Manhunt

"Most Violent Game So Far This Year"

Manhunt is probably the most gruesome game released so far. It is a combination of stealth, action and adventure, so fans of either genre, or both, will love this game. Warning: this game is not recommended for minors, or for people who are easily offended by explicit violence. This game has an M rating, and it really deserves that rating. Parents, please do your job if your kid ever asks you for this game.

Story: 8/10
You take on the role of James Earl Cash, a man on death row. Instead of being executed, he is kidnapped by a man known as “The Director”, and for giving him a second chance, the Director wants Cash to tour Carcer City, where gangs of psychopaths hunt down Cash in a deadly game of hide and seek. Cash must fight back, and eliminate anyone who gets in his way. During certain times; however, the story is a little bit dry, as you sometimes get the feeling that you enter one area after another without receiving much information about what is going on.

Graphics: 9/10
The graphics are great. The character models are well detailed, from the masks the psychopaths are wearing, to the bloodstains on Cash’s clothing as he takes on some pounding. The backgrounds give you an impression that Carcer City is a dump, which is actually a good thing. The atmosphere is dark and frightening, as blood and dead bodies pile up the streets.

Sound Effects: 10/10
Sound is very important in this game. You need to hear where the enemies are, and the enemies can also hear the sounds that you make. Staying quiet and listening to the audio cues are very important, and will save your life. The sounds of firearms, melee weapons, are all realistic and loud.

Voice Acting: 10/10
Rockstar hired some really excellent voice actors for this game. The voices are very convincing, and help contribute to the game’s atmosphere. From the racist comments made by the Skinz, to the childish talks by the Smileys, the voices give life to these characters.

Music: 10/10
The music also plays a nice role in this game. It is eerie, soft, somewhat quiet when Cash is sneaking around, but it quickly pumps up when Cash is discovered, and chased by the enemies.

Gameplay: 10/10
As mentioned earlier, this game is a stealth/action/adventure game. You must rely mainly with stealth, and hide from the enemies. When you get the chance, you can deliver a gruesome stealth kill to your opponent, as long as you are equipped with a melee weapon. Hand-to-hand combat is difficult, and must be avoided, especially when you get ganged up. Running away and hiding is a good part of the fun, and you must rely on it always. There are firearms for shooting also. All in all, you must recognize what you can, or can’t do for each level. You can stealth your way, or play Rambo, depending on your situation.

In the Fetish mode (Normal), there’s a radar on the lower left screen which shows you where to go and fulfill some of your objectives. It also shows the position of your enemies, and the direction they are facing you, as long as they are making some noise. The enemies are represented by arrows. A yellow arrow means that the enemy isn’t aware of your presence. An orange arrow means that the enemy has heard/seen you, but isn’t sure of where you are exactly. A red arrow means that the enemy is aware of your presence, and it’s time to fight or run! Also, when you emit some noise, the radar shows how far it travels. Walking doesn’t make any noise, but running or hitting something or discharging your firearm does make some noise, and attract nearby enemies.

This game also supports the USB headset. With it, the director will be talking directly to your ear, as he gives you some comments on how you are doing in this game. You can also yell whatever you want to attract the enemies’ attention.

Replayability: 9/10
You can repeat any mission you have finished already, and there are two difficulty levels, which are normal (Fetish) and hard (Hardcore). You can also unlock 4 bonus levels, as well as concept art, depending on your score for each level.

Overall Rating: 9/10
This game is not for everyone. If you like the stealth genre, and can take the gruesome stealth kills, then this game is for you. Otherwise, minors and the easily offended, please stay away from this game. The rating is there for a good reason.

Positives:
(+)20 levels, plus 4 unlockable bonus levels
(+)Takes around 15-20 hours to finish on your first play
(+)Scary and disturbing atmosphere
(+)A game made squarely for mature audiences
(+)Wide variety of weapons
(+)Stealth kills are very, very, very violent
(+)The gangs spout some of the funniest dialogues/one-liners ever
(+)Supports the USB headset

Negatives:
(-)Hard difficulty, even on normal mode, which might turn off impatient people
(-)Some of the violence is unrealistic (A .38 caliber can blow off people’s heads literally? Yeah right.)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/23/03