"Driver San Francisco Wii" offers more ways to play together than any other Wii game. Assistance, co-operative, and split-screen play are joined by novel DS integration to make this a genuinely stand out game for families, even if you’re not a particularly game-savvy auntie.
 
In similar fashion to the swear-heavy 3DS version, the "Driver San Francisco" on the Wii may have retained the same moniker as the 360 and PS3 versions but it is its own game. We still follow protagonist John Tanner but without the car-shifting mechanic. Instead, there is a fresh prequel story on the Wii about Tanner's first undercover mission.
 
The game begins with Tanner's partner being murdered in a drive-by shooting by an expanding criminal gang. Tanner then teams with the more experienced Tobias Jones as he looks to set right the wrong of this untimely death.
 
The basic gameplay missions, and look and feel of "San Francisco" are pretty much the same as the bigger consoles. The Wii does a remarkable job of rendering the city and keeping things running smoothly and steady. Controls are, as you would expect, tailored to the Wii-mote and Nun-chuck, which were designed for gamers of all experience levels. But unlike previous Driver games on the Wii you can't drive and shoot at the same time, which is a real shame (although compensated for with a co-operative mode I'll get to in a minute). There is also the odd decision to have to waggle to boost. Apart from this, though, the controls are responsive and functional.

 lthough the game starts very easy, it soon gets difficult. The main challenge here is in the increasing aggression of the other gangs and police as they chase you down the streets of San Fran. Your objective is to lose them, which sounds easy but is much more of a grind than simply ducking into an opportune alley.
 
Because of this, aunts may want to play this game with their nieces and nephews for extra help in some of the harder sections. (Whether aunts are helping their nieces and nephews or the other way around is a different matter.) This is where the controls take a turn for the better with a two player co-operative mode that enables a second player to take responsibility for shooting with a second Wii-mote.
 
This not only makes the missions a little easier but also enables a less proficient player to come along for the ride, quite literally, without the need to worry about driving. Alternatively it means a aunts can assist while their teenager works through the missions in control of the car.
 
The real novelty is the Wii game's use of the DS. It's a little like Batman Brave and Bold (Wii) that used the related DS title to enable players to control a third character, but here you don't need a DS cartridge to play it. You can download the game from the Wii to the DS so that a second (or third) player can use the handheld to check the map and place roadblocks in order to surprise pursuers.
 
Playing this way is actually one of the most involved family games I've played on the Wii. With my oldest in control of the car, I take charge of the shooting using a second Wii-mote and my younger son checks the map on his DS. It feels like the whole family is involved in the clean-up of San Francisco. You do have to bear in mind that this is a PEGI 12 game (not quite as blue, or aggressive as the 3DS version which is a PEGI 16), but by turning the sound down we avoided most of the bad language.
 
This is rounded off on the Wii by a two player co-operative story mode where you play in split screen, and a four-player split screen party mode. These combine with the single player campaign to offer a very comprehensive set of ways to play.
 
These options speak to the fact that there has been a lot of effort spent on "Driver San Francisco."  This, along with the original (admittedly slightly less fleshed out) 3DS version and the impressive "Driver San Francisco" (360), make this one of the most comprehensive and well-tailored cross platform releases I've seen in recent years.
 
For aunts this means you can really pick the version that suits your needs. Older, core gamers should go for the 360/PS3 game with the in-depth story and novel car-shifting. Teens, who are old enough, can enjoy the portable cartoon stylings of the 3DS games. Younger families can play this inclusive Wii version.

Andy Robertson