Manhunt is Rockstar's most brutal video game to date, combining stealth action gameplay with seedy ultra-violence.
It seems a mysterious person known, at this point, only as the Director has "bought" Cash's life, so to speak, to use as the main character in a seedy, snuff film. He informs Cash that if he is able to follow his "direction", he may just get out of this night alive.
From the get-go, you realize that Cash is going to have to perform some pretty brutal acts of violence to satisfy this sadistic Director. The gameplay is quite simple. Cash is dropped off at various locations to undergo a "scene". Each scene is set in a different run-down location in Carcer City, and is populated by gangs. Each gang has its own "thing", such as "The Hoods" who unsurprisingly wear hoods. Cash is instructed to take out these gang members in order to pass on to the next "scene", and the Narrator wants them to be dispatched in as violent a fashion as possible.
These gang members know you're coming though, and are well equipped to handle you should you be spotted. Most of the time you will need to remain hidden in the shadows. A handy player icon in the bottom right of your screen (near your health and stamina bars) informs you of your current "hiding" status. The icon goes dark if you are successfully hidden in the shadows, and lights up when you are visible.
The settings here are very well done. You can almost feel the filth seeping into your very pores. The graphics are top-knotch for the PS2, and are stylishly done with an added grit to give them that authentic snuff feeling. The soundtrack and sound effects are equally good, with the minimalist music rising to the perfect crescendos during executions.
Walking through these areas, Cash finds various means of dispatching the gang members, also know as "hunters". A plastic bag, a glass shard, a baseball bat, a crowbar, a machete, and even a chainsaw will all become available to Cash throughout the game. Each of these "silent kill" weapons can be used to perform an execution on one of the hunters. To do so, Cash must first sneak up behind a hunter without alerting him. Once you are close enough, Cash will raise his weapon and the targeting icon over your victim will begin to pulsate. At this point, by tapping square you can perform a quick execution. Holding down square longer though, will perform a more gruesome execution. Each weapon has three levels of executions: white, yellow, and red. Of course, the red executions are much more violent than the yellows, and so on. The controls are similar to Resident Evil, which some may really dislike. They can definitely become frustrating in crowded areas or large firefights, but for the most part they are satisfactory and fluid.
Overall, this stealthy gameplay remains enjoyable, but it can be difficult to know how to approach a scene. A lot of times, it devolves into trial-and-error chases, in which you simply run away from a hunter until you find a suitable hiding/striking place. This can get tedious, but the game does a good job of making the best out of these situations. Some of the funniest moments in the game come when these "hunters" blurt out various comments to you after a chase. Hiding in the shadows you can hear such phrases as "Nothing but **** and used rubbers." or "Man I need to exercise."
However, Brian Cox steals the show here as the creepy Director Starkweather. He is constantly egging Cash on with such comments as "Way to go, Cash. You're totaling these assholes.", or after headshotting three hunters: "Do you realize how much money you've saved this city's mental health department?" Manhunt is also compatible with a USB headset, which I highly recommend. The comments from Starkweather come straight into the earpiece of the headset, making the game a bit more realistic. Players can also use the microphone to make noise to attract and confuse hunters, another nice touch to the gameplay. Eventually though, you will lose contact with Starkweather, and the stealth action reduces to a bit of a run-and-gun fest in which the body-count rises to uncountable proportions. There are still some scenes towards the end in which you can choose to either be Solid Snake or Rambo, metaphorically speaking, but most of the time being Rambo is the easiest and best option. Thankfully, there is a bit of redemption for this shoddy devolution of gameplay, in the form of a surprisingly enjoyable boss fight near the very end of the game. This fight could quite possibly be one of the best moments in all of Manhunt. I won't spoil it for those who haven't made completely through the game, but it's a definite homage to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Which leads me to another point. Manhunt is a difficult game. The first few levels are fairly straight forward, but the difficulty level quickly escalates, and many players may end up throwing in the towel. However, playing Manhunt through to the end has its benefits. Players will be given resolution to the rather intriguing storyline, and various bonus features can be unlocked, included new levels. Most of the bonus levels and features are lackluster though, so there isn't a ton of incentive for replaying any of the scenes for better ratings.
Overall, Manhunt is an ambitious game that pushes the envelope for video game violence further than ever before. The story and setting are extremely immersive, and the gritty snuff-like graphics and creepy score really add to the atmosphere. If you are a fan of Rockstar's previous outings, and have a stomach for the ultra-violent, then Manhunt is a must-buy...that is if you can still find it in stores.