Wheelman (video game)

Wheelman
Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	March 2009; 17 years ago
Founder	Tigon Studios, Midway Studios – Newcastle
Products	Wheelman (video game)
Owner	Ubisoft, Midway Games
Website	www.wheelman.com

Wheelman is an action-adventure title developed collaboratively by Tigon Studios and Midway Studios – Newcastle, and published through a partnership between Ubisoft and Midway Games for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows platforms. The game, launched in March 2009, features Vin Diesel in the leading role.

Gameplay

Taking place within an open world environment inspired by the city of Barcelona, the game incorporates destructible elements, narrow alleyways, and shortcuts that cut through buildings. It offers 31 primary story missions alongside 105 optional side quests. While the majority of objectives emphasize driving mechanics, players also engage in third-person on-foot segments. The arsenal available includes a range of firearms such as pistols, assault rifles, and RPGs.

A unique gameplay mechanic called "Airjack" enables players to seize control of enemy or civilian vehicles by locking onto them and leaping from their current vehicle.

The protagonist, Milo Burik, pilots various cars including the Pontiac G8 and the Opel Astra. Notably, the demo version features a license plate nodding to Mortal Kombat, a well-known Midway fighting franchise.

Plot

Milo Burik operates as a CIA undercover operative tasked with investigating a briefcase containing sensitive documents coveted by criminal groups within Barcelona. Under the direction of Anton Gallo, Milo penetrates the city's criminal underworld by serving as a getaway driver for Lumi Vega, an independent thief assembling a crew for a heist. Subsequently, he allies with the Chulos Canallas gang, forming a friendship with Miguel Delgado and confronting Felipe Lial—nephew of Paulo Lial, who leads Los Lantos, the dominant crime syndicate in the city. Upon uncovering Felipe’s duplicity in leaking information among rival factions, Milo coerces him into arranging a meeting with Paulo. Impressed by Milo’s capabilities, Paulo commands him to escort Felipe to a deal that ultimately results in betrayal.

Milo acquires intelligence from Adrian McGann and discovers that Micca the Morro, an associate of Felipe’s, intends to break away independently. After capturing Micca, Milo uncovers Felipe’s extensive network across factions. Adrian directs him to Sorin Teodor, affiliated with a Romanian gang led by Radu Negrea. Following completion of a task for Sorin, Milo partners with Che Taraval of the Canallas to rescue Miguel from Romanian captors. This act earns respect from Stavo and secures Milo’s position as wheelman and bodyguard in an upcoming heist targeting the Romanians. The ensuing theft of weapons threatens to ignite a gang war. Milo attempts to broker peace but discovers Miguel is rigged with an explosive device; after evading law enforcement, they manage to defuse it, gaining Stavo’s trust.

Returning to Los Lantos territory, Milo kidnaps a rogue broker on behalf of Paulo’s men but intervenes during a police crackdown to rescue them. Sorin then tests Milo’s allegiance by ordering attacks on a newspaper allied with the Canallas gang. The factions converge at La Monumental bullring over possession of the documents; amid gunfire and reinforcements stealing them away, Milo eliminates Sorin and recovers the documents after chasing Che onto a subway train that subsequently crashes.

Tracking Felipe to Barcelona Cathedral, Lumi dismisses suspicions regarding Felipe's loyalty. However, Felipe ambushes Milo with Romanian accomplices but is killed; Milo uncovers proof confirming Felipe’s betrayal. By working simultaneously for all factions, Milo disrupts the existing power balance and exposes his undercover status. Forced into choosing between eliminating Paulo, Stavo, or Radu during escalating gang warfare, Milo later assists Lumi and Javier in escaping following a deadly firefight that devastates the cathedral.

Utilizing information from the documents, they manage to steal the briefcase from its buyer but lose it to another faction; Javier is killed attempting to reclaim it. Confronting Gallo reveals Milo's covert role before Gallo absconds with the briefcase. Pursuing him to his yacht, Milo destroys it in a dramatic escape that results in Gallo’s death. Finally, Milo parts ways with Lumi after faking her death to guarantee her safety.

Development

In February 2006, publisher Midway Games revealed Wheelman as the second installment in a trio of projects created through a partnership between Midway and MTV Networks. The development was entrusted to Tigon Studios in collaboration with Midway. Following a series of delays that extended over nearly three years, the game eventually launched in March 2009.

Film adaptation

Alongside the announcement of the game, plans for a film adaptation featuring Vin Diesel were disclosed, with Rich Wilkes tasked with scripting. The production was to be a joint effort between Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. Intended as a continuation of the game's storyline, filming was projected to commence roughly 18 months after February 2006. Nevertheless, the project was ultimately shelved after no further developments emerged post-2009.

Reception

Upon release, Wheelman garnered "mixed or average" evaluations across all platforms according to the review compilation website Metacritic. Reviewers frequently pointed out weaknesses in the narrative campaign and the lack of multiplayer options. Jeff Gerstmann from Giant Bomb acknowledged some well-crafted concepts within Wheelman but found much of its content disappointing. In contrast, GamePro characterized the PlayStation and Xbox 360 editions as an energetic fusion reminiscent of "GTA-meets-Burnout." While GameSpot applauded its cinematic excitement, it criticized the subpar on-foot gameplay mechanics.

The magazine Hyper praised the game's inventive driving maneuvers and unique environment but highlighted flaws in vehicle control, artificial intelligence, level architecture, and visual presentation. Tom Hoggins of The Daily Telegraph awarded the Xbox 360 version a score of 7 out of 10, describing it as an enjoyable "guilty pleasure" despite its straightforward nature. The PS3 version received a 6/10 rating from 411Mania, which recommended it primarily as a rental or budget-friendly option rather than a full-priced purchase. Meanwhile, Teletext GameCentral gave the Xbox 360 edition a low score of 4/10, dismissing it as a technically deficient attempt to replicate the style of the Driver franchise.

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