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I was incredibly excited when I got the invite to play Stuntman: Hollywood at Gamescom this year. Announced at a State of Play a few months back, this revived franchise promises chaotic film-stunt-inspired action across some of the largest franchises in Universal’s catalogue.
It feels like a throwback to a bygone era of gaming tie-ins, and I was glad to see that impression was very much alive and drifting across the four levels I got to play.
Admittedly, I was terrible at the game. Stuntman Hollywood was a lot more technically challenging than I initially expected. With short courses, usually lasting about two minutes, you are expected to weave your way through thin pathways, hit drifts at exact timings, and miss oncoming objects by mere inches.
With my shortcomings as a stunt driver, I was able to play through the levels several times over, and immediately I could feel that dopamine hit from steadily improving my score. This is a game all about perfecting courses with exact drifts, near-misses, and tight pathways. There’s very little room for error, but that’s part of what made the gameplay loop so enjoyable.
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It feels great to drift around in this game, and each time I finished a level, I felt that urge to go back and improve it just a little bit more.
But of course, there is also the film fan in me that just wanted to take in as many details as I could. My preview was made up of a level inspired by Fast and Furious, Miami Vice, Earthquake, and Jurassic World, and each felt unique and playful in its own way.
In the Miami Vice level, I was drifting my way around the sun-soaked streets, shooting out the tyres of enemy trucks and narrowly missing rockets in a white Ferrari Testarossa. The Jurassic World level saw me rev up a dirt bike and escape the eruption of the volcano on Isla Nublar, backflipping over a snapping T-Rex in the process.
That mixture of satisfying and challenging gameplay, along with movie references galore, has me super excited to kick back with Stuntman: Hollywood. It’s a perfect encapsulation of some old-school video game fun, and Saber seems to have nailed the tone so far.
I’m hoping the full release is able to keep up the variety across its whole host of tracks and franchises. We’ve no firm release date on the game yet, but this is definitely one to keep an eye out for.
Will you be checking out Stuntman: Hollywood when it finally drops on PS5? Drift into the comments to let me know.
Comments 20
Super excited for this, what a great idea.
This to me this is a roguelite without any progression to encourage repeat play. The problem for me is that once you realise you've messed up a run, you just quit and restart. You're repeating the same sequence until you execute it correctly. There's no meaningful progression within the gameplay itself — you're not exploring, developing anything or making meaningful choices; you're simply trying to improve your execution and shave time off your previous attempt.
I can see why some people enjoy mastering that kind of challenge, but for me the gameplay becomes boring very quickly because once you've learned the sequence, you're essentially just rehearsing it until you get it right.
Is this how the game is? Is there any progression beyond just unlocking new scenarios and shaving seconds off you time?
This just makes me want a new Burnout game.. looks pretty tho
I'm looking forward to this. Can't wait to do some Miami Vice stunt driving.
It's my Grand Theft Auto Six, and to see actual licenses for those movies means they can be even closer to the source material. It's the kind of game with a lot of DLC potential too and the kind of game I want to support post-launch. The first one captured a really fun part of my childhood, movie-sets, stunts and practical effects, not CGI and skeletonized crews (which I see on current shoots now) Film and Hollywood has changed in a very short amount of time, it's nice to see that a game can keep tradition alive.
Like that Street Fighter movie, I'm hoping it inspires children to try martial arts, Krav Maga was a big boost in personal confidence, children today need that. By the same token the Film industry is lacking people with real passion, it's become so outsourced, perhaps some child will play it, realize that something, and pursue a career in the industry. If not at least they'll have fun.
The original was fantastic. I loved the clips that explained how the stunts worked in practice and even now I think of corkscrew ramps (and Vic Armstrong) a lot
This looks very interesting to me, classic 80s cars and arcade style gameplay, certainly be keeping an out for how it looks at release.
@Maaster89 I posted some of those videos here a couple of weeks ago from the PS2 disc. His book is fantastic if you are interested, it's called 'The True Adventures of the World's Greatest Stuntman: My Life as Indiana Jones, James Bond, Superman and Other Movie Heroes'. I've seen him work on a few pictures, the man is an absolute legend. I never cared for Actors (too much) mainly cinematographers, lighting and Directors, guys like him were and are the exception.
I heard rumors that Steen Young is involved with this new one, just rumors. He owns a couple of companies that work with the industry and he's a great stuntman. It's endangered art, not many people want to risk life and limb for the perfect shot. Steen has worked on some pictures like Batman and StarWars, some games too, the stunt coordination for Jedi Survivor was all him, Battlefield too. His career goes all the way back to The Fifth Element and as far back as PS2 games. He like many in the profession are unsung heroes.
This looks 100% like my sort of game.
The original had very small room for error as well I remember. Hoping this turns out just as good!
This was my favourite reveal in the last State of Play.
I am hoping for a release date in tomorrow's one.
Loved the original way back in the day. Was unforgiving, but that's what made it compelling. Fingers crossed for a physical copy
So happy to see this back though I was pretty crap at the original and now I’m older with worse reflexes I hope there’s an easy mode 🤣
@TheDarts you're right, once you know how to do it, there is little more to it. But trust me, succeeding to pull the kind of stuff it demands is no small feat... the "once you know" is a big leap for a game as hard and precise... I mean if it is anything like the previous one. The rush comes from succeeding to pull the sequence... something that will require many many many attempts ^_^
I hope it has the licenced soundtracks from each movie and not some soundalikes. The Pinball FX tables did this and it ruins their atmosphere completely.
@Kalime78 and that's a problem for me. It makes the game unplayable as I'll be constantly restarting runs over and over again because I didn't get the first 3 or 4 seconds of it spot on. It's like a Trials game, and I get tired of those far quicker than I do any other game. I love roguelites because at least with those there's still a reason to continue the run even if it doesn't start well.
Loved Stuntman Ignition so I'm excited for this.
I loved the Old Stuntman game way back when so I was always going to be interested in this.
However when I saw the Delorian from back to the future it instantly became a day one buy
@TheDarts fair enough ^_^ it's an old school design. to each their own
I’m not a racing fan, but I think I might actually get this.
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