Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Stuntman: Ignition places you in the driver’s seat as a Hollywood stunt professional, tasked with nailing every jump, drift, and near-miss exactly to a director’s specifications. Each level is framed as a movie scene, meaning you’re not just racing—you’re performing carefully choreographed stunts on demand. The clear objectives for each scene, from timed boosts to precision landings, give the game a gratifying structure that feels like you’re working through a real film shoot.

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Scoring revolves around chaining stunts together. You earn points for airtime, drifts, near-collisions and other daring maneuvers, but the real payoff comes when you link multiple moves in one smooth run. Tack on a dramatic explosion or risky gap jump, and your multiplier skyrockets. If you miss a cue or crash into an obstacle, you’re penalized and often forced to restart the scene—an unforgiving but exciting challenge that puts your skills to the test.

Beyond the six main movies—Aftershock, Whoopin’ and a Hollerin’ II, Strike Force Omega, Overdrive, Never Kill Me Again and Night Avenger—each offering six distinct scenes, the game also delivers two multiplayer modes on PS3 and Xbox 360. Backlot Battle is all about pulling off stunt combos in a set number of laps, while Backlot Race rewards you with boost for every stylish trick. The PS2 version is limited to offline play, but the core stunt-centric gameplay remains addictive regardless of platform.

Graphics

Graphically, Stuntman: Ignition leverages the power of more advanced hardware to deliver richly detailed environments. From the sun-baked streets and collapsing towers of Aftershock to the sleek neon glow of Overdrive, each setting feels like a miniature movie set brought to life. Weather effects, dynamic lighting and destructible scenery heighten the cinematic flair, making every crash and explosion look spectacular.

Vehicle models are highly polished, with reflective paint, realistic tire smoke and visible damage that accumulates as you grind against objects. The improved draw distance on PS3 and Xbox 360 ensures fewer pop-ins during high-speed sequences, while the PS2 version, though slightly more dated, still holds up with solid frame rates and clear visuals.

The in-game camera work deserves a mention: it mimics the hand-held shots you’d see in an action movie, zooming in on drifts and cuts to black before a massive leap. When you review your performance via the automated movie trailer at the end of each scene, the editing, filter effects and dramatic angles make it genuinely feel like a Hollywood preview, adding an extra layer of polish that sets Ignition apart.

Story

Stuntman: Ignition doesn’t follow a traditional narrative, but it weaves together six distinctive “films,” each with its own genre tropes. In Aftershock, you’re escaping a natural disaster; in Never Kill Me Again, you’re moonlighting as a spy. The variety keeps the experience fresh, as you never know whether you’ll be drifting through a desert canyon or weaving through a futuristic cityscape next.

There’s no dialogue-heavy plot—your main “character” is your stunt car, and the director’s instructions serve as your guide. Between scenes, short cutscenes and on-screen prompts set up the next sequence. This minimalist approach keeps the focus squarely on the action, but the colorful set pieces and movie posters that line the studio backlot hint at a larger world beyond the driving sequences.

The trailer-review feature after each completed scene doubles as a storytelling device. Watching your best runs stitched together with cinematic flair not only shows your progression but also gives each movie a sense of cohesion. By the time you wrap up Night Avenger’s climactic finale, you feel like you’ve starred in six mini-films, each with its own flavor and visual identity.

Overall Experience

Stuntman: Ignition succeeds in capturing the heart-pounding thrill of Hollywood stunt driving. The tight controls and rewarding stunt-link system make every success feel earned, while the steep difficulty curve keeps you coming back for more practice and perfection. There’s a genuine satisfaction in replaying a scene to push your score higher and unlock that elusive perfect trailer cut.

While the strict trial-and-error approach can be frustrating—one missed drift or clipped barrier and you’re watching your time tick away—it also reinforces the precision that real stunt work demands. The inclusion of multiplayer on newer consoles adds replay value, though the PS2 version’s lack of online play is a minor drawback. Still, the solo path is long enough to keep you busy for hours.

All in all, Stuntman: Ignition delivers an engaging, high-octane package for anyone craving cinematic driving challenges. Its fusion of movie-style presentation with core racing mechanics sets it apart from traditional racers, offering an experience that’s as much about showmanship as speed. For thrill-seekers and precision drivers alike, Ignition offers a stunt-filled joyride you won’t soon forget.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10