Previews: Stuntman: Ignition
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe: The best version award goes to...?
By Andrew Podolsky 08/17/2007
Every year the Taurus Awards, Hollywood's Oscar-style recognition of professional stunt actors, finds the best fiery explosions, precision driving, and free-falls captured on film and honors those who make action movies possible. In that spirit, we've compared near-final copies of Stuntman: Ignition to determine which console version is most deserving of special honors.
Stuntman: Ignition will be hitting three consoles in the next few weeks, and whether you're a platform purist or you just want the best version available, there are some important differences between the PS2, PS3, and Xbox 360 games that may influence your buying decisions. For one, the PS3 version's release date has been pushed back behind its PS2 and 360 counterparts, possibly for additional optimization, so PS3 owners will have to wait a bit longer to play.
Both the 360 and PS3 versions of the game look extremely similar graphically, and thankfully also in terms of framerate. This is essential for a game based on split-second decisions and precise controls, and fortunately both versions maintain a steady clip despite the stunt effects on-screen.
The 360 version has a few minor features that aren't in the PS3 one, mostly due to Xbox Live Marketplace. In the 360 game, there's an option on the main screen to take you to Stuntman's downloadable content page on Marketplace, where you can pick up dashboard themes, gamer pics, vehicle packs, and a playable "director's cut" of the movie-level Aftershock (some of these will be on the PlayStation Network as well). Controller rumble is also in constant use in the 360 version.
If the next-gen price point is too high for you, and you want the core Stuntman experience, the PS2 version will probably suffice. It doesn't have online play or the same level of graphical quality, but the gameplay is all there -- you are still dodging cars on fire and making jumps over rivers of lava, just with the special effects turned down.
There's slightly less draw distance on the PS2 one as well, which can affect your response to upcoming stunts, but the game is otherwise intact. The CG intros and cut-scenes manage to not look ugly despite being on an older system, and you can still have multiplayer battles on the studio backlot in split-screen mode.
All versions contain the full career mode, quick fix mode, and the stunt creator mode (which is surprisingly intact in the PS2 version because the arenas are fairly empty across all versions). They also have high-score leaderboards as well as "accomplishments," which are badges and Taurus Awards that you earn throughout the career mode. On the 360 version, however, these accomplishments translate into achievements that boost your gamerscore. (Hurrah for imaginary points.)
If your online reputation and the easy access to downloadable content appeal to you, the 360 version looks to edge out the PS3 version here, though with a $20 difference in price the PS2 edition looks to be an enjoyable value. But with such a strong cinematic presence, it's hard to deny going with Stuntman: Ignition on a next-gen console -- the amount of graphical flourish you'll notice while filming your stunts can be overwhelming, but it makes for an impressive playback later...like the highlight reel of a stuntman award show.
