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.

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.