Manhunt

One word can be used to describe this game,....WOW. From the word go you are thrown into a dark, depressing and lonely Carcer City. Taking on the role of convicted killer James Earl Cash you are thrust into the middle of a snuff movie with only the directors voice in your earpeice for company. From there on, the game gets more psychollogically disturbing. Its kill or be killed and with each gruesome decapitation you begin to feel more and more comfortable with sneeking up behind people and driving a crowbar through their neck. eventually u will begin to enjoy the mindless killing that this game thrives on. there isnt an outstanding plot or anything that sets it apart. the only thing that may keep you coming back is the satisfaction you get from offing a hunter in one of several gruesome styles. anyway, it aint a game for the logical gamer, and it aint a game for those interested in shoot em ups but if u like insane violence and endless profanity mixed in with a touch of black humour courtesy of the director (voiced brilliantly by fellow scotsman Brian Cox) then there may be just enough here to keep you going until the predictable conclusion. It wont be most peoples cup of tea though and it will definately cause alot of controversy but its still gonna be a modern classic.

The feeling that this game gives while playing is genuinely unrivalled in this type of game. The gameplay, while basic, has a lot to offer- from melee combat, to stealth, to gunplay. The world building and design of Carcer City and it's inhabitants is on par with even the greatest GTA game. I miss the Rockstar games of the early to mid 2000s, before they started to milk Grand Theft Auto V. Safe to say it's up there with my favourite Rockstar Games, despite it being a lot more basic than many of their other titles. One of my favourite horror games ever, intense, creepy and fun, would 100% recommend to any horror game fan.

If you have any kind of built up anger from a day of hard work, just sit down, turn on your Playstation and put in Manhunt, the ultimate game to take your rage out on. With dozens of varied and very violent ways to execute exceptionally hate able characters this is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth for gore. Done in a cctv camera style, this is an original, addictive and challenging stealth game that in fact requires a lot of time and thought. The only drawback with it is the later levels where stealth kills are no longer the way to succeed; it's an array of fun but repetitive gunfights. But don't let me give you the wrong idea; this along with Max Payne and San Andreas is easily Rockstar's finest offering, well most violent anyway. Vicious, blood thirsty and good fun.

Not enough has been said about Brian Cox's contribution to this game. With their signature line of 'Grand Theft Auto' titles, Rockstar Games has brought a cinematic flair to gaming with character work provided by Hollywood favorites like Ray Liotta, Gary Busey, Lee Majors, and others. In Manhunt, Brian Cox voices the Director's taunts with a sadistic voracity that brings the world of the game to life. The Director is the star of the game, in this humble gamer's opinion.

I played through each and every level out of the hope to meet him at the end - whether or not this happens is for you to discover, or not. Having long been a fan of Cox's work (from Braveheart to 25th Hour), I enjoyed the commitment he brought to a character as unsavory as a man who wishes to capture death and violence as a piece of entertainment. While the story for this game is minimal by design, it is expertly driven by Cox and his prodding of the main character to get out there and perform for the cameras.

At one point, I left Cash hiding in the shadows while I left him to grab a glass of water. By the time I returned, the Director was shouting at me: "Put some F***ing effort into this!!!" Hats off to Rockstar for combining strong performance with programming that is smart enough to know when it should be delivered. This is a truly unique gaming experience that provides for an interaction with a voyueristic hound who barks in your every step along the way of the journey.

Manhunt is one of theses games which pleases the gore hound in me. It is release for behaviour deemed 'unwise' in reality not to mention the level of controversy the game received due to the Neo-Con Lobby of England and the Daily Mail. However in a way one could also argue the boundaries of taste giving the fascination people have with reality TV. Players are placed into the world of James Earl Cash who has been given a second shot at life only to be used a pawn in a brutal bloodsport with the 'director' pulling his strings. It cleverly ties into the Grand Theft Auto world although I would argue that Liberty City seems like Vegas compared to Carcer City. It is them up to the players to implicate extreme measures or violence and brutality to please their audience and at the same time keep them-selves alive. It is easy to get into , fun , fast paced and also very atmospheric with a still a few jump out moments and the gore level in it will satisfy any inner freak. I think the only thing about Manhunt is that it well the missions can be a very repetitive which may lead to concentration lapses which makes things frustrating from time to time. And also the camera might be a little bit frustrating at the worst of times. However putting that aside Manhunt has to be played as it is there to offend and please anybody who hates some self-righteous moralistic prate who wants to tell us how to live our lives. Check it out if your in a mood for blood. They have also recently lifted the ban on Manhunt 2 giving the media frenzy surrounding the first and I shall indeed be checking it out, hopefully it will live up to the hype.

MANHUNT : 8.3 OUT OF 10

THEY HAVE JUST KILLED JAMES EARL CASH. NOW THEY WANT TO KILL HIM AGAIN...