Stuntman

"Stuntman: Gratification is something you have to earn."

Stuntman. Just the name is a hook enough for you to take a second look at it. This game is about you, a rookie stuntman, working his way to the top in higher and higher budgeted films.

Gameplay - 9/10
The gameplay in Stuntman is nothing short of amazing. A completely unique game, you're a stuntman doing...well...stunts! You work on different movies, doing stunts from simple things like smashing through boxes to difficult things like speeding under a moving truck, launching yourself over a high-dive, and doing a 360 turn at the last second before hurtling yourself off a pier. And that's just a fraction of a level. You'll drive a plethora of vehicles, such as a cop car, fancy sports cars, and even a Thai 'Tuk Tuk'. One complaint is that this game may just be too hard for the casual gamer. You'll have to pull off every stunt PERFECTLY to beat the level, only being allowed to miss one or two and being constrained by a time limit. Some scenes can take over 100(!) tries to complete. But it just feels that much better when you complete a level.

Sound - 6/10
The game takes a slight dip in the sound department. While the sound effects are convincing and head on, the game seems to sacrifice itself in the voice acting department. You hear the voice of the same director throughout the WHOLE game. Funny how the same director works on 6 different movies. The 'actors' that you hear during the trailers are weak and unconvincing. The music is also quite lackluster. By the third movie, I was playing my own music instead of the game's(which I never, ever do).

Graphics - 10/10
The graphics are insane. The particle effects are amazing, shards of shrapnel flying off left and right. The cars feature a realistic damage system, with wheels, body, engine, anything capable of popping off or exploding into shrap. The areas are perfectly rendered, looking fantastic. No real noticable jaggies, and only a few moments of slight almost unoticable slow-down. The game really shines here.

Story - 3/10
The story is pretty much non-existent. You're a stuntman looking to succeed...that's about it.

Replay Value - 6/10
Stuntman may be a great game while it lasts, but it won't last forever. Each level is insanely hard and will probably take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete. Depending on how good you are at each stunt, you could blast through this game or struggle along like a dying old man. Once you beat the game, though, you will have unlocked many items for the ''Stunt Editor.'' This little feature allows you to set up props to create your own stunt. While nothing breathtaking, it's pretty fun to set up a little jump or two. Probably won't last you too long, though.

Overall - 9/10
Stuntman is a fantastic game. The graphics and gameplay really stand out, with the rest of the features falling into the background. Luckily, you won't even notice the small short-comings of the other parts of the game as you'll be having too much fun smashing through boxes, weaving through traffic, and crashing through office buildings to care.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/09/02, Updated 07/09/02