The Getaway (video game)
A London-set action-adventure inspired by British gangster films.
The Getaway is an action-adventure game for the PlayStation 2, created by Team Soho and released by Sony Computer Entertainment on December 11, 2002. Its story and style draw from British gangster films like *Get Carter* (1971) and *Snatch* (2000). Originally intended to launch alongside the PlayStation 2 in 2000, the game was pushed back more than two years because accurately rendering large sections of London in high detail proved extremely challenging.
The game follows two protagonists: Mark Hammond, a former bank robber, and Frank Carter, a detective in the Flying Squad. Their separate storylines run in parallel, eventually crossing paths and leading to a shared 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 series of the same name in 2020 and a graphic novel in 2022.
**Gameplay** Players control both lead characters from a third-person perspective in an open world, completing missions to advance the story. Characters 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 objectives or time limits. Because of its similarities to the *Grand Theft Auto* series, the game is often called a *Grand Theft Auto* clone.
Unlike *Grand Theft Auto* and similar franchises, *The Getaway* includes real vehicles licensed from manufacturers like Rover, Jensen Motors, Saab, Peugeot Citroën, TVR, Fiat, and Lexus. Weapons are also based on real-world models, such as the Glock 17 pistol, AK-47 assault rifle, Remington 870 pump-action shotgun, and Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, alongside tools like a meat cleaver and crowbar.
A key feature is the game’s attempt to feel cinematic and immersive by omitting common gameplay elements. There is no heads-up display (HUD) or map; when driving, the car’s turn signals and hazard lights blink to guide the player 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 character rests against a wall.
**Plot** The story unfolds over a single day in London, seen through the eyes of ex-gangster Mark Hammond and Flying Squad officer Frank Carter.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Getaway
- Developer
- Team Soho
- Publisher
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Director
- Brendan McNamara
- Designer
- Chun Wah Kong
- Programmer
- William Burdon · Naresh Hirani
- Artist
- Sam Coates · Ravinder S Ruprai
- Writer
- Brendan McNamara · Katie Ellwood
- Composer
- Andrew Hale · Shawn Lee
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2
- Released
- EU · 11 December 2002 · AU · 13 December 2002 · NA · 19 January 2003
- Genre
- Action-adventure
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Getaway focuses on two characters: Mark Hammond, an ex-bank robber, and Frank Carter, a police officer in service with the Flying Squad. Both plots run parallel and intersect before concluding in the finale of the game. The game takes place in London during a single day. A major feature of the game is its approach to being 'movie-like' and immersive, achieved by excluding features present in most games: there is no HUD or map system; players driving in a car are guided to a destination by the car's indicators and hazard lights blinking. Running out of ammunition is signaled by the character dropping their weapon, as there is no health meter. Player health is regenerated by resting against a wall.
Reader's Guide
The Getaway is often labeled as a Grand Theft Auto clone due to similarities to that series, but it distinguishes itself with licensed real vehicles 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. The game's development originated at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe on the PlayStation, off the back of Porsche Challenge. The project evolved into a PlayStation 2 game. Re-creating 16 square kilometers of London proved a daunting task and a technical nightmare, factors which may have delayed the release by several years. The hype began just before E3 2000 with published screenshots, though it has been argued these were mock-up pre-renders. The game was made playable at E3 2002. A sequel, The Getaway: Black Monday, was released in 2004. A spin-off, Gangs of London, was released in 2006; this spawned the 2020 television adaptation of the same name and a 2022 graphic novel.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally planned for the PlayStation 2 launch in 2000 but was delayed over two years.
- The final game recreates 16 square kilometers of London, not the originally promised 113 square kilometers.
- The game has no HUD or map; players are guided by car indicators and hazard lights.
- A prototype version for the original PlayStation was developed but never released.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Getaway?
The Getaway is a third-person action-adventure game developed by Team Soho and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. Set entirely in London, it weaves together two parallel storylines that eventually collide.
Who are the two main characters you play as?
You take on the roles of Mark Hammond, a former bank robber planning one last heist, and Frank Carter, a Flying Squad detective hot on his trail. The two characters experience separate missions before their paths merge toward the climax.
What films inspired The Getaway's tone and style?
Team Soho drew heavily on British gangster cinema, citing Get Carter (1971) and Snatch (2000) as key influences on the game's gritty atmosphere, dialogue, and narrative structure.
Why was The Getaway pushed back from its original 2000 release window?
Rendering large, highly detailed sections of London in real time proved far more technically demanding than anticipated, forcing a delay of over two years until the December 11, 2002 launch.
What made The Getaway stand out on the PlayStation 2?
It was among the earliest PS2 titles to offer a fully explorable, open city environment, and its ambitious London setting became a signature element that defined the game's identity.
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