Driver: Parallel Lines
Unlike previous Driver games, Parallel Lines takes place in just one city, New York, instead of multiple cities, but midway through the story you switch to different eras of the city - 1978 and 2006. Due to the poor performance of Driv3r, especially the often misguided sections on foot, Parallel Lines returns to the formula of previous games in the series and focuses on driving, although the shooting remains in play.
Story
T.K. is an 18-year-old boy who has just come to New York City from the country "to make a difference." With his driving skills, he makes a name for himself in the underworld as a driver and getaway car driver for robbers who hit "nick and dime" stores. He lives with his childhood friend Ray, who himself arrived in 1975 and after a brief career as a wheeler, founded the tuning shop Ray's Autos. T.K. spends his time relaxing in Ray's room, racing and working various odd jobs around town. "After a few weeks, I felt like I was home," he says. Ray, eager to move up the criminal ladder, introduces himself to T.K. Slink, the owner of a popular club in Harlem, and he proves himself to him by doing some work for him and demonstrating his skills with a gun. He also meets a gangster named The Mexican, whom he helps with his driving skills, delivering packages across the city and proving himself against the last driver, whom The Mexican locked in his trunk as punishment. Later, he also meets a local criminal named Bishop, who asks T.K. to infiltrate Riker's Island and smuggle out Candy, a gangster imprisoned there. Meanwhile, T.K. helps Ray with his gambling debts by doing other odd jobs around town to pay him. After meeting with Slink, Bishop, the Mexican and Candy, he meets Corrigan, a corrupt cop who also works as a drug dealer. Since cocaine plays a big role in the New York drug market and is a rising star in the 1980s, Corrigan's organization wants to influence cocaine distribution. However, their main problem is Rafael Martinez, a Colombian drug lord who holds a monopoly on the drug trade, so they plan to kidnap him and hold him for ransom. After an elaborate ambush, in which Candy's planning skills prove crucial, they successfully kidnap him. After the Colombian cartel relents and pays the ransom, T.K. is collected and flees from the cartel's men across the rooftops, with the Mexican providing him cover. After the ransom is handed over to Corrigan, he suddenly shoots Martinez while the rest of the gang disappears. Corrigan reveals that T.K. is to be the fall guy, he betrays T.K. and shoots him. T.K. survives but is arrested, tried and sentenced to 28 years in the notorious Sing-Sing prison.