The Driver series is moving up in the world with its latest installment, Driver 3. The game will once again place you in the unenviable shoes of the series' grizzled undercover detective, Tanner. This time around, Tanner will attempt to infiltrate and then take down a giant international car-smuggling ring behind the wheel and on foot. Driver 3's plot will be fleshed out by extensive CG cutscenes that are meant to evoke the feel of a gritty gangster flick.

　　The story in Driver 3 will take place across three major cities--Miami, Istanbul, and Nice--and all three have been realistically modeled after their real-world counterparts. In fact, Atari claims the game's maps will have over 150 miles of highway and around 30,000 uniquely placed buildings. True to the game's name, you'll spend a lot of your time driving around these cities in over 50 vehicles, including more than just cars. Mopeds, motorcycles, 18-wheelers, and even boats will be on offer at the appropriate time. In a departure from past games, Driver 3 will also see you on foot, since the bad guys do need to get shot at some point in the game.

　　Driver 3 is commanding some serious Hollywood talent, with actors like Michael Madsen, Mickey Rourke, Michelle Rodriguez, and Ving Rhames lending their voices to the production. A short film called Running the Gauntlet was also produced by Ridley Scott Associates to promote the game, and you can find it at the official Driver 3 Web site. The game is scheduled for release around the middle of June, so look for a full review at that time.