Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3746 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Rockstar Games
• Released on: 2003-11-21
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• ESRB Rating: Adults Only
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
Manhunt is perhaps the most violent, amoral video game ever made, and it's entirely unapologetic about it. Produced by the same team that created Grand Theft Auto, it sees you cast as a death-row inmate reprieved from the chair to take part in a sick game run by a snuff-movie producer. You're forced to sneak around a series of maze-like levels killing "hunters" and SWAT-team members as you go, using such unsavoury methods as suffocating them with plastic bags and cutting their throats with shards of glass. The game is primarily a stealth-based title, using many of the same techniques as Metal Gear Solid--you shuffle around walls, peer round corners and use noise to attract and distract the enemy.

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

Manufacturer's Description
Manhunt's totally unique gameplay premise makes you rely on skill and cunning rather than brute force, placing you in the role of Cash--the prey in a hunter's game. Survive the hellish experience, evading hired killers while searching for the identity of the "the Director", the man who has made you his pawn. Fight for your life against packs of vicious hunters, off-duty cops letting off steam, and full-blown psychopaths with a taste for blood. It's them or you.

Sophisticated graphical techniques bring to life the dirt, grime, shadow and slime of deserted neighbourhoods in Carcer City. The sound design for Manhunt is central to gameplay, with audio production on a level heretofore unseen in a game--the incredible 3-D audio system is completely dynamic, and as a result the player becomes the star.

As the twisted tale of one man's obsession and the lengths he'll go to in fulfilling it, Manhunt's narrative is told through cinematics that show you both Cash's, and the Director's, points of view.

Customer Reviews

Rockstar make a ace game (again)
The story

You play as James Earl Cash, a mass murderer sentanced to death. On his way to excecuted he falls unconsious. He wakes up to a strange voice talking to him via a earpiece. This Man calls himself the "Director", his aim is to make the goriest Reality show ever, and your the star. He's bribed the authorities and bought a deserted city, then he's put hunter in the city to, If you cant guess, hunt you down. The direstor isn't your enemy though, he's your only hope of surviving the night. He watchs you via security cameras and guides you to your next kill. The nastier the kill the more he likes it.

The Gameplay

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 is very well tweaked, the main emphasis is to sneak up on your victim and do a silent slash, but some times hand to hand combat is unavoidable. When you do have to face a foe like this it gets quite messy, the only thing you really can do keep hitting the attack button or run like a woman, i'd suggest the latter. In gameplay terms the only real fault with Manhunt is a lack of variety, unlike GTA you only really have two aspects to this game - stealth and shooting, both a joy to do but some sniping or driving levels would of been appreciated. This game is definately not for anyone who doesn't like blood, you're hacking off heads every 5minutes, but it adds so much to the game. In other games killing isn't a major thing you aim, you fire and he's dead! But in Manhunt you really get a sense of what it would be like to kill someone, with a gruesome close up shot of the final kill. The Daily Mail is gonna hate this but aslong as you know whats real and whats not this game wont affect you.

The Graphics

Nothing about this game is pretty, The walls are covered in blood, Sweat, and various other parts of the body. This makes the game very atmospheric. It does look like GTA but thats not nessarcarly a bad thing. The game goes through one night so Rockstar have been able to spend all of their time on Lighting and shadow effects. It's very helpful to be able to pick out shadows to hide in easily.

The Lifespan

I played this on normal difficulty and completed it in under 5 days. Thats just going through the game doing the minimal, if you want to unlock cheats, extra videos and other cool stuff you'll have to put alot of effort in. To earn this stuff you have to complete levels with a five star rating - killing all the hunters, doing it quickly, and doing it in a stylish way.

Overall

This game takes gaming a step further, By using atmospheric surroundings, gore, and a good, original story Rockstar have made another must have. If you like stealth, Action, and blood this is for you!

94%

Rent it - don't buy it
As a fan of anything Rockstar churns out, I was a tad disappointed withthis. OK, I admit that the hype about gratuitous violence influenced me toget this the day it came out. However truthfully, it's not all its crackedup to be - this game was in a word, repetitive.
The graphics are mediocre, the setting is not that exciting, and themaximum skill level is mastered after the first few scenes. What the gamedoes require is patience, something I don't always have when rushing homefrom work and getting ready to go out - I just want to get to the nextlevel as such. As this is a stealth game, you must remain focussed andnever rush a move - cause if the bad guys hear you - you have to start allover again... and again..
OK I played it straight for a couple of evenings. No more than 8 hoursgame play. It was enjoyable but not up to the standard of many games outthere. The story behind it could have been developed, if anything it was abit pretentious - trying a little too hard to be intelligently gruesomebut coming up pretty shallow. Rent it, don't bother buying it. I doubtanyone would bother playing it again, as once you've finished you know thegame peaks half way through and then goes flat and doesn't get any better.

Another Pioneering game for Rockstar
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.