If you're still having a hard time raising your accumulated star rating by replaying previous stunts, you can also take on odd jobs, such as participating in a stunt-driving exhibition at an amusement park, or working on a TV commercial. While generally shorter than the average stunt sequence, the odd jobs are even more unforgiving, as a single strike against your performance will end it. You can play through every last stunt sequence in the career mode in a few hours, though it will take you significantly longer than that if you want to wring a five-star rating out of every stunt sequence. Every five-star rating requires you to maintain a single stunt string over the entire stunt sequence, so good luck with that.
Outside the career mode there's a multiplayer mode, which includes two different race types. Backlot battle focuses on performing as many stunts as possible within a set number of laps, while the backlot race mode is a more straightforward race where you can earn bursts of nitro by doing stunts. With eight-player online support on the PS3 and Xbox 360, these modes can get real chaotic, though a short number of tracks curbs the lasting appeal. There's also a simple course constructor that lets you lay down your own obstacle course, as well as some stand-alone stunt sequences. It's not a hugely expansive game, but it's the kind of game you can easily lose a weekend to.
Now you've got a friend in the movie business!
Stuntman: Ignition is currently appearing on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, and the differences among them are about what we've come to expect. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions are pretty comparable, though the PS3 version features motion-based controls that are thankfully optional, as well as a little more aliasing. The graphics are still pretty sharp across the board. There's loads of detail in the vehicles, and the environments and the explosions look nice, though looking at the bigger picture, what's really good about the visuals is how fully realized the visual style for each movie is. The frame rate isn't always stable, and if you look beyond your immediate surroundings you might notice some nasty textures, but these aren't critical issues. On the PS2 there's an appropriate drop in visual fidelity, which means less texture detail, fewer cars on the road, and things of that nature, though it's still a decent-looking game. The online functionality of the multiplayer has been stripped out of the PS2 version, though. Surprisingly, the PS2 version actually loads faster than the PS3 or Xbox 360 versions.
It's difficult to judge the quality of the sound effects in Stuntman: Ignition, because they are almost always drowned out by the constant shouting of your stunt coordinator. The voice work isn't bad per se, it's just that he shouts the exact same things at the exact same intervals on any given stunt sequence, and having to hear it over and over again can be a little crazy-making. For what it's worth, though, there's some nice, thematically appropriate music that accompanies each movie.
Stuntman: Ignition is a significant step up from its predecessor, and it's a pretty distinct experience as far as driving games go. The fundamental structure of playing through the same stunt sequence repeatedly will no doubt sour some, but if you can get past that, it can be a blast.
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Where to buy
Stuntman Ignition (PlayStation 2):
$18.99 - $38.99
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Amazon.com
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$19.99 | Yes |
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$19.99 | Yes |
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$38.99 | Yes |
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