Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Stuntman places you behind the wheel of a variety of vehicles—police cruisers, sports cars, trucks and even armored personnel carriers—as an aspiring stunt driver climbing the Hollywood ladder. You begin your career playing on modest sets with low-budget films, then gradually advance to major motion pictures complete with large-scale pyrotechnics and complex set pieces. Each level feels like stepping onto a different movie set, and nailing your mark feels every bit as satisfying as a perfectly executed stunt in a blockbuster.

The core of the experience is built around six unique locations, each representing a different film production. Within these locales you’ll face anywhere from four to eight missions per movie, ranging from narrow harbor chases to wild jumps between moving trains or through high-rise windows. Missions demand precise timing and throttle control—tap the gas too early and you’ll overshoot your cue, hold the brakes too long and your ramp jump will come up short. Every stunt is measured against a strict “mark” system that rewards pinpoint accuracy.

Apart from the Career mode, Stuntman introduces specialized driving tests—Speed Tests, Precision Tests and full-on Stunt Tests—to hone your skills outside of scripted sequences. There’s also a comprehensive stunt park editor that allows you to place ramps, obstacles and pyrotechnic triggers in a custom arena, then test your creation under live conditions. This extra layer of creativity extends replayability and offers a sandbox for learning advanced maneuvers such as the cannon roll or the strategic use of nitro boost.

Graphics

Graphically, Stuntman leverages early-2000s console hardware to create detailed film sets and dynamic pyrotechnic effects. Textures on the vehicles are crisp for the era, and the interior and exterior models convey each car’s unique character—be it the sleek curves of a sports car or the reinforced plating of an armored truck. Dust clouds kick up convincingly as you screech around corners, and explosions deliver a satisfying shockwave as they rock the camera.

Each of the six locations offers distinct visual themes, from industrial harbors with dockside cranes to neon-lit cityscapes at night. Lighting and shadow work combine to heighten tension during high-stakes stunts, especially when you’re asked to nail a precise jump through a moving window or narrowly evade collapsing walls. Upon completing a movie’s missions, the game stitches your best shots into a polished trailer—complete with lens flares and quick cuts—that highlights your most spectacular achievements.

Despite the occasional pop-in of distant geometry and limitations in environmental detail, the overall presentation remains immersive. Car damage modeling is rudimentary but effective, showing dents or broken parts that add weight to each collision. While modern eyes might spot low-resolution textures or occasional frame rate dips, Stuntman’s visual package still carries the cinematic flair necessary to sell its stunt-driven premise.

Story

Stuntman doesn’t offer a traditional narrative full of character arcs or dramatic dialogue. Instead, it tells its story through your progression from rookie driver to Hollywood’s go-to stunt professional. Brief on-screen cutscenes and voice-over narration set the stage for each film shoot, explaining the setup and emphasizing the importance of timing, positioning and camera angles. Your “career” unfolds organically as each successful mission unlocks bigger budgets and more elaborate stunts.

Each of the six films provides a thematic backdrop for the stunts you’ll perform—whether you’re racing the clock around a harbor cargo yard, jumping from one train to the next, or weaving through a collapsing set after an explosion goes awry. Though there’s no deep interpersonal drama, the game effectively immerses you in the filmmaking process by letting you experience the rush of pulling off dangerous feats and then seeing them cut into a final trailer sequence.

Between takes, your character offers informative commentary on what makes each stunt work, teaching you real-world techniques such as side-pipe rolls (used to flip a car onto its side) and the mechanics behind perfectly-timed nitro boosts. This quasi-tutorial approach serves as both world-building and gameplay guidance, grounding every stunt in authentic industry practice and reinforcing your identity as a professional stunt driver rather than just a racer.

Overall Experience

Stuntman stands out from typical racing games by marrying precision driving with the pulse-pounding spectacle of action cinema. The emphasis on hitting marks and following cues turns each level into a high-stakes performance rather than simply a chase or timed lap. Every successful stunt delivers a rush akin to watching your favorite action hero nail a daring escape on the big screen.

Replay value is strong, thanks to the stunt park editor and specialized tests that let you refine your technique and challenge your friends to beat your scores. Viewing the in-game trailers after each film completes provides a gratifying recap of your best moments and underscores how well you mastered each environment. While the camera can sometimes be restrictive during critical stunt setups, learning to anticipate its angles becomes part of the skill curve.

For potential buyers, Stuntman offers a unique blend of driving simulation and cinematic spectacle. If you’re drawn to the idea of feeling like a Hollywood stunt coordinator, learning real stunt-driving techniques, and reliving your greatest moments in mini-trailers, this game delivers an engaging, educational and adrenaline-fueled ride. Its blend of creative challenges and movie-style presentation makes it a rewarding pick for anyone seeking a fresh twist on car-based gameplay.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10