Reviewed: June 8, 2006
Reviewed by: Tyler Whitney
Publisher
Activision
Developer
Lionhead Studios
Released: June 6, 2006
Genre: Simulation
Players: 1
ESRB: Teen
8
8
8
9
8.8
Minimum System Requirements
Screenshots (Click Image for Gallery)
The Movies: Stunts and Effects is the latest installment for the hit game from Activision and Lionhead studios. The latter developer is best known for it’s creator, Peter Molyneux, the gaming genius behind such titles as Black and White, Fable and the timeless classic, Populous.
The Movies itself is another god-type game, only one that pits you in the middle of the Hollywood scene, managing a movie studio, crafting films, tending to your lot and more.
The basic gameplay in Stunts and Effects remains pretty much the same as the original, so what exactly did this expansion bring you ask? Well for one, like many of the Sim’s booster packs, it adds a plethora of sets, costumes, special effects and more. Even the ability to use those crazy stunt men and women!
In the original game, I often wanted to make more intense movies, using a wider array of tools, but was limited with the out-of-the-box features. However, with this expansion I could really add some new, awesome effects. Specifically, the stunt people are perhaps the most notable, and hands-on addition. You have to pay careful attention to their abilities, lest they attempt something over their heads.
After all, with all their natural bravado, they are liable to go overboard, and just think of the legal issues with that…Even worse, you might get a Tom Cruise type actor who just has to do his/her own stunts, which can have some serious ramifications on the project at hand. If they get injured, they limp away to the new hospital facility for some much-needed attention, unfortunately delaying the shooting of said film.
So really, the smart route is to just grab up some energetic stunt person for your myriad of dangerous scenes. You can also put them through hilarious training regimens like flying through infernos, a rotating-bludgeoning instrument (perfect for building up those calf muscles...) and even a complete Dojo where you are pitted against a martial arts master. Like the actual stunts they will have to undertake, there is a very real chance of failure during the training, so be sure to keep an extra hospital bed open.
One of the recurring problems from the original title appears here as well. Since you usually need to have a body double for each star or co-star, it just adds more people to micromanage, something The Movies never quite streamlined. One such management issue is the process of finding such a person who matches up well with the current actor you want protected. Thankfully, not many high-priced actors roll around looking like Jack Black, so you should be all right finding a look-alike.
Another cool feature is the “free-cam” mode. Here, instead of using the basic camera positions that are available, you can pan around to any angle imaginable-really a no brainer, and I am glad they finally included this. Being constrained to pre-set camera shots was a tad ghastly the first time around. You can also tweak with the environmental presets as well, adjusting such things as light drizzle, to full on monsoon type weather, or even the way debris flies about based off the gusting wind.
On top of all this, the new set designs also add some more depth to already bottomless gameplay. Some examples include miniature-scale cites (think Godzilla), where actors don goofy rubber suits and stomp around a lot, in fine B-movie tradition. Overlay effects also make an appearance here, where you can make it look like you are peering into a sniper rifle for a military theme, or behind a pair of goggles for a sci-fi look.
Yet another wicked cool feature is the new “green-screen.” I know…visions of Luke Skywalker and the Rancor monster are flooding in right about now-try and contain your excitement. Basically, you can throw up a wealth of backdrops, like such classics as the aforementioned Star Wars themed space adventures, to jungles, to plain ‘ol cityscapes. Adding such simple effects as motion is now easier too, with fake moving screens behind the stationary actor. Best of all, you can even garner critical awards for your technical prowess-finally; the geek gets a piece of the spotlight!
Lastly, the overall editing process has been more streamlined. I recall in the original you often had to backtrack and redo steps, or even enter/exit into different functions to get your desired results. In Stunts and Effects, all your bells and whistles are now present and easily adjustable and on-the-fly, making for smoother movie making, and a happier gamer.
Graphically, the game still holds true to its original form. Bright, colorful set designs, manicured studio lots, and a massive variety of buildings help bring this title alive. As you delve into the movies themselves, you are greeted to some pretty solid CG sequences, with a wide range of smooth animations and facial expressions.
In Stunts and Effects, you now have even more eye candy with the high-powered pyrotechnics, debris filled explosions, and zanier antics-all in beautiful ultra-high res graphics. The fire sequences during burning building stunts are most noteworthy; the action is almost hard to make out because of the billowing smoke and shimmering heat. Other new visuals include bullet squibs (those little fake ricochets/explosions) and the glorious car crashes-they can go careening every which way, but all of it ends up in glorious-and destructive- pleasure.
Not a whole lot has changed since the original. There is still the evolving music, as it shifts from era to era, and provides a nice backdrop to as you go about your daily tasks as studio manager. It’s always nice when the music doesn’t annoy, and here is a fine example of overcoming that hurdle.
And yet again, a plethora of musical tracks are available to add to your films. Don’t forget you can also create your own custom voice and music to toss into your creations. Overall, the auditory experience continues to hold up months after the original installment.
Inherently, The Movies is one of the deepest, and most replayable games around. No two movies will ever be alike, nor will any studio really resemble past incarnations. Add to this the wealth of new additions ranging from sets, costumes, stunts/stunt “persons”(gotta be politically correct these days ya know…). You can’t go wrong with value here. There is an unlimited amount, and with the player generated content floating around, you can only find more and more things to enjoy.
The Movies: Stunts and Effects is a great addition to an already stellar title. The new features only add to the immense fun-factor and “sandbox” feel you reap from this game. However, $29.99 for an expansion (only $10 less than the original) may be a tad steep for some folks, and even though there is a nice chunk of content, it doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel…well, unless that wheel is set ablaze and covered in poisonous spike.
Despite the cost, no true fan of the original game should go without this solid add-on.