, golden gate bridge) the map has NOTHING to do with SF. it might as well be anywhere. no market street, no embarcadero, no golden gate park. it sucks.

    lots of small problems:
    - limited resolution options - i can't play at native 2560x1600
    - lots of small graphics bugs like stuff clipping in and out, even in cutscenes
    - single player mission triggers are screwed up. E.g. i followed enemy into an alley and he disappeared, then my partner said to go into the alley i was already in.

    it just seems like they rushed a console-to-PC port and didn't bother with QA. wish i could get my money back :(

    i would say if you aren't using the keyboard (you have a steering wheel or analog controller) and you don't care at all about the setting being completely fictional (not in San Francisco), and you don't care about small bugs then you might like the game. but i think most people will find it nearly unplayable.    … Expand
  8. Diablo92
    Jan 1, 2013
    4
    Same as Far Cry 3, the only difference is its called Driver: San Francisco, not "Far Cry 3" UBI really has me filled with rage at this point. I'v mentioned before when I experienced and play FC3 for about 20 hours and I say I won't be buying anything else from UBI, well I did, this game.. It's all an illusion or some "dream" witch means it ain't real, its just some dream inside the gameSame as Far Cry 3, the only difference is its called Driver: San Francisco, not "Far Cry 3" UBI really has me filled with rage at this point. I'v mentioned before when I experienced and play FC3 for about 20 hours and I say I won't be buying anything else from UBI, well I did, this game.. It's all an illusion or some "dream" witch means it ain't real, its just some dream inside the game and then you go and destroy the boss (goes same way for both FC3 and Driver)… Expand
  9. Ideclarewar901
    Mar 7, 2012
    4
    To be honest, driving the car is great, but the mission are too crappy.. I think the first couple of Driver games were more Realistic... I'm sad, the game is pretty boring... the Tire burn on the car is awesome though, was impressive. As for the graphics, it's disgusting. Not worth of a PC up-to-date game. It is definately a Console crappy game, because Console are out-dated on TechnologyTo be honest, driving the car is great, but the mission are too crappy.. I think the first couple of Driver games were more Realistic... I'm sad, the game is pretty boring... the Tire burn on the car is awesome though, was impressive. As for the graphics, it's disgusting. Not worth of a PC up-to-date game. It is definately a Console crappy game, because Console are out-dated on Technology (Which is why it is sold less than a PC, don't try to say otherwise) As for the rest... The Cinematics are cool, alot of Funny stuff happening, the Music is crap. They should input more than just one style of music in there, music in these types of games is what makes the player comfortable or not. Seriously, i am honestly sad. I preferred older Driver Titles. This one feels to Arcade to me.… Expand
  10. awang
    Oct 20, 2011
    4
    driver 5 is the worst series of all games of drivers in the world. I regret having bought it, although fairly good graphics but gameplaynya very bad and boring.
  11. buzer
    Jun 1, 2013
    0
    Driving in this game is a joke. I can live with both simulation or arcade but this is not even sure how to name it. Cars on ice come close but its still worse in reality. Car is dancing from one side of the street to another like drunken sailor(and I tried it with both, keyboard and xbox controller). I admit story seemed decent but i bought racing game not interactive movie with brokenDriving in this game is a joke. I can live with both simulation or arcade but this is not even sure how to name it. Cars on ice come close but its still worse in reality. Car is dancing from one side of the street to another like drunken sailor(and I tried it with both, keyboard and xbox controller). I admit story seemed decent but i bought racing game not interactive movie with broken driving events. Game isn't even worth 5$, simply STAY AWAY.… Expand
  12. Brutal_rus
    Nov 7, 2011
    2
    Huh dont trust ubisoft they can ruin all good titles. This game is boring old school(graphic on main way) arcade with stupid story. Parody for 80s films. I cant recomend to play this.
  13. ThatGreekGeek
    Jan 21, 2017
    0
    In usual Ubisoft fashion, the game is a bad port of a console game that literally doesn't even work. I don't know if the game is any good on the consoles (it was well-received), but the PC version is a disaster. Barren options menus, crash-prone, no longer available on Steam (and if you already have it on Steam it launches Uplay anyway) and, most importantly, extremely poor gamepad/wheelIn usual Ubisoft fashion, the game is a bad port of a console game that literally doesn't even work. I don't know if the game is any good on the consoles (it was well-received), but the PC version is a disaster. Barren options menus, crash-prone, no longer available on Steam (and if you already have it on Steam it launches Uplay anyway) and, most importantly, extremely poor gamepad/wheel support.

    Simply put, if you plug in anything other than X360 controller, the game crashes on launch. Reportedly, at times it crashes even WITH a 360 controller. This is a port of a racing game that doesn't properly support racing wheels, forcing you to play with a keyboard or, if the stars allign, maybe a 360 gamepad.

    On top of that there are reports of corrupted saves and problems with system compatibility, crashes and other problems that require messing with local files, reinstalling and manually deleting saves to fix sudden hangs and crashes that make the thing unplayable.

    Ubisoft is the worst AAA company when it comes to PC gaming and they need to be held accountable for distributing product of this quality. 0/10, the game doesn't launch, it's useless.    … Expand
  14. Dingytheman
    Jun 25, 2023
    2
    Decided to give this another go and played enough to unlock another part of the city and.. it's still garbage. I don't believe any real fans of the old games won't be disappointed. Ubisoft turned Driver into a cringe worthy Burnout type game.
    Graphics aren't great, the PS1 titles had better art style, this just looks yellow everywhere you go.
    Driving is good but now the city just feels    Decided to give this another go and played enough to unlock another part of the city and.. it's still garbage. I don't believe any real fans of the old games won't be disappointed. Ubisoft turned Driver into a cringe worthy Burnout type game.
    Graphics aren't great, the PS1 titles had better art style, this just looks yellow everywhere you go.
    Driving is good but now the city just feels like a playground to mess around, missions are extremely silly and you can shift at will even to evade cops which don't even chase you anymore for any small infractions you literally have to ram them to get them to chase! also to unlock story missions and the rest of the city you are forced to do the side missions.
    Story is complete garbage to justify the dumb "shift" mechanic.
    This is NOT a Driver game.    … Expand
  15. vova22379
    Dec 18, 2021
    2
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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best PC Game of 2011
57
#57 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
48
#48 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Dec 4, 2011
    60
    Family-friendly smash-ups and a goofy concept. There's something refreshing in this game's profanity-free self-confidence. [Christmas 2011, p.64]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Nov 15, 2011
    80
    We were worried that the new Driver would be just "good one" but expectations were exceeded by far. Great story, driving physics and a top soundtrack made new Driver a game to remember. [Nov 2011]
  3. PC Gamer
    Nov 9, 2011
    80
    Hardly the drive of your life, but easily one of the most memorable--and a great one-time gimmick done well. [Holiday 2011, p.78]
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