adventure

The first I heard of this game was when I read that it had been banned in New Zealand. I figured so what - I'm no a big fan of games anyway? Most games don't hold my attentional span for me to complete them the whole way through. Manhunt is different. Firstly, don't fall for the whole "it's a stealth game" arguement. It's not a game that can be clearly placed into a single category, except maybe Survival Horror. By now you may have heard that the AI of enemies is a little weak. I don't agree in total with this arguement. Some times Enemies can't see you when they should be able to, but believe me, mastering this game isn't easy.
The story revolves around James Earl Cash who gets the death penalty (for what - is never told) but instead of a leathal injection he is given a strong sedative. He awakens to find that he has been appropirated by once famed director, Lionel Starkweather, to "star" in a series of snuff films. Each film (read: level) sees Cash pitted against different opponents (gangs) and situations. The director priases and taunts depending on the succes, speed and brutality of your killings. When you perform executions you are treated to a films' eye view of your exploits (IE cut scenes). There is a definant story here involving your characters family members, and other famed killers such as "Pigsy" a violent, semi-retarded killer in an outfit. The scenes take Cash across the different locals of Carcer city in his attempt to free himself from his predicament.
What sets Manhunt aprt is its sense of style. From the instruction manual/product catelogue for "Valiant Videos" - the snuff film company in the game, to having Brian Cox (Stryker from X-men 2) do the voice acting of the director Lionel Starkweather, this game has a sense of style found only in GTA Vice City.
Also, if you have the USB Headset, plug it in for some real laughs and more in-depth expereince of this game. I would describe this game as more of an expereince than a game, in that as a player you are given a choice as to how brutal you wish to be with opponents.
All up, having finished the game and unlocked all the bonus materials, I give it 5 stars as for me it was a unique, rewarding, and thoroughly entertaining expereince. But be forewarned if you can't deal with strong violence, or have aversions to certain subject matters, you may wish to avoid this - it is not everyone's cup of tea.

I rented this game from Blockbuster, I popped it in and was really excited since I've been waiting for a long time to play this game and was actually saving up the cash to buy it. I did as the game instructed, I turned out the lights and was prepared to kill. For about 10 minutes I thought this was the best game ever but my expectations quickly dwindled through out the game. All you do is sneak, hide and kill over and over and over again. Nothing different, nothing special. It quickly became tedious and dull. Yes the executions are cool but only if you don't get spotted. Once you do get spotted you're in for boring fighting or running away. Also I wouldn't compare this game to GTA. GTA was fun and exciting, had a great storyline, cool weapons, freedom most games don't allow, with a good amount of gore. Manhunt is just plain dull after 10 minutes, I'm not even gonna bother completing it. I'm just gonna take this back to Blockbuster and after writing this review I'm wiping it from my wishlist.

If you didn't guess by the title that this was a gore fest then you are a moron. I personally like this game, good stress remover, but those who complain about story are fools, look folks this isn't role playing game meant to entertain you in high and intellectual ways, this is meant to satisfy a bloodlust, thats all, and as stupid as that sounds thats all the game is meant to be so instead of pointing out what it lacks in plot enjoy what it brings to the table in pure blood-soaked fun.