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| MANHUNT PC |
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Introduction We all know Rockstar Games for their often-controversial videogame series “Grand Theft Auto” and their equally popular “Max Payne” series. After being out on the PlayStation 2 for a while and then banned in New Zealand, Rockstar Games have finally released “Manhunt” for the PC. The question, is this game any good or does it just rely on the "shock factor" to sell ?
You’re James Earl Cash – sentenced to death for your perverse-crimes. After remaining on death row for three years it was finally your turn to die and as far as everyone knows you have been executed. As you awaken from apparent unconsciousness you are informed by some mysterious voice you are now trapped in a bizarre and murderous game. In order to escape, you must slaughter your way through the various areas of “carcer City” and until you do so you are under the command of the director - his instructions and sick taunts being pumped into your ear via a microphone. He’s the one that saved you from being executed and arranged this “game”. The game; you must put on a gruesome (snuff) show for him and his friends, whilst your brutal slaughters are being recorded. You will be systematically ridding the world of its lowest-forms of human life - murderous-freaks.
There’s nothing dazzling or explosive in Manhunt, but its high character detail and environments more than make-up for it. Manhunt packs enough of a graphical-punch to please the most demanding gamer. While playing, I experienced an average of 55fps with my Radeon 9700 Pro and Athlon XP 2600+, no slow-downs whatsoever running at 1280x1024 with full graphic-detail.
Sneak about various places in carcer City killing everyone around you using almost any and everything to do so from baseball bats to bash victim’s heads-in to knives and sickles for stabbing and slashing. You can shoot foes with nail-guns or battle it out fist-to-fist then blow their heads-off with a shotgun. It doesn’t matter how or what you kill them with as long as you kill to feed the sick directors thirst for blood. Each weapon has its own method of finishing off (executing) its victims, except the guns, which have none. The longer you hold down the attack button the more gruesome the kill is. There are three levels of execution, ‘white’; which indicates the least-brutal attack, ‘orange’; for a “vicious” attack, and ‘red’; for a very “gruesome” attack. (A marker appears around the character’s head indicating the level of brutality that will be used to kill). An execution can only be done while sneaking-up behind your victim. This feature adds a whole new element to video gaming ! Manhunt has an atmosphere packed with excitement and good (not so wholesome) fun. Hiding in the shadows to elude enemies and waiting for them to near is quite fun. Despite the game’s lack of option to jump or crouch running around blasting your way through enemies. Dispatch and dispose of them as they would you, à la Arnold Schwarzenegger in “The Running Man”. Although Manhunt has relatively average A.I., it does provide many enemies. Trying to avoid several people hunting you down at once can be very difficult at times. The difficulty level of the game and your enemy’s A.I. will increase as the game progresses. Because of this there is no lack of excitement and suspense.
Manhunt’s sometimes-eerie music is near perfect for the game’s environment, the game also has exceptional music to go along with fantastic sound effects a very good combination which suits the game style very well. Characters will verbally taunt you, cursing and saying very obscene and often weird things while looking for you, certainly not one for young children. The vulgarity of this game goes far beyond that of Grand Theft Auto and Max Payne. A word of warning to parents reading this ! Character voice-overs are well done and in sync with different voices for each character and enemy-type. The head squishing and flesh cutting, as well as face punching all sound realistic and natural. Manhunt provides an all around enjoyable audio experience.
Manhunt features no multiplayer functionality but it does however have two different difficulty-levels. A very good and fun game to play; it can be very exciting at times, as well as very involving. As you progress through Manhunt you will unlock bonus-features, such as concept art. Although it doesn’t have the replay value of GTA: Vice City, it is still nonetheless rewarding. This is a game one could play over-again a few times as it does have the ability to draw you in with its addictive gameplay.
Rockstar Games has made a very good game. Solid controls combined with very good music and sound effects with smooth and soft graphics make it a very good gaming experience. It is, however a very gruesome and often grotesque game that has attracted controversy and complaints about its content, as Grand Theft Auto did. That’s why it’s rated ‘M’ for mature and not ‘E’ for everyone, because it is definitely not for everyone! The story line could have been better, but a good job by Rockstar nonetheless. Another very decent game, and equally as good console port - which can be rare these days. A nice addition to any gamer’s collection, but don’t expect a game as exciting as GTA: Vice City or a storyline as good as Max Payne 2’s. Manhunt is a slow-paced game, kind of like Splinter Cell, not a bad thing just make sure its your thing before purchasing as patience is required on quite a few levels. You’ll either love Manhunt, or you will hate it – simple as that.
Graphics 8.5
–not the greatest graphics, but still very pleasing.
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