Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Wheelman places you behind the wheel of Milo Burik, a charismatic undercover agent whose driving skills are as lethal as his shooting. The core loop revolves around weaving in and out of Barcelona’s bustling streets, taking on missions that range from high-speed getaways to pedestrian-level gunfights. By swinging the mouse or using an analog stick, you can ram enemy vehicles off the road, triggering explosive chain reactions that both clear your path and fill your Focus meter.

The Focus system is at the heart of Wheelman’s driving combat. As you perform takedowns and cause mayhem—be it smashing through barricades or evading a five-star chase—your Focus meter charges. Once full, you can activate slow-motion aiming, unleash a turbo boost for catch-up, or execute a perfect 180° turn to take out pursuing vehicles with precision. This mechanic transforms every high-speed pursuit into a tactical dance, rewarding aggressive but calculated play.

Beyond the main storyline, Wheelman offers a variety of side missions that keep the gameplay loop fresh. Taxi runs challenge you to deliver passengers in record time, rampages push your destructive instincts to the limit, and capture-and-deliver tasks test your mastery of the air jack mechanic. By leaping from your car onto another vehicle, stealing it, and continuing your run, you experience that rare sense of freedom only true open-world driving games can deliver.

Graphics

Wheelman’s rendition of Barcelona captures the city’s sun-drenched avenues and tight alleys with surprising fidelity. The color palette leans into warm hues, bringing life to pastel facades and modern steel structures alike. Texture work on road surfaces, vehicle bodies, and character models holds up well, especially when your speeding car passes through shifting light and shadow.

Vehicle models are detailed enough to distinguish between common sedans, motorcycles, and heavy-duty trucks, with damage states that show progressively more scrape marks, dents, and fiery explosions. Reflections on windshields glint realistically, and debris from collisions adds a dynamic layer to every chase sequence. Even at high speeds, the frame rate remains steady, ensuring that your precision driving doesn’t suffer from stutters or slowdowns.

Complementing the urban environment are smooth character animations during on-foot segments and air jacks. Milo’s transitions—from sprinting down a street to vaulting over a car roof—feel fluid and responsive. Cutscenes leverage the in-engine graphics to maintain visual consistency, creating a seamless flow between gameplay and narrative moments.

Story

At its core, Wheelman tells the story of Milo Burik, a skilled getaway driver turned undercover operative sent to infiltrate Barcelona’s criminal underworld. His mission quickly compounds into a three-way gang war, forcing him to shift allegiances to stay alive. This setup provides an immediate hook, blending high-octane action with undercover intrigue.

While the overall plot follows familiar genre beats—double-crosses, explosive reveals, and escalating stakes—the writing injects enough personality to keep you invested in Milo’s journey. Supporting characters, from volatile gang bosses to unpredictable street contacts, bring varied motivations that drive the narrative forward. The dialogue is delivered with earnest intensity, though some lines dip into cliché territory.

Cutscenes are well-paced, often breaking up lengthy driving sequences with ground-level infiltration or shootouts. These moments of variety give the story its rhythm, preventing the core gameplay from feeling repetitive. If you’re a fan of cinematic action thrillers, Wheelman’s narrative framework does a solid job of keeping the adrenaline pumping between missions.

Overall Experience

Wheelman delivers a distinctive blend of high-speed driving and on-foot action, anchored by its intuitive Focus system and air jack mechanic. The city of Barcelona serves as an open playground for stunts, chases, and shootouts, offering a good balance of structured missions and free-roam mayhem. Side activities add depth and replay value, rewarding high performance with unlockable gear and additional content.

Graphically, the game stands out for its dynamic lighting and detailed vehicle damage, making every collision feel impactful. Performance is stable across both PC and console platforms, ensuring a smooth ride through congested streets and explosive set pieces. While the story borrows from familiar tropes, it maintains enough momentum through strong pacing and engaging characters.

For players who crave intense vehicular combat and enjoy an open-world setting with plenty of optional challenges, Wheelman is a compelling choice. Its unique mechanics—particularly the ability to hijack vehicles on the fly—set it apart from other driving games. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, action-packed experience that keeps you looking over your shoulder, Milo Burik’s undercover saga is well worth your time.

Retro Replay Score

7/10