Manhunt 2 – PS2 – Review

As screenshots
and news began to surface, Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 found itself deep in controversy
over its overly violent content that has the game’s main protagonist dispatching
his enemies in the most gruesome manner. While Rockstar toned things down for
the sake of receiving a mature rating, the game still has you killing off your
enemies in true psycho fashion while maintaining a story that can only be
described as a cross between the Saw movies and snuff films. The result is a
game that isn’t as fresh as the original but still a satisfying romp for older
gamers who like their games a wee bit on the grim side.

The original
Manhunt followed the exploits of James Earl Cash, a convict who was released
into Carcer City under the orders of a deranged snuff film director that filmed
his every move as Cash attempted to escape by any means necessary. Manhunt 2
tells a different tale of a different unstable character by the name of Daniel
Lamb, a research subject for a mysterious group. Held in a hospital for the
criminally insane, The Pickman Project has been running tests on Lamb until one
day all the cell doors swing open and all the inmates rush out to freedom.
Guided by a fellow patient named Leo Kasper, Lamb uses stealth and his psychotic
mind to escape the facility that is falling apart right before their eyes. What
follows is a man’s bloody revenge against those that locked him up and his quest
to discover his past. 

Acting as a
tutorial of sorts, the opening level that takes place in the facility introduces
(or reintroduces if you’ve played the first game) the gameplay mechanics and the
stealth elements. Much like the original, you cannot simply rush out to meet
your enemies in combat but rather use stealth and the element of surprise in
order to survive. The same can be said about Manhunt 2, a game that still abides
by the stealth and stealth kills in order to stay alive and advance the story.
Luckily, you will have many weapons at your disposal and each area has a number
of dark spots that will allow you to hide in the shadows. This is the best
approach seeing you will be up against agents working for The Pickman Project as
well as a gang members, violent cops and a number of other shady characters. 

Half the fun of
the game is luring your enemy to your dark little corner, tapping on the wall
much like Metal Gear Solid’s Solid Snake does or calling your enemy via a USB
headset (once again, you can shout into the microphone and the victim will
respond to your voice). From there you can make use of any object Lamb has
picked as his weapon. Pick up a shopping bag and you can suffocate somebody or
if you have a pen you can stab an enemy on the neck with it. There are plenty of
brutal executions that depend on the type of item you are wielding and each one
produces its own effects. Axes and buzz saws, of course, can cause decapitations
and using a rusty pipe will allow you to crack somebody’s skull open.

While these
things sound ghastly, Rockstar has a way of taking an otherwise grim situation
and make it entertaining and also a bit humorous. The story that unfolds is an
interesting one with a number of intriguing plot twists and character
development. We follow Lamb and Kasper through the city and we even get to play
a flashback that explains what lead these men to the institution in the first
place. Still, it would be a disservice if I continued to describe the story and
the events that transpire and risk spoiling many of the game’s secrets. What can
be said is that there are a number of mysteries Lamb discovers along the way and
we learn why the protagonist freaks out when he sees a television or what type
of connection these two men possess.

Control-wise,
Manhunt 2 plays well enough and gamers can quickly pick up and start performing
a number of executions. Those who are turned off by stealth will find only
frustration due to the fact that the game can be very unforgiving at times and
those who lack patience will only find aggravation after getting killed. The AI
has taken a slight nosedive in this sequel and it’s still unrealistic to find
that the enemy seems to forget the little hard punches and kicks you gave him
immediately after you found a place to hide.

Visually,
Manhunt 2 has its own unique style that still carries the original’s dark tone
but in order to capture Lamb’s psychosis there are psychedelic flashes of
colors. The executions themselves are warped to the point that you won’t see the
gore like in the first game but you will certainly know how your enemies are
killed. The bloody aftermath is not as grotesque but there’s still enough blood
in the game and decapitations will not fail to send shivers down your spine. The
character models and backgrounds do look well enough but there are some clipping
problems that do show up often in the game.

The game’s
soundtrack is equally dark and works perfectly in the context of the game and it
picks up nicely during the most intense moments. There are also some great
background noises that once again have you jumping at shadows. Noise works as
part of the game so if you happen to accidentally kick an empty bottle, your
enemies will investigate. The voice acting is also quite good and – while it’s
riddled with bad language – it can actually be funny at times.

Manhunt 2 for
the PlayStation 2 might not be as over-the-top as the first game but it is still
a worthwhile game that’s just as gruesome and interesting in it’s own right.
While much of what was behind the controversy has changed to secure an M rating,
Rockstar did a great job putting story, challenging stealth mechanics and plenty
of wonderfully nasty executions first and thus making it a game worth a look if
you liked the first game.

Gameplay: 7.5
The very first
time you jump out of the shadows to smash a goon’s head in with a rusty metal
pipe to the very last time you suffocate a gang member with a plastic bag the
actions in this game just don’t get old no matter how many times you try it. The
game’s story will take Daniel Lamb through various locales that require a
stealthy hand and a strong stomach.

Graphics: 8.2
While the game
has its share of clipping problems, the game’s visual style is just wonderfully
demented and fits the game’s theme just right. Even the executions look gritty
and insane, like watching an old snuff film on an old film roll.

Sound: 8.0
The creepy
atmospheric sounds will not fail to creep any gamer out and listening to Daniel
question his sanity as voice from his past fill his ears is just chilling. The
voice acting is handled well but be warned that the game is filled with
profanity from beginning to end.

Difficulty:
Medium
The game is
quite unforgiving if you don’t keep stealth in mind and you can’t simply rush
out and attack multiple enemies expecting to win. This is a game that rewards
stealth executions and keeping in the shadows.

Concept: 7.0
Following
Daniel Lamb as he bludgeons, decapitates and suffocates any Project militia or
the many psychotics that are hunting him is actually quite enjoyable and even
more so when the main protagonist is not quite right in the head. The story is
interesting and there is more than one ending. You can also use your PS2 headset
to catch your victims’ attention.

Overall: 7.5
While it’s not
as utterly disturbing as it was meant to be, Manhunt 2 is a gritty sequel that
is still shockingly ultra violent but in a surprisingly good way. Like the
original, it’s a mature-minded game that blends stealth action with an almost
cartoon-like quality to the murderous mayhem and with an interesting story this
is a title gamers will want to see to the very bloody end. It’s a good game;
it’s just not as brutal or fresh as the original.