Manhunt

"A game that's too good to be true"

Once in a while come gaming developers and publishers decide to make a game that's most likely to be rated AO by the ESRB rating system. some have tried sexual content, but the most portion have settled with the " High Gore" factor. such games are disturbing to watch and play because there are many Graphic scenes like decapitations, screams, pains, man eating zombies, human killing ghosts and etc. in them. But these games not only give the mature gamers an opportunity to benefit from them and their story, Graphics, Sounds and gameplay but introduce a whole new genre of gaming where the mature gamers can sit tight and enjoy a ride full of...."M" rated games. Manhunt is one of these rare games which not only COMPLETELY earns its "M" rating but also introduces a whole new level of grotesque material.

GRAPHICS:
Since the makers of this game are the same people responsible for the "Grand Theft Auto" series, the same engine has been used to deliver this game. It looks semi nice and it's certainly easy on the eyes. Especially the PC version which goes a tad further than the console ones in delivering a sharp, good looking resolution. The character details are well-done and help the whole spookiness and insanity of the game to be conveyed to the player. The only problems which arouse in this department are the damage models. There is almost none. The only damage you can inflict on an enemy and witness its effect on the enemy model is the head decapitation and one or two more effects. and that's wrong. you're going to put hole in your enemies with a knife, or stab their back with a meat cleaver but nothing will be there when you're done. just a plain dead body. The noise filter effect is also very well thought of. adding suspense to the game. and the different video camera angles during the gruesome executions are very well positioned.
9/10

SOUNDS:
The voice acting in this game is like that big, shining jewel on top of the golden crown. if you know what I mean. Everything sounds wonderful in this game. The main character himself talks seldomely but if he does, he does it well. but the main dialogues are between the enemies and NPCs. and that's the strong point. you're going to hear so many unbelievably funny and "smile bringing" quotes from the various enemies that you're gonna explode and try to imitate them in real life. you'll giggle, laugh out loud, shiver or at least put an evil little smile on your face when you hear them shout out to each other or you. no matter what the situation is, they'll say something funny to themselves and if there's nothing to say, there's always the art of whistling. The execution sounds which are consisted of sounds like suffocation, blood gurgling, screaming in pain, gasping, or just the plain sounds of skulls being crushed by a baseball bat or a hammer are done so realistically, you'll be remembering them for a long, long time. Starkweather who is the main director of the Snuff film is also played by a famous actor whose name I don't recall right now. so there you have it. perfection.
10/10

STORY:
the story of this game is also mature and so evil that you couldn't translate it in ANYWAY for a younger person to understand. Its about a death row prisoner called James Earl Cash who's been sentenced to death by lethal injection. Of course, after a conspiracy or two by the snuff film director, Starkweather, you only get injected by a sleeping drug and after a while, wake up, wondering if you've arrived in hell yet or not. And as he should know, James is still alive. but for him to show his gratitude towards starkweather who has just saved him from certain death, he has to kill several gang members and become the star actor of a "snuff Film" where people actually get killed on camera...
10/10

CONTROLS:
the whole game plays like your regular GTA game. everything is alright. The execution mode is also very nicely done. no problems here. especially when you've got the mouse and keyboard combo on your side.
10/10

GAMEPLAY:
Yet another part of this game which shines proudly. As James Earl Cash, you are forced to go through some gang-infested territories around Carcer City (which is the fictious city where the game is based on) as you'll soon discover, the further you go, the more you find out just how SICK the gangs will become. This is the place to be proven to people wondering that how grotesque and mentally ill some people can become. The whole atmosphere of the game is sick and blood stained. this is where mature gaming should set its foot in. you'll be better off quiet and stealthy if you want to pass the ever challenging levels of Manhunt. because stealth plays the very first role in the game. always keep in the shadows and watch your radar. sneak behind an enemy and execute him. never start a fist fight with an enemy cause you're most likely to be beaten like hell before you could perhaps come out triumphant. Every time you sneak up behind an enemy (while holding the melee weapon of your choice like knives, machetes, meat cleavers, hooks, baseball bats, wires, glass shards and ....) and getting close enough, James raises his hands showing that he's ready to strike the enemy down with an execution animation by the press of the action button. The more you hold the button though, the more gross the execution will be. there are 3 levels of executions. the first one will kill the poor fellow quickly although still with pain, and as we get to the third level, the poor bastard is going in for one hell of a pain before being finally put to eternal rest. After some levels, you'll find ranged weapons like hand guns, nail guns, and shotguns which pack quite a lot of punch and are most likely to put a big hole right where you want them to put. totally cool to play. BUT be warned that it gets much more challenging as you progress and if you don't have patience, DO NOT buy this one. some levels become repetitive but that's just a case for two or three levels AT MOST.
9/10

FINAL WORDS:
If you're mature enough to handle it, go buy it. it's worth it. because it's THE mature game you'd expect it to be in every way. so many games have the "M" label on them but your kid brother sneaks them from you or just plain plays them in front of you. but this is one of those games that if he plays it, he'll feel sick and disoriented. and put it back where it belongs to be played by the big boy/girl of the family. it provides at least 8-9 hours of gaming. there are 4 extra levels unlocked when you finish the game with high ranks and points in the game. but I wouldn't count them as replay value makers. this is one of those games that after finishing you'll come back to once every few weeks or so just to play your favorite level. because if you're mature enough to handle it, you'll simply love its dark and disturbing theme.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/18/04