The Getaway

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Jan 21, 2003
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 123 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 123
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 123
  3. Negative: 24 out of 123
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    8
    The realistic approach to the GTA style kind of game was very successful in my opinion. It was very, very hard. Car chasing missions were terrible, and shotting was janky, but when it worked, it worked.
  2. Anon1236789
    Aug 9, 2023
    5
    Story: Excellent
    Gameplay: Too bad
    Coming from The Getaway: Black Monday, the control from Black Monday is already that bad (unnatural so to say) and this one is just feels way worse than Black Monday. There is no way you can switch that Inverted AIM controls back to normal. Healing system feels so slow compared to Black Monday. Driving mechanics still bad, even worse on this game    Story: Excellent
    Gameplay: Too bad

    Coming from The Getaway: Black Monday, the control from Black Monday is already that bad (unnatural so to say) and this one is just feels way worse than Black Monday. There is no way you can switch that Inverted AIM controls back to normal. Healing system feels so slow compared to Black Monday. Driving mechanics still bad, even worse on this game compared to Black Monday. Worst Vehicle Navigation, good luck finding your way to your objective when you're lost, because the navigation only tells you where the objective is, not when to turn, on top of that, there's no map. So you'll pretty often leaded to a wrong way by the navigation alone

    Other than that, the story is very cool.    … Expand
  3. cranos96
    Jun 5, 2023
    8
    My first PS2 video game, and I'll tell you... I still dream about many missions to this day after more than 20 years. One of the first open world games, lacking many mechanics and features, but fun in its simplicity. Trivial story, but I replayed it so many times that I ended up cosplaying Frank Carter at the age of 8... good times... the only thing I missed and dreamed about was hisMy first PS2 video game, and I'll tell you... I still dream about many missions to this day after more than 20 years. One of the first open world games, lacking many mechanics and features, but fun in its simplicity. Trivial story, but I replayed it so many times that I ended up cosplaying Frank Carter at the age of 8... good times... the only thing I missed and dreamed about was his police car. I can never afford to say it's superior to Vice City, but I will say it's superior to GTA III.… Expand
  4. Flashyboy89
    May 19, 2023
    9
    The Getaway has to be amongst the most memorable, best gaming experiences I have ever had. Classic. Masterpiece.
  5. RTCWFAN
    May 10, 2023
    8
    This is a dirty british version of GTA. The soundtrack is great, the atmosphere fits, but the difficulty is way too high. Overall rating: 8.0.
  6. hocineDZ
    May 2, 2023
    1
    Horrible on foot controls it's straight up unplayable unless you try the same checkpoint multiple times the camera rotation is turned off and the y axis is inversed lol the driving is average but nothing compared to when getting out of the car and go to a gunfight frustration session too bad because it could've been a good game if it wasn't about the broken gameplay i reached mission 3 andHorrible on foot controls it's straight up unplayable unless you try the same checkpoint multiple times the camera rotation is turned off and the y axis is inversed lol the driving is average but nothing compared to when getting out of the car and go to a gunfight frustration session too bad because it could've been a good game if it wasn't about the broken gameplay i reached mission 3 and got fed up with it… Expand
  7. CausticMisery
    Jan 28, 2023
    6
    A Guy Ritchie movie on the PS2. Fun for a one-time play, but why the hell doesn't the right stick move the camera??
  8. SeriousGigi98
    Oct 2, 2022
    8
    Good graphics for a 2003 PS2 game, pretty good physic too, very good soundtrack and an addictive story mode with two different points of view, Mark Hammond, the main character and Frank Carter, the co-protagonist.
    it's one of my favourite PS2 games
  9. The_D4RknesS
    Jun 5, 2022
    2
    Difficult gameplay, horrible controls without the possibility to change but with lots of realistic details and fun to walk free on the map. cutscenes take time and cannot be skipped
  10. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Apr 23, 2022
    7
    An action crime game that pulls much from British gangster movies. It's cinematic and experimental, but flawed. There is no HUD, no health packs or city map to assist you. When driving to a location, a vehicle's blinkers will light up to signal where to turn. The story is terrific, the shooting is fun, but vehicle physics are too realistic for their own good. If you love Guy Ritchie orAn action crime game that pulls much from British gangster movies. It's cinematic and experimental, but flawed. There is no HUD, no health packs or city map to assist you. When driving to a location, a vehicle's blinkers will light up to signal where to turn. The story is terrific, the shooting is fun, but vehicle physics are too realistic for their own good. If you love Guy Ritchie or classic British crime movies, you'll like this game. Overall, I would rate this with a 7.5 out of 10.… Expand
  11. CinnDerby
    Jun 26, 2020
    10
    My favorite game ps2 :') Il fût une légende à sa sortie, un exploit visuel et une très bonne jouabilité.
  12. Steyraus
    Jul 16, 2019
    4
    When this game came out magazines and reviewers were saying, the next GTA, amazing game, 10/10. Then I played it and it was all style and no gameplay.. you were constantly fighting with everything you had to controll making the biggest challenge in the game, getting from A to B...Back then the controls were bad , but now they are just laughable. reviewers liked the fact the game was matureWhen this game came out magazines and reviewers were saying, the next GTA, amazing game, 10/10. Then I played it and it was all style and no gameplay.. you were constantly fighting with everything you had to controll making the biggest challenge in the game, getting from A to B...Back then the controls were bad , but now they are just laughable. reviewers liked the fact the game was mature and it made them seem less like toy testers, but make no mistake, fun is a long was from what on the menu in this game.… Expand
  13. RafaelBarrera
    Feb 25, 2019
    6
    Not a great game. The controls were really uncomfortable and I'm comparing it to other ps2 games... such as Max Payne or El Padrino (similarity of gaming). But controlling a police seeking revenge felt badass for me, so just because of that 6/10
  14. tomflanders
    Mar 31, 2018
    4
    Some really enjoyable elements to the game, but it just feels like a clunkier version of GTA. It's also INSANELY difficult at times which makes you give up eventually and not even complete the game.
  15. SHOTINATOR1243
    Sep 28, 2015
    9
    'The Getaway' is an excellent title that captures the dirty underworld of British crime in the early 2000's.
    You play through the 24 mission story list as 2 characters, with 12 missions suited to each. The twist is that the game adds depth to its storyline by making you play from different perspectives of the story, through each character. Mark Hammond; an ex-gangster, is hunted down by    'The Getaway' is an excellent title that captures the dirty underworld of British crime in the early 2000's.
    You play through the 24 mission story list as 2 characters, with 12 missions suited to each. The twist is that the game adds depth to its storyline by making you play from different perspectives of the story, through each character. Mark Hammond; an ex-gangster, is hunted down by an old rival gang boss who uses Mark's skills and techniques to help take down a lot of the crime underworld in London. You will then play as the police officer who sees the story as it unfolds, away from Marks eyes.
    The gameplay is fluid and new, with no HUD. You rely on your sense for magazine counts, sound and your own surroundings and awareness. This makes the combat a lot more interesting and different from other shooters of the time.
    The driving sequences are... Mediocre, they offer no real change from titles such as 'GTA' and 'DRIVER' . The AI is odd and jerky, but the driving is still interesting as you will see well known stores, such as Carphone Warehouse. And vans like Royal Mail and FedEx this just adds a sense of realism when you are driving around London. If you live in the UK, you will enjoy it even more as you will notice the look of everything, even police cars look very familiar. The absence of a HUD makes it difficilt to know where to go when you are driving, the use of the vehicle's indicators show you where to turn automatically, which is a very nice feature. This also means, no map or objective icon, you just simply pause the game and listen to the audio tape for the objective that is taken from the previous cutscene, genius. To heal, you simply stand next to a wall and rest as your character places his arm on there to catch his breath back. This is a handy feature as you will notice when to heal, by looking at your blood soaked clothing and the way your character moves, whether his arms hang down and flail, or his legs look like they will give in at any moment. This new system really makes the game more immersive and interesting. Overall, 'The Getaway' is definitely up there as being one of my favourite PS2 games of all time.    … Expand
  16. sityoazzdown
    Jun 8, 2014
    8
    The getaway was a very good game. It had an amazing story, and the gameplay was decent and pretty fun. The city itself is kind of lifeless with not much to do, but the story was immersive to the point I want to keep playing to see the ending. The driving was good and the setting pretty big, overall a good open world game with a very immersive story, but lacking of things to do outside theThe getaway was a very good game. It had an amazing story, and the gameplay was decent and pretty fun. The city itself is kind of lifeless with not much to do, but the story was immersive to the point I want to keep playing to see the ending. The driving was good and the setting pretty big, overall a good open world game with a very immersive story, but lacking of things to do outside the main missions.… Expand
  17. Fozzy
    Aug 26, 2013
    7
    The Getaway is a fun game, but not in the sense that you will get an exceptional amount of enjoyment out of the act of playing. Its fun because of the obscurity and the fact that you're trying something new. The graphics are astonishing but the gameplay is tiring and boring. This game, if it were a film, would succeed massively. It has an astonishing plot, great voice acting and is wellThe Getaway is a fun game, but not in the sense that you will get an exceptional amount of enjoyment out of the act of playing. Its fun because of the obscurity and the fact that you're trying something new. The graphics are astonishing but the gameplay is tiring and boring. This game, if it were a film, would succeed massively. It has an astonishing plot, great voice acting and is well written on the whole. It works very well as a film, but as a game? No. Sorry.… Expand
  18. fabiolfpinto
    Jul 5, 2013
    8
    The Getaway is a good game, it has some problems in terms of controls and some bugs, but it has a compelling story with good characters. The voice acting is good especially the police officer Frank Carter. The game does a great representation of London and manages to capture its atmosphere. Overall it is a good game.
  19. Psyco6
    Jul 13, 2012
    8
    This game is a British version of grant theft auto. It takes place in England, it has a lot in common with GTA, it has real cars,but no bars for health and it doesn't tell you how much ammo you have left. It kinda feels more like you are playing the person and not just controlling them. The story has been used alot,but isn't bad,the driving does get a bit wacky at times, the gun play isThis game is a British version of grant theft auto. It takes place in England, it has a lot in common with GTA, it has real cars,but no bars for health and it doesn't tell you how much ammo you have left. It kinda feels more like you are playing the person and not just controlling them. The story has been used alot,but isn't bad,the driving does get a bit wacky at times, the gun play is great and has good aim. Overall its a good games.… Expand
  20. Colonel_Radec
    Mar 26, 2012
    9
    Fantastic game with a focus on immersion. The world is well crafted and the licensed vehicles are a nice touch. Don't expect it to play like GTA. It feels much more realistic, which can be good or bad depending on your taste.
  21. JohnD.
    Dec 13, 2007
    1
    Driving around a lovingly rendered London works well enough and the plot has promise, but the controls are so bad for the on-foot missions that you feel like you are fighting with the developer rather than the on-screen bad guys.
  22. J.C.
    Jun 6, 2007
    1
    Oh dear, this game has aged like a pint of milk. Nice representation of London, some of the worst controls I've ever come across.
  23. AdamB.
    Apr 4, 2006
    1
    Absolutely unplayable. I can usually find some redeeming quality in a game, but this was one of the few I quit before finishing (and folks, I suffered all the way through Haven: Call of the King). The driving part of the game is average, and it is neat the way they recreated London, but the game is an absolute disaster when you are on foot. The control of the main character is beyond Absolutely unplayable. I can usually find some redeeming quality in a game, but this was one of the few I quit before finishing (and folks, I suffered all the way through Haven: Call of the King). The driving part of the game is average, and it is neat the way they recreated London, but the game is an absolute disaster when you are on foot. The control of the main character is beyond infuriating - the auto aim feature takes control away from you when you need it the most and just getting the guy to walk in a straight line is nearly impossible. Any props it would get from me for the London recreation it loses for unplayability during the stealth missions. Stick with Metal Gear Solid and the GTA series and you'll be glad you did. I ended up paying a net of $2.10 for my gaming experience on the Getaway and I still feel ripped off. Those are hours I'll never get back.… Expand
  24. Sam
    Nov 12, 2004
    2
    It looks gorgeous, but the controls are so confusing and the plot is another, get revenge on the jackasses that killed my wife and kidnapped my kid plot. Not immpressive. Perhaps the sequel will focus on the flaws like the biggest that is the controls. But until then I am staying far away from this game.
  25. Fasn8u
    Oct 18, 2004
    9
    a really excellent game, though the gameplay could have been improved, like more variety of gun's.
  26. MarcP.
    Sep 11, 2004
    10
    This game is great, takes a while to get used to the direction instructions (no arrows, car indicators flash to show which way to turn, so you need to learn to keep an eye on the back of the car!) but it sems so real & gritty, compared to the likes of GTA Vice City. London location is a bonus, with recognisable cars & you can take any, even the memorial Tank near Buck Palace! I cant wait This game is great, takes a while to get used to the direction instructions (no arrows, car indicators flash to show which way to turn, so you need to learn to keep an eye on the back of the car!) but it sems so real & gritty, compared to the likes of GTA Vice City. London location is a bonus, with recognisable cars & you can take any, even the memorial Tank near Buck Palace! I cant wait for the next installment...... … Expand
  27. TuomasK.
    Jun 30, 2004
    9
    Great graphics, which stands up to todays PC standards. Looses last point because sluggish control that sometimes kill player. Very enterteining, and good driving sequences, I hope Getaway Black Monday gets even better.
  28. KenR.
    Apr 13, 2004
    9
    The getaway was lent to me by one of my friends as i had just received a PS2 and needed a great action game to get me going. i played it and was blown away by the entertaining videos, the incredibly relistic driving levels and tense and difficult shooting and kicking everyones ass levels. The accent, swearing, and variety of angry gangs make the game all the more entertaining and The getaway was lent to me by one of my friends as i had just received a PS2 and needed a great action game to get me going. i played it and was blown away by the entertaining videos, the incredibly relistic driving levels and tense and difficult shooting and kicking everyones ass levels. The accent, swearing, and variety of angry gangs make the game all the more entertaining and exciting. The graphics were good.. not great but so much work was put into the 40 squared kilos of london and other details like cars .. enemies ect. how could there be incredible graphics?? ALL PS2 players with any sense at all should try this game. CUZ WOW! … Expand
  29. FernandoC.
    Jan 26, 2004
    8
    Spanish comment: Pues a mi me gusto. Es entretenido, buena accion partes dificiles... buena historia... Pero! me parecio que es facil, corto... la segunda parte es mas facil ya pasando la primera... casi que sin mucha emocion... Pero es buen juego...
  30. MathewP.
    Jan 1, 2004
    5
    Now don't get me wrong, I really wanted to like this game. I really like British gangster films (and they go beyond Snatch and Lock Stock people). But his game has some major drawbacks. The controls are frustratingly stiff, and the cars are painful to drive. Realism is always a nice touch, but i could not for the life of me, get passed the guy with the shottie, when going dowenstairs Now don't get me wrong, I really wanted to like this game. I really like British gangster films (and they go beyond Snatch and Lock Stock people). But his game has some major drawbacks. The controls are frustratingly stiff, and the cars are painful to drive. Realism is always a nice touch, but i could not for the life of me, get passed the guy with the shottie, when going dowenstairs in the museum. Mark cannot take too much damage. On a good note, the graphics are pretty damn nice, and the cut scenes are a joy to watch. But sadly, I just didn't find it Fun. And that, first and foremost are what games are supposed to be to me. … Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Best PS2 Game of 2003
15
#15 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
22
#22 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 49 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 49
  3. Negative: 4 out of 49
  1. GamerWeb Sony
    90
    This game deserves a look at, even if just to admire the scope to which Lindon was recreated and the movie-like feel.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    25
    The level of detail is extraordinary... but the slickest graphic presentation can't cover for Getaway's flawed script... In a game infused with more humor and less pretentious aspirations, these flaws would be more forgivable. [24 Jan 2003, p.106]
  3. Game Informer
    90
    It's definitely the closest video games have ever come to capturing the essence of a kick-ass action flick. [Feb 2003, p.92]
See all critic reviews »