--- title: "Why London Studio’s The Getaway Is Still a Special Driving Game 22 Years Later" description: "PlayStation's London Studio may be shutting down, but its PS2 classic The Getaway will forever remain a testament to its ingenuity." date: "2024-02-28" modified: "2024-02-28" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/why-london-studios-the-getaway-is-still-a-special-driving-game-22-years-later" categories: - "Culture" - "News" - "Video Games" --- # Why London Studio’s The Getaway Is Still a Special Driving Game 22 Years Later ![]() *\Sony Interactive Entertainment\* My emotions are all over the place right now. Part of me is bummed, since [PlayStation's]() London Studio is closing, amid mass layoffs at the gaming giant that saw 900 employees lose their jobs. It's hard to see great talent affected by corporate layoffs, but it's especially hard to see a group responsible for so many great games shut its doors entirely. At the same time, I'm also overcome with nostalgia, as this news reminded me that London Studio is responsible for one of my favorite games from my early teenage years, and one that I had forgotten about until today: *The Getaway*. In 2002, London Studio launched what might've seemed like a British [*Grand Theft Auto*]() clone to those who hadn't played it. However, *The Getaway* was so much more than a *GTA* clone. It was a cinematic, methodical London gangster drama with an open-world feel and loads of drivable licensed cars. ![]() *Sony Interactive Entertainment* ![]() *Sony Interactive Entertainment* ![]() *Sony Interactive Entertainment* You could steal and drive them just like in *GTA* but these were *real* cars, not made-up lookalikes with silly names. There were models from Fiat, [Alfa Romeo](), Peugeot, Lexus, Saab, and pretty much everything from the Rover Group, including MG. What's more, these were ordinary passenger cars—the kind you rarely see in video games even today, which tend to focus on more aspirational, exotic stuff. Name another title where you can outrun baddies and the cops in a Rover 75 or Lexus LS. What made *The Getaway's* driving especially satisfying was its sense of realism. The cars looked sharper than in *GTA 3* and had more weight to toss around. You could also use your turn signals and calmly cruise the streets of London obeying traffic laws, if you wanted. And since much of the city was realistically recreated, it was ahead of its time, too. Even *[Forza Horizon]()* isn't as faithful with its environments. ![]() *Piccadilly Circus circa 2002, as portrayed in *The Getaway*. Sony Interactive Entertainment* Of course, driving wasn't the player's only duty. There was action, too. With a dual-perspective storyline, following two characters on both sides of the law getting caught up in London's criminal underbelly, *The Getaway* shared a kinship with gangster movies, like *Snatch*, *Layer Cake*, or *Sexy Beast*. It also had a cinematic feel, without a HUD or even a crosshair during action sequences. Rather than picking up floating health packs, you needed to rest your character by leaning on walls to heal. Between the gritty story, cinematic presentation, and realistic licensed cars, *The Getaway* was a truly great driving game. I was admittedly too young to play such a violent, mature title, but that's what happens when you have older cousins. It left a big impression, and is likely a huge reason why I love London mob movies today. It's sad to see London Studio shut down, but hopefully, *The Getaway* will continue to inspire fans and developers the same way it inspired me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CA8c-4jyQQ *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()