Since the early
days of Hollywood, stunt performers have been making stars look good by taking
on dangerous but jaw-dropping stunts that make our favorite movies so exciting.
If you’ve ever dreamed of standing in for your favorite actor and jumping a
motorcycle off the roof of a building while he or she sits back in a cozy
trailer sipping champagne (well, that’s what I think happens during a stunt,
anyway), then Stuntman: Ignition is for you. At last, Stuntman
goes next-generation … Hollywood style.
The original
Stuntman was introduced on the PlayStation 2 as a game that not only let you
jump into the role of a Hollywood stunt driver but pull off a number of cool
stunts you see in Hollywood blockbuster movies. Stuntman: Ignition does
the same in the game‘s main Career mode, putting you in the role of a stunt
driver just breaking into the business with your first big break – a stunt
driver roll in a Dante’s Peak-like disaster flick called Aftershock. It
is on the set of this movie that you get a quick crash course in performing
stunts on cars and motorcycles while learning how to perform hard turns and
perform slides just to name a few of the actions you’ll be pulling off.
Career mode is
broken up into six movies as well as a few odd jobs and rehearsals. Each movie
contains a number of levels, or stunt sequences, which put you behind the wheel
of different types of vehicles that would make sense to the type of movie
they’re shooting. For example, Whoopin’ and a Hollerin’ II (an obvious Dukes
of Hazard movie knockoff) have you taking control of dirt bikes but also
monster trucks and a General Lee-like muscle car. In Night Avenger, a
Batman-like superhero movie, you’ll drive a number of sleek vehicles that go up
against the Night Avenger’s cool concept car. There are also some odd jobs you
can take on and some of them are actually related to the movie you worked on or
sometimes it’s an invitation to perform a stunt in a theme park show. The hard
stuff comes in the form of the commercials like the car commercial that ties in
with the Night Avenger movie.
Like an actual
movie set, you’ll be given a description of the stunts you’ll be performing via
the film’s director and a series of storyboards. During the shoot, you’ll get
instructions from the stunt coordinator but there are always icons to guide you
as well. Most of the instructions have you making a 360-degree turn or
interacting with a prop (e.g. smashing through a series of crates or into
oncoming traffic). Yet unlike an actual movie set, you’ll have to perform a
lengthy sequence of stunts while props and events are going off all at once.
While the shooting itself is a complete exaggeration, the mistakes you make can
cause a director to yell “cut!” If you exceed the number of mistakes, you’ll
have to restart and try again and this is one of the game’s biggest problems.
Like the PS2
original, though, Ignition follows the same trial and error gameplay that
might frustrate those who really don’t care about getting a perfect rating. Even
in the game’s easiest setting, you will be replaying the same level at least
five times. The good news is that the load times are super quick so you won’t be
waiting long. Secondly, the controls are excellent, especially in a game that
has you stringing stunts together for more points. Finally, there are a number
of extra game modes you can play before tackling the game’s Career mode. Quick
Fix mode, for example, allows you to try directed stunts as well as freestyle
stunts.
The best
addition just so happens to be the multiplayer mode that can be played online
through Xbox Live, using a System Link setup or offline with up to four friends.
Whether you play online or offline, the game modes range from races to a battle
mode that has you stealing combo strings by slamming into your opponents.
There’s even a mode called Constructor that allows you to create your own arena
with any type of props or ramps. The game also throws in some neat little extra
like movie trailers for movie but sadly they don’t use clips from your instant
replays to personalize the trailers. Oh well, there are always the instant
replays.
I would also
love to say that Stuntman: Ignition looks amazing but it just doesn’t
scream next-generation. We’ve seen better-looking Xbox 360 games featuring hot
cars but somehow the visuals aren’t incredibly striking. Then again, the
vehicles do look pretty good and I wish some of the environments could look as
good as the Aftershock movie set with its exploding vehicles and “lava” burning
everything in sight. What does look great are the instant replays that will have
you reviewing all your best moments.
The sound
effects are also pretty detailed and do a great job of giving you the impression
that you’re watching a Hollywood quality movie. Unfortunately, the music might
not be everyone’s cup of tea … I mean, unless you like cheesy rock tunes. Just
listening to it makes me want to grow a mullet. Worst yet, the stunt
coordinator’s voice will not fail to annoy as well with his repetitive phrases.
Stuntman:
Ignition for
the Xbox 360 is easily the best game in the series but it still follows the same
repetitive formula that might not sit well with many gamers. There are plenty of
levels that offer some variety but the fact that you will be replaying the same
scenarios over and over might frustrate gamers that want to move on quickly. If
you’re a fan of the series, well, this one has enough stunts to make this the
Stuntman game you’ve been waiting for since the series was first introduced
a long while back.
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Gameplay: 7.2
Luckily for
us, the game’s load times are quick since you’ll be trying the same level over
and over again. There are some interesting stunt setups and the vehicles are
responsive enough but mostly this is an exercise in the trail and error driving.
The game does make you feel like a Hollywood stunt driver, though.
Graphics: 7.5
The game is
pretty but not gorgeous but at least there are some great Hollywood-styled
visual effects that make the instant replays so cool to watch. The vehicles look
great but there are some environments that just don’t look as good as others do
in the game.
Sound: 7.0
Personally,
the Southern fried rock in the game cuts into my brain like a knife and the
stunt coordinator becomes so irritating that I almost go for the mute button. At
least the sound effects are nicely detailed to the point that they make replays
a cinematic treat.
Difficulty:
Medium/Hard
Stringing
stunts is not a simple task and there are just way too many factors that will
stop you from keeping the stunt chain going. There are some levels that are
considerably challenging, especially the ones that have you performing stunts on
a motorcycle.
Concept: 7.2
Ignition
does a magnificent job of giving a peek at the life of a Hollywood stunt driver
even though the actual shoot is unrealistically exaggerated. You can even take
on side gigs that have you starring in commercials or taking part in promotional
events that tie in with the movie you worked on. It’s just too bad that the
movie trailers don’t feature your own stunts.
Multiplayer:
8.0
Online or
offline, the multiplayer action is wildly entertaining and filled to the brim
with frantic back lot battles that use the various vehicles you unlock in the
single-player mode. The action moves along smoothly and you can even create your
own arena to share with others.
Overall: 7.2
Stuntman:
Ignition is a
leap forward for the series but the game is still a lesson in frustrating
trail-and-error gameplay that might not sit well with many gamers. For those who
are able to look past the repetitive nature of the game, this Stuntman
has a lot to offer and can be fun once the camera starts rolling. I highly
recommend renting this one before considering a purchase if you’re a casual fan
but either way you shouldn’t miss this game.
