The Italian Job: LA Heist

The Italian Job: LA Heist Description

Here's a new one: a game based on a movie re-make, which was most likely itself inspired by the re-launch of a car. Well, it's September 2003, the film is due to hit our cinemas any day now, and Eidos and Climax are the guys who are going to be bringing the Mini Cooper-based driving experience to our PlayStation 2's. As the plot goes, Charlie Croker and his gang are left for dead in Venice after being double-crossed during one of the biggest gold bullion heists in history. Taking control of Charlie and his gang, you are charged with wreaking vengeance on the guy who betrayed you, as well as reclaiming the gold. And the plan of action? Create the biggest traffic jam in LA's history and escape in super-charged new Mini Coopers. The game itself is primarily an arcade racer with three game modes - Story mode, Circuit Racing and the now obligatory Stunt Driving. The main Story mode closely follows the film's plot and features 15 different missions, utilising a range of vehicles and gameplay styles. Ultimately though, the main focus in each case involves creating havoc as you race round at breakneck speeds through an assortment of locations from the film, including such locales as the Hollywood Hills, Downtown LA and the city's Metro and storm drain system. Circuit Racing involves a more simplistic approach and opens up a number of the game's tracks for you to race around. There's also a split-screen option so you can take on your mates. The Stunt Driving, on the other hand, presents a variety of obstacle courses across which you get the chance to partake in a bit of extreme driving. As well as offering simple arcade driving thrills, The Italian Job also places quite an emphasis on realism. A very respectable game engine renders impressive textures and graphical effects throughout, which bring the all-important Minis to life nicely. As does the authentic car handling and the extremely welcome vehicle deformation system. A host of hidden extras can also be unearthed, including movie footage, interviews with the cast, film stills, and concept art, making for quite an extensive game all round. Are the days of lame film spin-offs finally coming to an end? We certainly hope so. This is a promising sign.

Features:

• Story Mode based on the film's plot featuring 15 missions with a variety of gameplay styles
  
  
• Circuit Racing for 1 or 2 players (split-screen) around tracks based on locations from the film
  
  
• Test your driving skills to the limit in the Stunt Driving offering you the chance to control a Mini Cooper over various obstacle courses
  
  
• Environments based on locations from the film including the Hollywood Hills, Downtown LA and the city's Metro and storm drain system
  
  
• Tear through the streets of LA in a variety of vehicles ranging from the new Mini Cooper and muscle car to an armoured truck and cable van
  
  
• Cutting edge graphics engine running at a constant 60 fps (frames-per-second) with highly detailed textures and spectacular graphical effects
  
  
• Exhilarating car handling and realistic damage model including body deformation and component removal
  
  
• The story unfolds through the use of cinematic cut-scenes and voice-overs
  
  
• Hidden extras including movie footage, interviews with the film's cast, film stills, concept art etc.