F***, f*** and f*** again. It looks as though London schools need to update their dictionaries. Black Monday is filled to the brim with cursing, slang and all other language that cannot be understood most of the time. However, the colourful dialect is what gives this game its edge. Right from the start of the game, the introductory cut scene will have you in stitches as the characters banter with one another in the car before a raid. Hilarious swearing aside, The Getaway: Black Monday is a title full of action and crime throughout the underground world and will have you cuffing criminals and taking out criminals left right and centre.

“Crime does not pay but the games are excellent!” or so people thought at first when they bought the original Getaway title. However, after playing it the realisation of all of its floors hit you like a brick put through a shop window (as it so commonly happens in London). Now with the release of the sequel, gamers have been a little more cautious when approaching it, wondering if all of the problems in the original are sorted. Well, you can relax at the reassurance of some of the glitches being ironed out, as there are still aspects of Black Monday that will bore you, frustrate you and pretty much piss you off.

When you begin the game you will start off in the shoes of a cop named Ben Mitchell (Bring on East Enders). Like a lot of policeman who are involved in the filth of crime, Sergeant Mitchell, as he is more formerly known, has been snagged by the ever so wonderful ‘justice system’. Two years ago he was suspended for shooting a criminal in the back. This for starters puts him in a bad mood and when he joins up with his work mates, he gets further scrutiny and one cannot blame him for turning sour and f’ing off in every other sentence; most times about three times within the same sentence!

The first mission of the game is simple. Along with three other cops, you take your position, parked outside a block of flats where your information tells you that a group of Latvian criminals are hiding. As soon as you gain control of Mitchell, you are making your way through the flats, bursting open doors and firing at anything that moves (well, you are not supposed to but when I get any games with guns are I am always trigger happy at first and then serious afterwards!). Busting them one after the other you are then led on the trail that becomes Sergeant Mitchell’s storyline, one of which is more or less non-existent as you cannot really understand and pick out from the gun blazing game what the story actually is.

Mitchell is not the only character available to use throughout the game. As you progress, you then come across a boxer named Eddie O’Connor, a man hired for muscle within a group who at first plan to rob a bank. With no restraint of the law on him, it means that you can hit, shoot and kill anyone you wish! (This is the kind of joy I live for!) His side of the story is the flipside of Mitchell’s and pretty much shows you the true side of London, full of fights, gun shots and non-stop action.

Also in the group that Eddie begins with, is a young girl by the name of Sam. Her part in the game is what makes you hate Black Monday with a passion. With Mitchell, you are able to see the story side of how life is for a cop and especially one who is a veteran in crime. Taking on the role of Eddie you get plunged deep into the crime of London and enjoy his story to no end as you can do as you wish! However, with Sam, all you get to do is crawl. Yes, I said just crawl. Though her sections of the game have been given the label of ‘Stealth Missions’, and to a degree this is what they are, all it comes down to is crawling. Within each mission you will either have to get to one point or another, or collect something from somewhere. Sam has no attack moves; all you can do is move and other basic functions. When you enter into crawl mode, you can sneak past all enemies, even you go right by them but if you come into their line of site then you are pretty much buggered.

Steps to take if caught whilst playing as Sam:

• First, take the time to add a little cursing to the game yourself to let out your frustration of being caught in the first place.

• As soon as possible, find something to hide behind---a desk, table, wall, trash can, just about ANYTHING!

If the enemies run towards you then:

• Do nothing, as that is all you can do, just keep hiding and pray they do not find you.

If the enemies simply shoot at you continuously and you have no where to go then:

• Curse a little more, either turn off the game in a fit of rage or take your chances, run out from your hiding place into the onslaught of bullets.

If you survive this kamikaze run for another hiding place then:

• Stay hidden in your new place and then wait until your enemies ignore you.

If they still shoot at you continuously, then definitely turn off the game.

Sam’s part of the game is not the only area of the game where the gameplay falls short, as the AI is just like a one button monkey! In both Mitchell’s and O’Connor’s parts you will notice the enemies just standing there as you pump bullets into one of their homies or arrest and handcuff them on the spot. Or, one of the classic favourites, the enemies will just run about in a ridiculous pattern until they have you in their sites and begin to shoot back at you. The actual controls for the playable characters are also a let down and it does not seem to flow well enough to navigate through the rough streets.

In the original you were given missions that had you driving around the city in various cars. In Black Monday this is still included but there is more of a variety of cars to choose from and the 3D London has been developed a little more, with new buildings and other extras added. However, design and quality wise, it is pretty much the same and there is not much evidence to show that it has been done up in anyway. Though, it is still completely amazing to see London in such a form if you have travelled around it or of course, if you live there, (You might even see your house!) it still lacks that quality of in-depth exploration that games such as Grand Theft Auto offer.

Fear not, playing the game itself is not the only way to see the sights of London. When you complete the game then there are some extras for you to take part in and beat. Race mode allows you to, yes, you guessed it, race through the streets of London against the computer or others who wish to join in and take part to beat you to the finish lane. There is also a Taxi-mode, which is pretty much a very toned down version of games such as Crazy Taxi; this mode is a good way of seeing the sites of the city itself, taking you to certain places to drop off your customers. A Chase mode has also been put in, which is very much like the race mode in effect apart from that you obviously have to chase after the car and catch them rather than actually beat them in a race. Finally there is the Free-Roaming mode that allows you travel about London at your own leisurely pace. This too is an excellent way to see all of the work and effort that was put into created the realistic 3D model of London that has been put together though a pain-staking process of research of the city.

Graphically the game has improved since the first title and you can see this both in the cut scenes and gameplay. Although there still could be some improvements made and more detail added into the character models, especially those who feature heavily in the game, the expressions and speech of them are better.

As said, the city London has been created in 3D and put right into the game and to a very amazing standard too. In some areas the textures may appear to be a little flat and blurred, sometimes dull and rough, the overall quality shines through and it will feel like you are right in there in the action of London and its crime.

Effects-wise the game is sound too, as gunshots, gunfire, blood, dust clouds, everything has all been taken into account and created to enhance the overall effect and add up to very good game visuals. On occasions you might be disappointed by the graphics though, even though they are good, they are most definitely not the best that the PS2 has to offer.

The soundtrack of the game is as expected and is mostly electronic tracks, all familiar to the UK and coupled alongside some theatrical tracks filled with dramatic moments creates the perfect score for this crime-based title.

Sound effects within the game are also sound, (pardon the pun) with sharp and clear sounds for the gun firing, doors opening, cars burning rubber, shattered explosions, wood splitting effects that are all jam packed into this title to enhance the action.

Most noticeable is the voice acting, which has to be the most fantastic dialogue that I have ever heard within a game. Do I have to remind you once again that throughout the game you will be in fits of laughter as the game unfolds and the game is more enjoyable to watch than it is to play, reminding you of famous films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. It is as if the character models themselves are the actors, not because of their movements but because of their voices and just how the words fit so perfectly, the right tone, the right timing, everything, it is the best example of voice acting within a game of this genre and perhaps many others.

The Getaway: Black Monday in terms of appeal is hard to explain. If you liked the first one, then it does not take any common sense to tell you to go out and buy this second title. Also, if GTA III, Vice City or the new San Andreas are at the top of your chart then playing this game might be worth while and perhaps investing in the original too. However, if you are knew to the series then it might be hard to decide whether or not to buy this title. It is the kind of game that will have you standing in a shop, one game in one hand, this game in another and only enough for one game in your wallet. Then you would be hard pressed to choose.

Black Monday still has its fair share of problems but it has improved since the original and I personally would spend £40 on the game just to watch the cut-scenes that add up to about an hours worth. The graphics are of a good standard, the sound too fits in well but it simply comes down to the gameplay and how it lacks just the simple fundamentals and attractions to make this a solid title. With smooth and flowing movement, more of a defined storyline, Sam being able to do more than crawl and the AI of the enemies being enhanced a little, then The Getaway: Black Monday would be a good challenge and entertaining at the same time.

Tobias Rowe