Review: The Movies: Stunts & Effects game

The Movies created quite a buzz when it came out, allowing those with artistic leanings (i.e. show-offs) the chance to script their own B-movie scenes, watch them acted out by hammy digital actors, and share their efforts online.

Unfortunately, underpinning all this freedom was a niggly little management game that never quite gave you the degree of control a movie mogul would aspire to.

Well, there’s good and bad news with The Movies: Stunts & Effects add-on pack.

The good, is that there’s much more to show off with – new sets, buildings, costumes and props to go with the stuntmen who now queue up at your gate for work.

Once you start messing with the special effects studio it opens up new production possibilities, so expect to see the homepage buzzing again for a few weeks as players post their proudest moments.

Unfortunately, the management game has barely changed. In particular, catering for the whims and failings of your stars remains frustrating. The speed which they swing from anorexia to alcoholism, while amusingly displayed, soon undermines your best efforts to expand the studio and make movies.

If you loved the original game this has plenty to keep you going a while longer. If you felt it lacked long term playability, there’s little here to change your mind. And, as with all movies these days, the true sequel can’t be far away.

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Rating: 3
Price: £20