Manhunt

"Don't belive the commercial sites. This game is amazing!"

Manhunt

Introduction

After playing Rockstar's GTAs and such I was naturally very excited about Manhunt, Rockstar North's newest masterpiece. I was expecting it just in time for my birthday (Oct. 30). I was disappointed when it got pushed back to November but it was worth the extra few weeks. I didn’t hear much about this game until the beginning of October (Until I checked Rockstar’s site). I was kind of surprised that so many people had heard of it already, but I guess it is the child of Rockstar North… Oh well… who knows… Here’s my review.

Story 9/10

You’re James Earl Cash, a man on death row for crimes, which we assume are too horrible to speak (They were never mentioned). We then see Cash desperately fighting to stay off the table where a doctor stands holding a syringe. Cash is pushed onto the table, strapped down, and injected. It seems that the job is done with Cash dead. Seeing this is the opening scene I think not about Cash being dead… Later that night Cash waked up to the sound of his own panicked breath and a voice talking to you over a loud speaker. “If you do everything I say this may be over before the night ends…” This sick little monkey talking to you is only known to you, at the beginning, as the “Director”. Later you learn his name, Starkweather. For some reason or another he was kicked out of Hollywood and now he pretty much runs Carcer City (The fictional place where the game takes place) and is a Snuff film maker. For those who don’t know snuff films are films made of a live, REAL murder or rapes. Back to the story, it seems that you have no choice but to follow his orders. For the moment that’s what you’ll have to do but perhaps you’ll end up turning the game on him… (Semi predictable, that’s why the story got 9/10 instead of 10/10). The story doesn’t really take off until the second part of the game.

Graphics 9/10

This game has great graphics (I don’t believe graphics are that important but most gamers are too shallow to like a game for the game’s sake), but at times they get a bit choppy. Still it’s nothing to get bent out of shape about. There are also great character designs and even though you’ll recognize a few enemies as the same one you killed a few minutes ago you won’t mind. The graphics really shine in the execution scenes. By sneaking up on an enemy with a melee weapon equipped you can perform an execution. Depending on how long you prepare to execute (More later) you’ll get one of three different killings. When you go for the kill, the scene will cut to a grainy, hand held video camera look (As if you were watching it from the Directors point of view). It really enforced the idea that you were in a snuff film. Cutting of heads in three sickening chops and splattering heads with aluminum bats never gets tired. I loved every minute of it.

Sound 10/10

The sound of Manhunt is also an area where it shines. Sound is a big part of the game. There are many and they all sound great. You’ll hear gravel crunch beneath your feet and run when you hear it rapidly beneath the feet of your hunters. There are great sound effects. Guns sound like guns and kicking a trash can sounds the same as if you’d do it in real life. The voice acting is also amazing. The guy who played Starkweather was great. He convinced me that he was a psychotic, blood thirsty lunatic. You’ll also notice literally hundreds of quotes from the gangs that hunt Carcer City. You’ll hear insults, small chat, insults, and thought provoking one-liners. These were all done well. You’ll also notice that you won’t hear the same quotes while fighting each gang. When fighting the Skinz you’ll hear racial taunts with a southern accent, while with the Warthogs you’ll hear some military lingo, some real, some not. As I’ve said before, really well done.

Gameplay 10/10

What’s a game without good gameplay? This is a game for hardcore stealth fans. Most of the game revolves around using stealth and sneaking up on an enemy to perform an execution. When closely behind an enemy, Cash’s hand will raise showing he’s ready to kill. Hold down X or square and a target will appear. First it will white, a quick kill. Then yellow, a violent kill and finally that hellish red, a gruesome kill. At the end of each level you get a rating for each level (scene). The more executions and the more violent they are the better the rating. The AI is not that bad either. The hunters (those are what the people trying to kill you are called) act pretty realistically but not all the time. You can be a few inches from them in the dark and they won’t notice, they’ll just keep walking by. Some people complained that as soon as they’re satisfied they turn they’re backs to you and walk away. What those people don’t realize if the AI were actually like humans the game would be impossible. Regardless the AI is pretty smart. In later scenes they’ll hunt in packs and try to flank and surround you. Also if they see you running into the dark they won’t suddenly find you invisible. They saw you go in so they know you’re there. Besides the stealth there are quite a few shooter levels. These scenes are really fast paced and caught me off guard after all the stealth. They also require strategy, like the rest of the game. If you die it’s because you did something stupid like attacking the guy in a group of 3 with you’re bare hands and tried to fight it out. I really didn’t like the first shooter level but learned to love them. Here’s the brake down for the stealth/shooter gameplay. In the first levels it’s pure stealth. In the middle it’s gunplay with some stealth in between. In the last levels you’ll use both ways equally in a sort of hit and run type of way. In the last parts you’ll probably be doing the run-n-gun thing. Overall the gameplay is well done and very enjoyable.

Replay and Play Time 10/10

This game is long. You can’t deny it. There are twenty levels and four bonus levels. Each level roughly takes one hour or so. So overall about twenty hours to beta but some say fifteen hours but I guess it depends on who’s playing but you’ll be playing for at least fifteen hours. Now for replay value. After beating this game, I would play it again. For getting three starts in a level you get a piece of bonus art. I still have about 15 of those to get. Also for each two consecutive levels you get a 5 star rating on you get a cheat code. Then for each set of five scenes that you get a 5 star rating on, you get a bonus level. There’s plenty to keep you busy. Lastly let’s not forget that this game is fun. That’s what games are all about!

Rent/Buy/Burn/Ect.

I would definitely say buy. Every site except for IGN (I believe didn’t underrate this game…. I think it was IGN who didn’t…) underrated this great game. For those sites I say screw you. No one cares what you think. In my opinion this is a great game. BUY!

I say 10/10 and my word is law.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/13/03