The Getaway: Black Monday

THE BAD:
Too easy to get lost; cheap deaths from unseen enemies; indoor camera issues

SUMMARY:
The first Getaway was a great experiment. It featured none of the standard videogame trappings -- life bars, health packs, ammo counters, etc. -- instead attempting to draw the player in by presenting a gritty, realistic world where things like inventory screens and big green navigation arrows didn't exist. The result was a mixed bag, as The Getaway ended up being totally unique and incredibly frustrating all at once. Unfortunately, Black Monday succeeds and fails in exactly the same ways as its predecessor.

Black Monday's biggest issue is a direct result of developer Team SoHo attempting to make the game so realistic that it contains no on-screen navigation tools, other than the blinkers on your vehicle giving you hints at which direction to turn. It's almost impossible not to get lost, both while driving through the streets of London, and, to a lesser extent, while working through various indoor missions.

The result is a constant need to pause the game and attempt to plot out your course using the map screen, or to slow down at each intersection and try to discern where your vehicle's signal lights (how in-game navigation works) are telling you to go. Not the most attractive option when being pursued by every cop in London.

More problems arise when attempting to clear out or sneak through large buildings, something most mission objectives are based on. Black Monday's characters are quite large, and for some reason they can only twist their necks a very short distance to either side. In other words, getting clubbed from behind is the mode of death du jour in Black Monday, and it makes mission completion based more on memorizing enemy patterns and spawn points than on any real skill.

Having to attempt the same mission over and over again is made a bit less painful thanks to Black Monday's graphics. They look almost exactly the same as the original Getaway, which is a good thing. The development team spent a ridiculous amount of time rendering a living, breathing city, and it shows. Including real-world vehicles rather than the "near-enough" wheels found in the Grand Theft Auto series really helps to complete the illusion of running and gunning through the streets of London, as well.

The expletive count in Black Monday simply dwarfs any films released by the likes of Quentin Tarantino or Guy Ritchie, but it helps legitimize what the developers set out to do. You won't find a lot of music here; no thumping soundtrack to accompany the action unless the story calls for it. What you will find are dozens of superbly-acted characters.

Ultimately, Black Monday is more about the story it presents than the game play used to advance the plot. Luckily, said story is so compelling that it largely makes up for the sins committed in other aspects of the title, keeping the game interesting despite the trial-and-error mission setup and sometimes-confusing objectives. It's just disappointing that most of the problems found in the first game weren't fixed in this sequel.

(Review from G4-TechTV)

THE BAD:
It would've been better if there were more missions and Mitch had more of a role in the story. Also, the fact that areas you entered during story mode couldn't be reached during free roam was kinda annoying.

SUMMARY:
This game is the best I've played in a long time. 'The Getaway' was a groundbreaker, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the orginal 'Tomb Raider'. However, Black Monday COMPLETELY blows the original out of the water. With a quality soundtrack, stunning graphics, an enthralling plot and characters you can really relate to, The Getaway Black Monday is a serious epic and gets a definite two thumbs up!!!

THE BAD:
way too short
motorbike handling is awful
camera angles
auto aim is not always reliable

SUMMARY:
i got this game on christmas day and i have just completed it today, but i have only spent a short time on it overall because of work and thats pretty self-explanatory that the game is short although the storyline and missions are good with the ability of playing as 3 characters all hoping for the same outcome in the end.
i also like the addition of more options in special features including chase, in which you are a police officer on duty and also a cabbie were you pick up fares and take them to their desired location and your customers can come up with some funny lines!

THE BAD:
Appalling continuity throughout the game
Game too short

SUMMARY:
The original Getaway is still I believe one of the best PS2 games ever (the fact that I live in London helps). However, BM just doesn't do it for me! To me the final product feels like its been rushed. The continuity is terrible! One minute you're racing down a street in a Vauxhall and then it suddenly cuts to a movie clip of you walking into a building! At one point I stole a car (as Sam) and the next thing I know I'm trying to hide myself in the backseat of a car!

The finale is also very disappointing. For those of you who have not completed the game yet I won't give away what happens but we'll just say it’s a bit limp.

Team Soho have also removed the wheel spin and skid noises from the cars, and when you hit another car no one says anything! The comedy banter from other drivers in the original always made me smile “Stop! I need your details!”

In conclusion: This game really was going to have to pull something rather special out of the bag in order to beat the original. If you have the original game and are contemplating buying the sequel I would recommend hiring it first.

THE BAD:
Driving psyics are utterly crap
Inconsistent Difficulty levels
Free roam is kind of boring
Not a large variety of weapons
The company are wannabe GTA creators

SUMMARY:
Ok overall BM is a great game, however its just the original getaway with some new missions. The aiming is kinda awkard. The bike psyics are just terrible And at the start u play as swat officer?? wtf? in the original you where an ex-gangster on the run. 1 extreme to another dont ya think? Wats up with that bullshit gun u get in free roam mode with the swat guy?? its pathetic lol!!!! Yea im still playin it and havin some fun but it just has SO MANY flaws its not funny! However i think the auto aim feature is a nice edition along with the revamped sounds. To me BM just seem alittle dodgy in some aspects. Great graphics, awkard controls, weird camera, boring free roam. A few small plot wholes, not many thow. Utterly funny at times Learning curve is about 5hours.

Gameplay: 7/10
Fun, but awkward controls

Controls: 5/10
Awkard at times & they take alot of getting use to.

Sound: 8/10
Revamped & more realistic sounds

Graphics: 9/10
Awsome, very close to the real thing

Replayability: 8/10
Still alot of fun to have after having beat the game

Overall: 8/10
A great game, with many floors, however still worth the money. even if your new to the getaway Hoever failing to give you a whole new & fresh experince. To me this just feels like an expansion. Inconclusion, not a bad game, but i do suggest u rent it first to avoid dissapointment

THE BAD:
There is only one bad point i think n thats because there is no camera option in the car.

SUMMARY:
This game is amazing well worth the money its a buy buy buy!
If you like crime games then this game is for you, even my sisters n misses like The Getaway Black Monday now thats sayin sumthin.
Dont miss out on this fantastic game!
This must be one of the best games out this year very close to Grand theft auto san andreas.
There are to many good points to mention. But the most important ones are that u can play as 3 different characters now, loads of new cars, much better handeling, more weapons etc...
There is only one bad point i think n thats because there is no camera option in the car.