Stuntman (Platinum)

Description

Stuntman saw Reflections Interactive pivot from the open-world crime formula of Driver to a strictly linear, objective-based experience that simulated the high-pressure life of a Hollywood stunt performer. The title captures the industry’s fascination with ‘behind-the-scenes’ DVD extras, moving away from the freedom of city roaming in favour of rigid, choreographed set pieces. It reflects a design direction that prioritised trial-and-error mastery and cinematic flair, serving as a distinct departure from the arcade racers of the era by demanding perfection rather than just speed.

The gameplay is built around a Career Mode where players must complete stunts for six fictional movies, including the Guy Ritchie-inspired Toothless in Wapping and the Dukes of Hazzard parody A Whoopin’ and a Hollerin’. Unlike traditional driving games, success is dictated by a Director who barks commands (“Left! Over! Jump! Action!”) that must be executed with split-second timing. Failing to hit a mark or crashing results in an immediate “Cut!” and a forced restart. This iteration introduced the Stunt Constructor, an arena mode where players could unlock props (ramps, loops, fire rings) to build and test their own physics-defying courses.

The development used of an evolved version of the Driver physics engine, which gave the vehicles a distinctively “heavy” and suspension-focused handling model. A major feature was the “Replay” system, which allowed players to watch their successful runs edited with dramatic camera angles and visual filters to resemble a theatrical trailer. The PlayStation 2 version faced some issues most notably the excruciating load times between retries; because the game required dozens of attempts to perfect a scene, the 20-30 second reload time became a major point of frustration for players. The PAL release is also known for being a “lazy” port, running in 50Hz with slower game speed, particularly AI vehicles, than its NTSC counterpart.

Stuntman received a polarising reception, with critics divided between the brilliance of its concept and the brutality of its execution. Magazine reviewers lauded the realistic vehicle physics and the satisfaction of nailing a perfect take, though they frequently criticised the unforgiving difficulty curve and the “trial-and-loading-screen” gameplay loop. Reception was strongest among hardcore driving fans who appreciated the simulation aspects, while casual players often found the strict pass/fail mechanics too demanding. Retrospectively, it is viewed as a cult classic with a brilliant premise, remembered for its steep challenge. Published by Infogrames (under the Atari brand) in 2002, this UK Platinum version was relabelled for the Australian market.