Despite being smacked square in the story by Mr Cliche and the voice acting suffering from a severe case of wood, The Crew performed admirably as an open-world street racer.
For about 48 minutes.
After which I was booted to the title screen with some nonsense about servers. My connection was super. Clearly someone else's wasn't.
And that's the utterly stupid design flaw of The Crew. If you're not connected, the thing is broken. It's a black menu whimpering softly while Angry Gamer shouts expletives in its face.
In the brief moment The Crew was with us it proved an able sandbox racer, albeit shaved of any trimmings and baubles.
Apart from the previously mentioned irritations, the graphics are serviceable, the driving experience rudimentary and map absolutely massive.
But The Crew may as well be the software equivalent of the Sistine Chapel for all the good it'll do you when you can't sign in.
Disgraceful.
Out on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360
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