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A playthrough of Camerica's unlicensed 1990 action game for the NES, The Ultimate Stuntman. The Ultimate Stuntman was one of several games that Codemasters, demigods of the 80s British computer gaming scene, developed for the NES without an official Nintendo license. Alongside other classics such as Micro Machines, The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy, and Cosmic Spacehead, The Ultimate Stuntman demonstrated what a truly talented developer could do with the hardware, even while lacking any official support or tools. It's a solid technical showcase for the NES, and a pretty good game, too. The Ultimate Stuntman is comprised of several different gameplay styles that alternate throughout. As the title character, who is oddly enough not a stuntman but actually a mercenary, fights to save some random scientist, he'll drive cars and motor boats a la Super Spy Hunter, hanglide in a few shmup stages, brawl with bad guys in platforming stages, snipe at them as he scales buildings, and occasionally solve bomb-diffusing puzzles. There's a huge amount of variety to the action, and it switches things up constantly. It's an ADHD kid's dream. And as uncommon as it was for a game on the NES to employ so many game modes - only a few Konami titles can rival it on that front - it was even more surprising that they're all as successful in their execution as they are. The game is super tough - it's definitely one of the more challenging NES games I've played: tight time limits and breakneck speed (especially in the driving stages) make this a game that you aren't likely to blow through without a lot of practice, but it does reward patience and persistence with gradual but steady progress, not to mention fun and the satisfaction that comes with finally beating it. It does run out of steam a bit before it finally ends, but overall, it's hard to fault it when it succeeds so well at what it set out to do. The presentation is also top notch. The music is fantastic in that blippy, arpeggiated way that Codemasters always nailed so well, and the graphics really push the system in ways that you didn't typically see in 1990. The racing stages move at a blazing clip, and the action stages are full of huge sprites - just check out those boss battles! And best of all is that it does it all with barely any slowdown or flicker. The use of color is also notable - I don't know if it is a product of techno-wizardry or just the work of some extraordinarily talented graphics guys, but there are many moments, especially in the cutscenes, where you would swear you're looking at a 16-bit game. The difficulty level will be a big obstacle for some, but if you like a stiff challenge, The Ultimate Stuntman is a quality production that will keep you coming back again and again. If you ever found yourself excited to be playing a game based on a Schwarzenegger movie only to find out it totally sucked, this one is well worth a try. And who doesn't like a fancy, oddly-shaped gold cartridge? _ No cheats were used during the recording of this video. NintendoComplete () punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games! Visit for the latest updates!
