|| VALUE REVIEW || Wheelman (PS3)
Developed By : Tigon Studios Published By : Ubisoft
Category : Open World, Shooter, Racing Release Date : March 24, 2009
Little did I know that I was checking this game out a little while after it's 10th birthday. Well, checking out again I should admit. I had tried to play this game once before but I could barely make it through the introductory mission. I've said this in the past and I'm sure I'll keep saying it going forward into the future : I used to have a very narrow-minded view of how I wanted my games to play. And if the games I fired up didn't meet those standards almost immediately, I refused to go on.
However, as a reviewer I've discovered not only a new found love for things that I wouldn't have previously. I've also found my determination to complete things, or at least try my best to, no matter how much I may dislike the game that I'm playing. So, with that in mind, I hooked up my PS3 and fired up Wheelman once again.
Strap In
You play the game as Milo, an undercover agent operating under the CIA in the city of Barcelona. Somewhere in the city is a package that contains a plethora of secret documents, and the city's three gang factions are all planning on stealing them to flip them and make a quick buck. Milo is put in the trust of an assistant bureau chief for the CIA, Anton Gallo, and is set up to present himself in the city as a wheelman.
Initially, Milo steps in as Lumi Vega wraps up a robbery. Milo perceives that she is trying to recruit a team of badass robbers for an equally badass heist, and he naturally already knows what that is. He inserts himself, insuring that Lumi sees how good he is at what he does, and that she'll call on him for the heist. Slowly, Milo also infiltrates the other gangs in the city, trying to make sure he's the one who's close-by when the documents become up for grabs. Can you successfully infiltrate the city's gangs and get what you came to Barcelona for?
For the most part, Wheelman will have you sitting behind the wheel of a car, although there are a fair share of missions where you'll be on foot. Milo is an expert behind the wheel, so it's only natural that you learn to do the things that he can. Here is where you'll learn the most unique thing about this game, the vehicle combat.
Whether on foot, or in a car, Barcelona is your playground. The entire city is open for you to play in as you meet the three gangs who each control a section. If you're looking for a purpose though, instead of just wandering freely, there are plenty of missions and side tasks for you to complete. The missions open up to you one at a time as you complete them. There are moments where you'll have more than one available, and there's really no preference on how you complete these. As the story progresses you'll be finding your way to the inner workings of each gang, so when these "forked" moments appear it usually just means that you have a mission available through more than one gang. Or, your babysitter Gallo might be calling you home for a check in.
Side missions are completely optional, naturally, but they can provide for some fun and unique bonuses for your main gameplay. Some can extend Milo's focus bar, which is what he needs to perform the Aimed and Cyclone shots, or you can expand the type of guns you have in your arsenal. One thing is for certain though, these are absolutely not needed. I myself made it through the entire story without picking up many of these side tasks, and the ones I did pick up were just to experience what they were. You can hijack specific cars, race in street races, or destroy some of an opposing gang's territory.
Vehicle and gun combat are extremely smooth and everything responded perfectly. To be specific, the concept of the vehicle combat is silly with how far they stretch it. When you perform the side-attack maneuvers, your vehicle will lurch a full lane and a half to either side, which is fine. However, when you jump behind the wheel of massive tanker trucks and semi's, and can perform the exact same moves with ease...like I said it gets silly. That doesn't change the fact that it is absolutely a blast to send all sorts of cars hurtling into explosive fireballs at any point.
This might not be the most amazing game, and it might not even be one that you'll replay over and over. But, for the extremely low price point of where this sit's on the gaming market today, it is more than worth every single penny. At the most you'll only pay around $10 for this one, but if you can find a GameStop that still has it in stock you'll only pay $5 (Xbox 360) or $3 (PS3). That's pocket change, and you'll get plenty of hours of gun blazing, car flipping fun. So if you're looking to expand your library for either of these platforms, absolutely consider wedging this game into your shelf. You won't regret.
For the most part, Wheelman will have you sitting behind the wheel of a car, although there are a fair share of missions where you'll be on foot. Milo is an expert behind the wheel, so it's only natural that you learn to do the things that he can. Here is where you'll learn the most unique thing about this game, the vehicle combat.
Getting Around
Milo specializes in four moves, which you will learn progressively as the game begins. He can perform a slam-and-ram, which is a monstrous side-swipe to either side, or a quick mad dash forward into another vehicle. There's the air jack move, where he'll launch out of his current car and into one that is directly in front of him. Eventually you'll come across some guns to play with in the game, and from here you'll learn Milo's last two moves which are performed from behind the wheel. There's the Aimed Shot where you can slow down time and shoot out the front of your car at enemies in front of you, and the Cyclone Shot, where you'll spin around to be looking behind you and be able to perform the same slowed-time shot.Whether on foot, or in a car, Barcelona is your playground. The entire city is open for you to play in as you meet the three gangs who each control a section. If you're looking for a purpose though, instead of just wandering freely, there are plenty of missions and side tasks for you to complete. The missions open up to you one at a time as you complete them. There are moments where you'll have more than one available, and there's really no preference on how you complete these. As the story progresses you'll be finding your way to the inner workings of each gang, so when these "forked" moments appear it usually just means that you have a mission available through more than one gang. Or, your babysitter Gallo might be calling you home for a check in.
Side missions are completely optional, naturally, but they can provide for some fun and unique bonuses for your main gameplay. Some can extend Milo's focus bar, which is what he needs to perform the Aimed and Cyclone shots, or you can expand the type of guns you have in your arsenal. One thing is for certain though, these are absolutely not needed. I myself made it through the entire story without picking up many of these side tasks, and the ones I did pick up were just to experience what they were. You can hijack specific cars, race in street races, or destroy some of an opposing gang's territory.
When it All Comes Down
After this most recent playthrough of Wheelman I'm absolutely kicking myself for judging it so quickly in my previous attempt. This game is a ton of fun to play, even all these years later. Graphically the game still looks damn good. While playing, you'll easily be able to tell the game is older, but it definitely doesn't look as old as it should. Even the character models look really great. I honestly expected only Vin Diesel's to look halfway decent, and everyone else to look like trash but each and every major character was just as well defined as the others.Vehicle and gun combat are extremely smooth and everything responded perfectly. To be specific, the concept of the vehicle combat is silly with how far they stretch it. When you perform the side-attack maneuvers, your vehicle will lurch a full lane and a half to either side, which is fine. However, when you jump behind the wheel of massive tanker trucks and semi's, and can perform the exact same moves with ease...like I said it gets silly. That doesn't change the fact that it is absolutely a blast to send all sorts of cars hurtling into explosive fireballs at any point.
This might not be the most amazing game, and it might not even be one that you'll replay over and over. But, for the extremely low price point of where this sit's on the gaming market today, it is more than worth every single penny. At the most you'll only pay around $10 for this one, but if you can find a GameStop that still has it in stock you'll only pay $5 (Xbox 360) or $3 (PS3). That's pocket change, and you'll get plenty of hours of gun blazing, car flipping fun. So if you're looking to expand your library for either of these platforms, absolutely consider wedging this game into your shelf. You won't regret.
