The Getaway (video game)

The Getaway is an action-adventure game for the PlayStation 2, created by Team Soho and released by Sony Computer Entertainment on 11 December 2002. Its style draws from British gangster films like *Get Carter* (1971) and *Snatch* (2000). Originally intended to debut alongside the PlayStation 2 in 2000, the project was pushed back more than two years because accurately rendering large sections of London in high resolution proved challenging.

The story follows two characters: Mark Hammond, a former bank robber, and Frank Carter, a detective in the Flying Squad. Their separate paths run in parallel and eventually cross, leading to the game’s conclusion. A sequel, *The Getaway: Black Monday*, came out in 2004, followed by a spin-off, *Gangs of London*, in 2006. That spin-off later inspired a television adaptation of the same name in 2020 and a graphic novel in 2022.

**Gameplay** Played from a third-person perspective, *The Getaway* is an action-adventure game set in an open world. Players control both lead characters as they complete missions to advance the story. Each character can walk, sprint, roll, shoot, and take cover during gunfights. Once Mark Hammond’s missions are finished, free-roaming becomes available for him, letting players explore the City of London and Central London without mission goals or time limits. Because of its similarities to the *Grand Theft Auto* series, it is often called a *Grand Theft Auto* clone.

Unlike *Grand Theft Auto* and similar franchises, the game includes real vehicles licensed from manufacturers such as Rover, Jensen Motors, Saab, Peugeot Citroën, TVR, Fiat, and Lexus. Firearms are also based on real-world models, including the Glock 17 pistol, AK-47 assault rifle, Remington 870 pump-action shotgun, and Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun. Other weapons include a meat cleaver and crowbar.

A key feature is its attempt to feel “movie-like” and immersive, achieved by omitting common game elements. There is no HUD or map; when driving, the car’s indicators and hazard lights blink to guide players to their destination. Running out of ammunition causes the character to drop their weapon, as there is no health meter. Instead, health regenerates when the player rests against a wall.

**Plot** The story unfolds over a single day in London, told from the perspectives of ex-gangster Mark Hammond and Metropolitan Police Flying Squ