Wheelman


Overview & Key Details

  • Release Year: 2009

  • Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Wikipedia

  • Developer: Tigon Studios & Midway Studios Newcastle; Publisher: Ubisoft (with Midway) Wikipedia

  • Genre & Setting: Open-world action-adventure with a focus on vehicular combat, set in a destructible Barcelona. Includes 31 story missions and over 100 side missions Wikipedia

Critical Reception

  • Metacritic: Mixed or Average

    • Critics: 64/100 based on 63 reviews

    • Users: 6.6/10 based on 52 ratings Metacritic

Highlights from Reviews:

  • GameSpot (score: 6/10 – "Fair"):

    • Driving sections—especially “movie-style thrills”—are fun and stylish

    • On-foot gameplay suffers from poor controls and weak AI GameSpot+1

  • Wikipedia Summary:

    • Praise for “cool special driving moves” and setting

    • Criticism for poor on-foot design, bland graphics, cheating AI, and repetitive structure Wikipedia

  • GamesRadar+:

    • Pros: ridiculous, “stupid-fun” action, vehicle melee attacks, abundant side missions

    • Cons: nonsensical plot, clunky on-foot shooting, lacks full-price value GamesRadar+

  • Telegraph: Rated 7/10—calls the game “wickedly self-aware” and a “guilty pleasure” despite its absurdity Wikipedia

  • 411Mania: 6/10—“Good for rental or discounted purchase, not full price” Wikipedia

  • GameCentral (Teletext): 4/10—labels it a technically inept Driver clone Wikipedia

Player Voices & Community Feedback

  • GameSpot User (dark_being): Rated 1.5/10—calls it repetitive, bug-filled, and among the worst games they’ve played GameSpot

  • Reddit /r/patientgamers:

    “...a guilty pleasure game... not particularly polished but... just a good time.”
    “...[it] reminds me of the days when AA games were very much a thing... Funhaus in general is worth watching...” Reddit

  • Reddit /r/gaming:

    “That was a quick one... car-fu... completely ridiculous and massive fun.” Reddit

  • Reddit /r/PS3 (bug report): Some players report persistent controller issues, especially with certain peripherals on PS3 Reddit

  • Reddit overall sentiment:

    • Driving mechanics: hit-or-miss—some enjoy the fast-paced car action, others criticize the physics

    • Campaign/story suffers from noticeable plot holes—possibly due to a canceled companion film Reddit

Summary Table

AspectSummary
Overall ReceptionMixed—moderately positive for fans of arcade-style action driving
Driving GameplayFun, cinematic, and creative; strong focus on car-based mechanics
On-Foot GameplayWeak AI, poor controls, and generally criticized
Story & PlotThin and disconnected—think action movie parody rather than narrative depth
PresentationDestructible environments in Barcelona are neat—but character models and visuals are bland WikipediaGameSpot
Technical IssuesBugs, imperfect ports, controller quirks noted in community feedback
Best forFans looking for over-the-top, “stupid fun” car action (think G-rated “GTA-meets-Driver”) WikipediaGameSpot

Final Thoughts & Verdict

Wheelman is very much a niche title:

  • It delivers high-octane, cinematic driving sequences that may remind you of Fast & Furious.

  • But it peppers in frustratingly weak third-person segments, a weak story, and technical rough edges.

  • Critics and players alike say it's best enjoyed as a short-lived thrill—especially if you pick it up on sale or rent it.

In short: Not a must-play, but definitely a "guilty pleasure"—a wild ride worth trying if you're into stunt driving and unapologetic action.

 

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