6.3

Genre: Racing

Compared: October 20, 2002
Compared by: Mark Smith

Stuntman was the first of these two games to launch back in June, giving I-Imagine several months to monitor the public opinion on Atari’s highly controversial title. Four months really isn’t that long in the game development biz, so I am guessing that CHASE: Hollywood Stunt Driver remains fairly uninfluenced by Stuntman.

Round 1: Gameplay

Both games share the same underlying premise: You are a Hollywood stuntman (excuse me; stunt person) rising through the ranks doing bigger and better movies, as you prove yourself with each successful stunt and completed movie. Despite Stuntman’s misleading title that would seem to encompass the entire profession of stunt work, you are merely a stunt driver; just one small facet of the trade and more accurately represented by Chase’s sub-title.

Both games throw an assortment of movies at you with increasing levels of challenging stunts required for each. The themes of these movies are contemporary with what you might see in any theater today, and suspiciously similar between the two games.

Stuntman approaches the concept from a simulation aspect with interviews of a semi-authentic stuntman who describes tricks of the trade and introduces each stunt. Gameplay is painfully unforgiving causing you to play and replay each mission dozens of times. Even the slightest error in timing or judgment can send you back for another “take” negating minutes of grueling gameplay and creating a harsh Pass/Fail atmosphere. Just imagine making it to your fourth year of college, failing a test, and having to rejoin the freshman class – that’s how devastating Stuntman can be at times.

Chase relies more on an arcade or even extreme-sports gaming approach with simple levels, large task list, and strict timer. All that is required is that you make it to the end of the level within the allotted time. Any of the objectives you are able to complete along the way just eases your work load on subsequent “takes”. This more forgiving gameplay model makes Chase much more approachable by the casual gamer and rewards the player for any minor successes rather than stripping away any progress and sending you back to the starting line.

Chase obviously wins this round with fun and exciting gameplay that remains challenging yet doesn’t punish you for the smallest mistake. When you repeat the levels in Chase it is by design and not because of unforgiving gameplay.

Round 2: Visuals

Normally I wouldn’t compare an Xbox title to a PS2 title but I find this particular comparison simply too ironic to pass up. Admittedly, the graphics in Chase are closer to PS2 quality than the next-gen graphics we have come to expect on the Xbox, which only makes the poor graphics of Stuntman stand out that much more. Stuntman is only marginally better than PS1 visuals, so even though Chase isn’t the prettiest racer on the Xbox, it still beats out Stuntman.

Round 3: Music & Sound

Stuntman gets points for more speech and between-mission cutscenes, but also loses points for verbal instructions that really don’t help you complete the levels and an annoying director who calls out instructions too late to be of any help.

Chase has a cool opening movie using in-game graphics (just like Stuntman) and both share a cool opening theme song. Sounds during the game are equally well done although Chase has a substantially better surround even if it is only a 4.0 mix.

Round 4: Other Deciding Factors

Stuntman offers a better reward system for finishing the various stunts in the form of excellent CG movies that actually incorporates sections of your replays into authentic movie trailers complete with actors, dialog, and the typical deep-voice announcer. The stunt track editor also adds substantial value when you are through with the career mode.

Chase’s reward system comes in the form of unlocked cars and gameplay modes. While it isn’t as robust as a stunt track editor, it does offer multiplayer opportunities for up to four players and plenty of incentive to keep playing the career mode until you have completed every goal and found every secret trophy.

Bottom Line

For many of you reading this, choosing between these games may be as simple as which system you own. If you are one of those power-gamers that happens to own both an Xbox and a PS2 then you will have only a few factors to consider.

Stuntman requires precise and perfect gameplay and more patience than most gamers possess. Chase strips away the seriousness of trying to imitate the life of a stuntman, and throws you into a bunch of fun, fast levels with challenging, but not impossible objectives. If you favor fun over frustration and own an Xbox then Chase is the obvious pick of the pair.