Manhunt (PS2)

This aspect of the game works extremely well thanks to the superb graphics and sound, which create an intense level of tension, so that when you mistakenly knock into an abandoned shopping trolley and alert a hunter, it's really quite terrifying. The combat, just like in GTA, is handled rather less well--but it's not anywhere bad enough to ruin the whole game. Indeed, in gameplay terms the only real fault with Manhunt is a lack of variety, with the game seemingly running out of new ideas well before the end. The true problem then is whether it's simply too depraved--but that's a decision you must make for yourself. It's definitely not for under-18s, though. --David Jenkins

And now, Rockstar are taking a risk by pushing the envelope that little bit further. No longer are these lil graphics gonna be gunnin down cops and drug dealers, they're gonna be killing the kind of freaks you seen in the movie 8mm, and in the most vicious way possible. Taking a little bit of inspiration from a bunch of movies in a Kevin Smith kind of way, Rockstar come up with a game that has a story that could be a movie in it's own right. (Even if that movie is the kind you find in the risky areas of town, sold by a guy who has more cold sores than the "ladies of the night" outside the store). The idea is that your character has managed to get a second chance of life from death row, albeit a very slim chance. Guided by his patron "The Director", your character has to escape the Underworld of Carcer City (a nod to Con Air if you know your movie trivia - its the first place they touch down to pick up more prisoners), avoiding the rampaging gangs (ala Warriors) and the cameras that watch all the gory action (The Running Man mentality).

The game plays like Splinter Cell - make use of the items you find, hide in shadows, overhear conversations, and take out your enemies one by one as quietly as possible. But this is where Rockstar play their Trump card. The weapons at your disposal range from a plastic bag, broken bottle, machete knife, all the way up to shotgun. And this aint a warner bros cartoon, gun blasts are not gonna leave gaping holes that refill in the next scene. The game promises more blood than that flood in the corridors in "The Shining". Similar to Tenchu, each death cuts to a cut-scene (Sorry bad pun) where you get to glory in the success of more more bad guy down. The quicker you jump out of those shadows and cover that bad guy's head with a plastic bag, the slower and more sickening the motion sequence.

And that's where I want to point out something, before The Sun readers scream "Console violence creates more violence!". The guy watching through the cameras is always made out to be a voyeuristic, sickening freak. This masochistic world he has created is an Alice in Wonderland nightmare (right down to a bunny rabbit in the game itself). And those that play this game, that revel in the violence thats displayed through the grainy camera that watches from on high, are now on the same side as "The Director", and become tarred with the same brush. YOU become the sick freak that enjoys watching the violence, YOU are the reason this character is being hunted, YOU are the reason that this character has to fight for his life. Hellova philosophical defence, huh?

Still, I cant wait to get my hands on it. Nothing like console vioence to relieve stress after a hard day's work. Just remember to keep the violence in the console ;-)


Another Pioneering game for Rockstar   January 7, 2004
Mr. Damian J. McGrath (Bristol, UK)
34 out of 38 found this review helpful

Rockstar, publishers of the excellent and hugely popular Grand Theft Auto series, have returned, with another controversial title. Grand Theft Auto provoked reactions from parent groups about its content, and this game will definitely provoke some more.

Basically, the plot of this game is that you play a criminal by the name of Cash, who had been sentenced to death for his crimes. After a wait on death row, he was taken to be killed, but unbeknown to him and the entire world, his lethal injection had be changed with a strong sedative, by the mysterious Director.

Cash wakes up sometime later, surprised to be alive, and with everyone thinking he's dead. However, it isn't all good news, as he finds himself in a strange place - a place called Carcer City. The city is littered with thousands of CCTV cameras, controlled by the Director, and the city is also home to many dangerous and violent gangs, each with their own unique style and weapons.

The Director, in return for saving your life, has decided to use you for his own perverse pleasure, by forcing you to star in his very own movies, where the gangs stalk Cash, and Cash is forced to either kill everyone, or die himself. Whatever the final outcome, a death is guaranteed, and this pleases The Director, since his film will sell well.

In order to survive, Cash must use stealth, and a plethora of unique weapons, such as plastic bags, glass shards (which you can create by smashing glass windows), and a whole host of extremely violent weapons such as chainsaws, meat cleavers, scythes, and a range of guns. Cash must please the Director by killing gang members in as brutal way as possible (each weapon can be used to kill people in 2-3 ways, ranging between Level 1 kills and Level 3 kills. Level 3 is exteme violent, whereas Level 1 is fairly violent). Only by pleasing the Director will Cash ever leave this city.

The kills in the game are breath taking in their detail and violence. For example, using certain weapons, you can actually rip off the head of a gang member, and throw the severed head to create noise, which attracts other gang members, allowing you to isolate them, making kills easier. You also need to dump the dead bodies in the shadows, so that the alive gang members dont get suspicious.

All in all, this game is a masterpiece in making you feel extremely tense, just like you would if it was a real situation. You cannot fail to be shocked by the kills, and even my hardened 18 year old brother winced as the hammer decapitated a gang member.

The game also features some unique touches, such as the ability to connect a USB headset, and whisper into it to attract the attention of gang members, so that isolating them and killing them becomes easier, and also it adds a sense of realism. Imagine sneaking round a corner, creeping up behind a heavily armed gang member, with you only armed with a plastic bag, and accidentally saying something. The USB headset will make the gang member hear this, and turn round, leading to your untimely demise. Excellent realism.

As with all Rockstar games, it is easy to control, although some of the more technical aspects of the hand to hand combat sections take time to master, although this is not neccessarily a bad thing. Easy to pick up and play, and also easy to become unhealthily engrossed in, this game now sits as #1 on my pile. The weapons become increasingly more powerful (with the kills becoming increasingly awe-inspiringly graphic) as the game progresses, and the levels are nicely split between stealth and silent kills with quiet weapons, and all out gun blazing warfare.

Graphically, its stunning, and I honestly cannot think of a single criticism.

All in all, a hugely enjoyable game, and a masterpiece that everyone (over 18) should play.


Awful? I assume you have played it then.........   November 11, 2003
25 out of 29 found this review helpful

I would only ask of the reviewer who called this game "awful" if in fact he has played the game as yet, in full or even in demo. I have been lucky enough to sample a demo and this game is truly superb. The atmosphere which is built in the few short minutes of gameplay at the very beginning set you up for the rest of the game, and if it is anything to go by, it will be a stormer. I'm not going to go into the plot as I think previous reviewers have done a good job in summarising it. I want to talk about the gameplay which, as usual, is of the high standard we expect from Rockstar. The stealth aspect is of a higher standard than even Splinter Cell, allowing you to sneak up on enemies and brutalise them. Because you do not have silenced guns or special forces knives, you have to be a whole lot sneakier to allow you to beat this game.
In no way does this game pretend to be all "nicey, nicey" but it does not rely on the violence and the gore to keep you playing. You will keep playing because of the intruiging story and the fabulous gameplay.
This game will keep you playing for months to come and will become another Rockstar and PS2 legend.


Well done Amazon!   August 16, 2004
David Russell (Newton Mearns, Scotland)
17 out of 20 found this review helpful

I am glad to see that you are still selling this despite the knee-jerk PC mob pressure. This game is probably the most gratuitiously violent I have ever played. But that is the intention of the developer. I am not killing anyone- I am simply moving a few coloured dots into another bunch of coloured dots and 'blood' (ie more coloured dots) comes out. Big deal. As for the murderer that was supposedly inspired by it? He was 17 years old. Manhunt is an 18. If his parents (and the store) were irresponsible enough to let a 17-year old (illegally) buy a game like Manhunt then it is their responsibility, not the game.


Man Hunt   September 4, 2003
16 out of 26 found this review helpful

Manhunt, is the product made when mixing a Granf Theft Auto Game, with Resident Evil and Splinter Cell.

This is latest development from Rockstar, the creators of the GTA series. It is a stealth game a new venture for rockstar to take on.

You take control of the character John Earl Cash, a corrupted convict, being executed for an unknown crime. The game starts with the broadcasting of John Earl Cash's execution, with a lethal injection, but the whole thing is faked and Cash doesn't know it. He gets injected but with tranquilizers, and wakes up to see that the fictional town the game is based in (Carcer City) is in ruins and is now just an urban scar, and out of the everyone beleives cash died at the execution. But that was all a plan of the director, an evil genious, making money, by filming cash making his survival through the streets but he doesn't know hes being filmed on CCTV controlled by the director. The director gives you a headset which he will offer you some advice through, but apart from that your on your own. So you have to make your way through the streets of carcer city, watching out for the hunters people who have found out Cash is alive and want him dead.

This is rockstars most gruesome, and gorey project yet, infact its the most horrific game in the history of gaming, and will have you hiding behind your chair for cover. You will have a range of weapons starting from a plastic bag, to sufficate victims, to a shotgun to instantly kill victims. Just like splinter cell you will have to throw objects to draw attention away from you, lurk in the shadows and hide the dead bodies of your victims.

This is a long game and will fill you with gameplay for quite a long time.

Once again rockstar have a great soundtrack which fits in with the game, and like GTA Vice City the game is set in the 80's but no so clean and colourfull. The games sounds will change in different situations and the music featured contains the exorcist soundtrack etc.

The graphics are once again astonishing, crisp, clean, and very realistic. The game is exclusive to the PS2.

This is once again a Rockstar triumph in the gaming world, and will no doubt win another gaming award for rockstar games. The GTA series may still have the edge on Man Hunt, but Man Hunt shall not dissapoint and is the best stealth game yet. It easily deserves the 5 star review.