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Wheelman: Another Game With Vin Diesel
Posted by Kotaku US Edition at 10:40 AM on August 8, 2008
Last stop on the Midway tour today is a look at Wheelman, the movie-licenced game based off the upcoming movie staring Vin Diesel. You know, the one that was delayed until next year? In any case, I got behind the wheel this morning and gave it a go. Look, I know it has Vin Diesel, but I'll make this as quick and painless as possible.
As the title implies, there's a lot of driving in this game. About 80% of it is you in a car holding down the right trigger button (or as I like to call it, the "go" button). The other 20%, you'll be on foot. I didn't get to see any 'on foot' gameplay, but I imagine you'll be doing the same thing when you're in the car. Shooting and fleeing. The overall graphics are good - the cars obviously look better than anything else in the game - but there were a few cases when the frame-rate did drop. Nothing horrible, mind you, but lets see if the delay helps the team polish that up.
The first 'mission' when you start the game off is basically one, long high-speed chase through the city of Barcelona trying to evade cops and roadblocks. Only after you complete this first mission will the city then open up for you to explore. It's actually a long level. I didn't get to see just how big the city was, unfortunately.
I've seen some footage of this game a little while back, so I knew about some of the features going into the demo. You can use the right analogue stick to swing your car at nearby vehicles to take them out. It's kind of odd, and physically impossible I think, but it worked. Also, as you drive well and make all kinds of sweet drifts, a gauge fills up that you can later use to perform 'cyclones' which help kill enemies in bullet-time fashion as you car is doing donuts in the street.
The main story of Wheelman can be completed in about eight to ten hours, but there are a lot of side missions for you to try out once you get through that. 105 in fact. According to the Midway rep, they haven't actually QA tested the entire game start to finish, so they have no idea how long the game is if you do everything. But he said to expect it to be around 20-25 hours total.
You can also hijack other cars without ever having to actually stop the car you're currently in. Vin's character can leap from vehicle to vehicle until you find something you like. This can come in handy, particularly when you're car is badly damaged. It helps keep the speed of the game going, too.
The game seems really arcade-y, and still needs a bit of work before it's out the door, so let's see how extra dev time can help it out. Now, who's going to see Wheelman The Movie? Anybody?
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
maniacmayhem
Posted 11:37 AM 8/8/08
This games description reminds me of Atari's Driver 3....*ugh*
maniacmayhem
justhesh
Posted 11:32 AM 8/8/08
@sandal-hat17: Except last time Vin Diesel was involved in a game, it was a pretty good game.
As someone that actually liked The Getaway and Driv3r (while in a car), and only does drawn-out cop chases in GTA and NFS:MW, this could have potential.
justhesh
Gunloc
Posted 11:28 AM 8/8/08
Oh I ment to also ask do you know if there
s going to be an online part to this game and does it use Unreal 3 and Midways Massive D mod?
Gunloc
enigma89
Posted 11:28 AM 8/8/08
No, thanks. Let me know when they make a video game for Bangkok Dangerous.
enigma89
Daemonstalker
Posted 11:25 AM 8/8/08
The end of the world has come and gone - we are all living in hell.
/goes back to Chrono Trigger
Daemonstalker
Gunloc
Posted 11:25 AM 8/8/08
The Cyclones sound alot like the spin attack in Stanglehold. What do you think the doves will be replaced with ;)
Gunloc
sandal-hat17
Posted 11:24 AM 8/8/08
It is hard for me to see this game being a AAA title. If they are making it based on a movie, starring Vin Diesel, and it is a giant unbelievable arcade game that's three strikes right of the bat. Not that the arcade thing is bad but combined with generally cheap gameplay and a generally lame actor, it is not going to be fun. I hope I'm wrong.
sandal-hat17
eclipsegryph
Posted 11:09 AM 8/8/08
@pylon_trooper: Actually I'm imagining it a la "Just Cause".
eclipsegryph
WammyJammy
Posted 11:07 AM 8/8/08
did I mentioned that this game is really sucky?
WammyJammy
pylon_trooper
Posted 11:04 AM 8/8/08
So, the leaping around is kinda like Pursuit Force?
pylon_trooper
WammyJammy
Posted 11:02 AM 8/8/08
I can´t wait to pull some CYCLONES from my car with Vinnie inside, waiting until he throws up. NICE! INDEED!
WammyJammy
Marked
Posted 11:01 AM 8/8/08
sounds very "Meh"
Marked
Shabat0ge
Posted 11:00 AM 8/8/08
i'll see it. if you pay
Shabat0ge
everybest
Posted 11:41 AM 8/8/08
You can also hijack other cars without ever having to actually stop the car you're currently in. Vin's character can leap from vehicle to vehicle until you find something you like.
Great idea, they shoulda done something similar in MGS4. Like long range CQC or being able to play dead while running.
everybest
beem
Posted 12:09 PM 8/8/08
Sounds similar to Spyhunter: Nowhere to Run. BTW, how's that film doing again?
beem
topaz420
Posted 12:04 PM 8/8/08
No disrespect, but I didn't learn too much about the game from this article. In a game that's 80% racing, I'd like to hear more about the...racing. How is the handling? Loose, tight? Are drifts like Need for Speed, or are we talking Ridge Racer? Are the rides customizable in either appearance or performance? Are there upgrades or power-ups? How are collisions handled? Do the cars show damage, and if so, is it cosmetic or does it affect performance? Is there a turbo or nitrous feature? And, and...
topaz420
Furysetzer
Posted 12:01 PM 8/8/08
I'll see Wheelman The Movie only if someone can guarantee me that Vinny is actually going to leap from car to car in driving mode.
Furysetzer
branwheatkillah
Posted 12:47 PM 8/8/08
@AsianAfro77:
My thoughts exactly.
Also, seriously, am I the only one out there that likes Vin Diesel? He does (for the most part) action movies, which don't require spot on, amazing acting. He isn't terrible and if you don't believe me go and watch Find Me Guilty.
branwheatkillah
PTTSeven
Posted 12:43 PM 8/8/08
The title sounds like something Homestar Runner would say if he was trying to think of the game Driver o_O
PTTSeven
AsianAfro77
Posted 12:41 PM 8/8/08
Watch, this game will pull a The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and be friggen awesome.
You'll see.
AsianAfro77
slyzxx786
Posted 1:00 PM 8/8/08
is it open world or linear ?
slyzxx786
Nocturne
Posted 1:28 PM 8/8/08
The movie was based off the game - not the other way round.
Nocturne
kw4k
Posted 4:38 PM 8/8/08
@slyzxx786: sounds like it may be open world with all those side missions
kw4k
kw4k
Posted 4:36 PM 8/8/08
@AsianAfro77: it seems as though those who doubt the success of this title due to having vin star as the protagonis, and having close ties to its movie counterpart have not played the Riddick
kw4k
BrandonW
Posted 7:11 PM 8/8/08
@branwheatkillah:
I'm with you.
Even though I detest the F&F movies, I genuinely like Vin. He's a geek, having admitted to D&D sessions and he's passionate about the games he's involved with (seriously, check out the Riddick game!). When was the last time an actor, instead of just cashing a check for voice work in a game (or even cared enough to do the voice work) instead started their own studio to make sure it was done right? Say what you will, but that right there earned my respect. Now here's to hoping this game doesn't suck and my hopes aren't unfounded.
BrandonW
TheLAG
Posted 7:38 PM 8/8/08
@Gunloc:
Rims. The occasional spinning one flies in out of nowhere too.
TheLAG
elsteveo
Posted 11:41 PM 8/8/08
i remember chronicles of riddick game was pretty good, so here is to hoping they release a demo of this thing before it comes out. from what i saw of it though it does look pretty bad
elsteveo
hollowfreak
Posted 4:46 AM 9/8/08
@elsteveo: Yeah Escape from Butcher Bay was an incredible game, we need more of that.
hollowfreak
onepoker
Posted 5:37 AM 12/8/08
Hey atleast Mr. Diesel cares enough to be personally involved. If we bash the crap out of every actor that gives our genre a shot we risk going back to C list(as in college art students) actors working through scripts written by people that are better at math than telling a joke or a story effectively.
onepoker