Stuntman preview

http://www.consoledomain.co.uk/playstation2/previews/Stuntman.html

 Stuntman - Preview
Written By : Gareth Holden
Publisher : Infogrames Entertainment
Developer : Reflections


Though it still has a whole year left to run in its development, Infogrames\' Stuntman game looks certain to win over just as many fans as its popular Driver series has. Console Domain sneaked into another behind-closed-doors session with the game\'s developers to see just how the game is shaping up. Believe us - you will want this game!

Stuntman sees players assuming the role of a stunt driver, whose aim is to make it onto the big stage and become a millionaire. Starting out as an unknown, you\'ll exert your skills in low budget flicks before progressing on to some of the most spectacular scenes from the latest Hollywood blockbuster. You work for a director on six different films, at locations across the world, from a Guy Ritchie flick set in London to a Louisiana-based film in the style of The Dukes of Hazzard. Of course, it\'s hard to beat the James Bond school of stunts, so naturally Monaco and The Swiss Alps have been included as locations too. For each of the films, you have to complete three to four stunt scenes, each of which contain between ten and 20 individual elements, ensuring there will be plenty to keep you occupied in your new occupation.  

The game will include up to 70 different vehicles, ranging from a Ford Capri look-a-like to a snow mobile and even a rickshaw for the scenes in Bangkok. Obviously the vehicle manufacturers\' reluctance to see their products smashed to pieces prevents the inclusion of any being officially licensed. Your actual tasks will include performing burnouts, 180 degree spins, smashing through scenery and performing spectacular barrel rolls. In one scene you\'ll even have to pilot a snow mobile as you career across the tops of snow-laden chalets, before having to crash right through the living room of one and speed out of the other side: awesome!

Another game mode was briefly detailed, although details of how it would integrate into the main career mode were not disclosed. It is understood that as you make more money in the stuntman role, you can then use these earnings to put on special shows for audiences to boost your popularity and make more cash. From a simple barrel roll jump to more complex stunts jumping through the side of lorries, there\'s even the option to purchase pyrotechnics and then activate them during your stunts for a more spectacular show. As you gain more experience you can also begin altering the height, length and twists of ramps. Vic Armstrong, the legendary stuntman, whose career includes stunts on films like Starship Troopers and Terminator 2, is currently working in collaboration with the team to ensure stunts are accurately recreated

While at first sight the game looks to have relied heavily upon the Driver engine, Console Domain soon realised that an overhaul had definitely been accomplished to establish the foundations of a truly next generation title. Starting out with the car\'s physics, we were shown how to effortlessly complete a 180-degree handbrake turn, as the suspension travel and body roll seemed almost lifelike. Next up came far and away the most impressive crash damage engine we\'ve experienced in a console game to date. Reversing into a brick wall lightly, the car\'s bumper dropped off. Repeating a second time saw the rear end impact further and the boot lid detach from the car. The lid was left delicately balanced between the car and the wall and edging slightly forward, then reversing saw it tilt backwards and forwards. When the car was driven away from the wall, the boot lid clattered to the floor; rather than disappearing, the debris remained in the game and became what the developers called "a real property of the play environment". Equally impressive though was the glass-shattering physics, sub-frame crumbling and attention to detail even on the undercarriage of the car, which will eventually allow parts of the exhaust system to drop off.

In the graphics department, even at this early stage, Stuntman looks worlds apart from the previously accepted blocky visuals and pop-up of the Driver games. Both mip-mapping and antialiasing techniques have been used to devastating effect to enrich in-game textures. From the smooth curves of the telephone wires, which using previous technology could only be represented as a series of jagged lines, to the intricate level of detail on both the exterior and interior of buildings, Stuntman is certain to impress in all areas. Using a free-roaming camera, we were taken through the interior of a pub, which demonstrated every last detail, from the beer taps at the bar to the stained glass windows, through which leaked a smoky haze created by the sun\'s piercing rays for a truly tranquil atmosphere.


Every stuntman has tales to tell of near misses and spectacular successes, so in recognition a full replay and edit mode will be included to allow players to save scenes on to memory card. Naturally, there\'ll be a multitude of camera angles to choose from to shine up your theatrical trailer before comparing it to the best your friends have to offer. And just in case this hasn\'t whet your appetite sufficiently, the developers are also working on a split-screen two-player mode


Stuntman looks certain to steal the limelight when it hits retail stores in just under a year\'s time. Not only does it bring a refreshing new concept to the world of video games, it\'s already shaping up to be a classic title that deserves to be in a league of its own.

Sweet... although I\'d prefer the real Driver 3, this is almost as good...

Is that real-time??  I haven\'t heard comments either to deny no confirm this question.  But I doubt that it is.


Beerstud you need to shorten your signature to 5 lines and no HTML in sigs buddy... Tahnks

PS: how ya been ???

Man I cant wait to try out this game!

Originally posted by BeerStud
Is that real-time??  I haven\'t heard comments either to deny no confirm this question.  But I doubt that it is.

it obviously realtime, just look at the jaggies in some of the shots. Thats the PS2\'s realtime signature

I\'m really interested in this game.  I cant\' wait till I to hear more about it.

WOW.....Beautiful shots.  I will put that on mt list of, waiting for games that come out in 10 years, as, GT3, Half-Life, MGS2: SoL, MoH: FL....
WOLFE

well that shine some more light onto this title and really got me interested in the game

although its just not the type of game i would buy - i might have to give it a few rents

well... i am less intrested than before now, the reason is this is about making movies than being on the street... meaning no cops to run from and no criminals. so if you only want to see cars bumping into rach other then fine, but i want driver3 now...

Hmm.. stunts in a jeep? Count me in !!

Games like these surprise me everytime. This looks
so good graphically already ! I really can\'t figure out
why allot of developers come out with a game that looks
absolute crap,claim it isn\'t, and on top of it whine about
the PS2 hardware !
The 1st, 2nd and 4th pic are friggin amazing, and yess you can clearly tell it\'s realtime, as DDaryl said noting the
slight jaggies !
Knotter8

Amazing

I want this game..

This is truly one of the best looking games.