MARK Hammond has just been released from prison to return to a normal life.

Sadly, life is anything but normal for Hammond as his wife is killed and his son kidnapped!

Hammond is determined to get his son back but Jolson, the kidnapper, makes Hammond "run all over the gaff", completing mission after mission before he will return the child.

The game uses a healthy combination of driving, stealth and shootouts to help the storyline progress.

Finding a vehicle is straightforward: you simply produce a gun and the driver will exit.

Try to steal a vehicle from a gang member, however, and they will get out of the car and retaliate! The Getaway isn't just about car chases and gang fights, there are a lot of stealth missions where Hammond must sneak about, picking off enemies one by one.

For example, there is a mission in an art gallery where Hammond is required to retrieve a terracotta pigeon. He must sneak around the entire gallery avoiding security and shooting enemies.

Health is dangerously realistic in The Getaway and three well-placed shots mean Hammond will die.

Thankfully, resting against walls helps restore health to make the game a little easier.

Now a Platinum game, at £19.99 The Getaway is an absolute steal. Just keep it away from the kids!