Stuntman: Ignition (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by Chris McCarver on 09.28.2007
The venerable stunt-driving franchise returns... wait, this is a franchise?!
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Paradigm
Platform: Xbox 360 (also available for Playstation 2, PSP, and mobile phones)
ESRB Rating: T (drug references, mild language, suggestive themes, violence)
Release Date: Aug. 28, 2007
Review by CHRIS McCARVER
The old Stuntman game on the Playstation 2 was one of my guilty pleasures during the previous console generation. But at the same time, it was something of a source of frustration. How many times does one have to powerslide, ramp-jump and “DRIVE THROUGH THE BOXES!!” before the prima donna Hollywood director is satisfied enough to let you progress to the next level? Still, getting to get my French Connection groove on was a bit of a hoot, so when news came 'round about a next-gen sequel five years later, anticipation filled me like a fat guy fills out a pair of size-56 Dockers cargo slacks. So how was Stuntman: Ignition? Just as fun? Just as bloody frustrating? Read on...
Wow, somebody actually FOUND a weapon of mass destruction. Go fig.
Graphics
Graphics-wise, the game is serviceable and much of an improvement over the previous-gen original, though nothing to write much to home about. The vehicle models and environments are adequately made, but it would have been nice to see more damage and environment effects on the cars and bikes. Still, the courses are nicely designed and rife with opportunity to pull off some insane stuntwork. The one major problem I have with this game is something the original game excelled at, namely cutting your course footage in with the movie trailers you're rewarded with after completing a film. Instead, you get a trailer that's mostly about the fictional characters and what little vehicle footage they contain is pre-rendered.
Gameplay
The gameplay of the Stuntman sequel doesn't deviate much from the original. You're cast in the role of a nameless stunt driver looking to make it in the big leagues of Hollywood action flicks. Each of the game's six levels is the filming of a single movie, ranging in genre from volcano-disaster flick to spy thriller to superhero movie, and each of the six missions within the level is a stunt sequence through which you drive through a set path in order to provide the splashiest driving sequences imaginable. While you do have some carte blanche to throw your own spin on the course, such as hitting jumps or powersliding for extra points, each of the course has a number of “director stunt” zones, areas that the director specifically wants for the scene. Miss five of these stunts and they call for a reshoot, meaning you'll have to start the scene all over again. The game also has “odd job” levels in which you perform at a live stunt show. The mechanics work pretty much the same except that you aren't allowed to miss any of the director stunts (you are playing to a live audience, after all).
Travis Pastrana really needs to quit showing off. You're good on a bike. Okay. WE GET IT.
Sound like repetitive trial-and-error gameplay? Well, it pretty much is; part and parcel for a game where driving in an eye-catching manner is the key goal. Driving through the various levels is kind of fun, but mastering each of the scenes can be brutal since it will take many gamers many tries to even squeak out a four-error run on some of the courses. What doesn't help is the fact that notification of when you're about to approach a stunt zone isn't done very much in advance of actually reaching it, so you'll find yourself on many occasions getting direction on a stunt in an area you're just then driving past. Also a problem is the pre-scene briefing, wherein the stunt coordinator breaks down each scene, which honestly isn't very helpful. He only explains the one or two biggest stunts in the level with still maps and sketches, with little indication of where or when you'll reach those areas. The game does succeed in giving you enough tools to figure out what needs to be done and when, such as a guide for the icons on each of the director stunt zones and the chance to rehearse a specific driving maneuver before a scene that requires it, such as pulling J-turns or driving on the side wheels.
New to Stuntman: Ignition is the ability to string stunts together for a points multiplier, which increases your overall rating on each course. It is technically possible to string an entire scene together, which will lead to a perfect rating, but finding the path to doing so can be something of a challenge. This is done in a manner not unlike the C-O-M-B-O game mechanic in the Tony Hawk games or the trick-stringing element in SSX. Once you pull off a stunt, you have a few seconds to perform another one to continue the string. Miss the way-short time limit and your modified score is added to your total and you have to start a new string. Most strings can be pulled off by powerslides or driving dangerously close to other vehicles on the set in addition to the various stunt zones throughout each level. It's a nice addition and one that'll offset the grinding repetition enough to motivate players to get that perfect 5-star rating.
Sound
The music in Stuntman: Ignition is a nice mix of orchestral tunes that act as the score for each of the films you work in, and each of them fit the theme of the film nicely. Of course, if music's a distraction from trying to nail those hard stunts, you can switch it off in the options menu, though those who want to actually have the full experience of being in an action movie will still have that option. The voice acting, provided from a number of performers from the ADV/Funimation voice actor pool such as Chris Sabat and Colleen Clinkenbeard, is surprisingly well-done inasmuch that each of the film's directors have a distinct personality, from a bored European action director to a Johnny Knoxville wannabe who's all about the destruction and explosions to a conceited action-movie star attempting to break into directing.
Wouldn't it have just been easier NOT to put the can of Mr. Pibb in the microwave?
My one very big gripe about this title's audio package, and admittedly this may have been a glitch on my particular copy, is that the stunt coordinator's voice (provided by Chris Sabat) comes and goes during the levels. Sometimes you'll hear his directions, but it'll be dead silence from him in most cases. Considering his voice cues are a crucial asset in completing the game, this is a definite and damning drawback. Readers may feel free to email me if they've not experienced this problem, 'cause I'd like to know if it was just my review copy and not the master software.
Lasting Appeal
Lasting appeal comes two-fold in this title, in the form of online multiplayer and the game's “Constructor Mode,” the latter of which allows players to set up their own stunt courses. Unfortunately, this track editor doesn't provide much insight in how to best put a stunt course together, so you're pretty much on your own trying to figure out where to place everything for a well-made series of stunts.
XBL online play comes in three flavors: race, battle, and movie challenge. While the first two are fairly straightforward and not that innovative, the movie challenges are actually something of a treat. In these, you race against online drivers through the various stunt courses, but the object isn't to finish first but rather to nail all the stunts. And if one driver nails a particular stunt, the other drivers will have the resulting driving hazard to contend with as well as getting a lower score than the other guy. Excelling in the movie challenges places an even higher emphasis on really getting each of the courses down to a science.
"Just one day, God. One day when all I have to do is pull a cat out of a tree..."
Fun Factor
What's going to matter most to gamers about Stuntman: Ignition is the opportunity to play through all those nutso car-chase and motorcycle-jump sequences for which American action films are well known. Stuntman: Ignition is a lot like Burnout in the sense that, much like Burnout's Crash Mode, it's all about nailing all the maneuvers and scoring that perfect rating on each of the courses. Casual gamers just looking for a quick-and-dirty stunt-driving game, however, may be disappointed at having to rerun levels to the tune of ten to twelve times in order to appease the directors of each film. One could argue that's going to be the case with a game like Stuntman: Ignition, because the core mechanic is about putting on one hell of a stunt show in front of the camera. So determining the enjoyment level this game will offer is going to largely depend on personal taste.
The 411
Stuntman: Ignition is a very enjoyable game for those who want to give it the time and thought it's going to take to really master, but I begrudge no one who think the game a bit laborious and repetitive. I myself will admit a fair amount of frustration while getting in my time on it, and the game isn't entirely flawless even excusing the trial-and-error mechanics. I balk at saying Stuntman: Ignition is a must-have due to its gameplay flaws and presentation issues, but it's a step up from the previous game and worth at least a look.
Graphics
6.0
Visuals are well composed but average in quality, smart level design, game footage not in movie trailers
Gameplay
7.0
Lots of insane driving events, new stunt-string feature, core design of game leads to some repetitive gameplay, in-game direction is a bit slow to warn of upcoming stunt zones
Sound
7.5
Surprisingly good music score and voice acting, but stunt coordinator voice cuts out at all the wrong moments
Lasting Appeal
7.0
Deep but hard-to-learn track editor, online movie challenge modes are a lot of fun, other online modes not so much
Fun Factor
7.0
Heavily varied stunt-driving experience, casual gamers not wanting to replay levels over and over may be turned off.
