VIDEO GAME 'DRIV3R' should've stuck to its name

Shortsightedness and lack of roaming options prevent this version from glory.
By MONTY PHAN
LONG ISLAND NEWSDAY
Yes, the game is called "DRIV3R." That's no typo, despite the proximity of the "3" and "E" keys.
This being the third game in the Driver series, Atari has cleverly replaced the "E" in Driver with a "3." But since "Driv3r" also looks odd, the game uses all capital letters in its title in the apparent theory that it gives its alphanumeric name less of a jarring appearance. (It also sets up the next sequel for the possible name "DRIV3R 2.")
Why all this discussion about the name? Because the game play of "DRIV3R" just isn't as interesting. The first two games in the series lived up to their names: They were about driving. In "DRIV3R," the driver (a k a Tanner, voiced by actor Michael Madsen) gets out of the car. A lot. In fact, too much.
The plot involves a car-theft ring working in Miami and France to deliver 40 of the world's most expensive vehicles to a mysterious buyer in Istanbul. As Tanner, a cop, you go undercover as the gang's driver to find out who's behind it all.
Pitfalls
If only the driver had stuck to driving. Although you spend most of the game behind the wheel, the relatively few times Tanner ventures outside of the car are too jarring to ignore. Controlling Tanner on foot is awful, to put it mildly. Aiming is so difficult that frequently I decided to just stand in the open and shoot, rather than take cover and be forced to find my target all over again.
The driving missions are better, but the game succumbs to poor "draw distance," which describes how visible objects are in the game's background. Frequently you'll be driving along, and a cop car will pop in seemingly from nowhere, knocking you off the road. In missions that take place on foot, the ability to take out enemies from a distance is gone because they appear only when you get close to them. Not that it's difficult up close, though -- enemies rarely take cover and frequently just stand there. Maybe they're just imitating me.
The game is saved, in part, by a strong plot, well-done cut scenes and a cast that includes actors Ving Rhames, Michelle Rodriguez and Mickey Rourke.
"DRIV3R" also is helped by huge environments; unfortunately, though, each mission occurs linearly, with no chance to roam around. The only way to explore is in "take a ride" mode, which is different from the main adventure. It's not worth it.
Bottom line: Save your ca$h and skip "DRIV3R."