In that, Manhunt 2 differs very slightly from every other videogame available. The player is asked to accomplish this task primarily by murdering an awful lot of people. The player controls a doctor named Daniel Lamb who, along with his murderous alter-ego Leo, must avoid being killed by government assassins long enough to discover just how he wound up trapped in an insane asylum with a vicious killer playing timeshare with his body. This time the violence is framed in an entirely different manner instead of happening in what amounts to an elaborate film set, everything takes place in the ‘real world', or at least an extremely nihilistic interpretation thereof. Manhunt made a statement about voyeurism, suggesting that the player was every bit as deviant as the villainous ‘director' for enjoying the violence they caused onscreen. The most notable absence this time around is the first game's theme. Manhunt 2 is the rarest kind of videogame sequel, one that jettisons all plot elements from the first game, carrying over only play mechanics and tone from the first title. Unfortunately, there's a very good reason for this situation, since the game, as released, is quite obviously the product of a troubled development and compromised release, and most of the things wrong with it can be laid neatly at the feet of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. The press coverage of the game's AO rating, its near-cancellation, and eventual bowdlerized release has been so overpowering that it drowned out any discussion of the game's actual merits and flaws. "Manhunt 2" will likely sell like hotcakes because of its media attention, but in the end it only pushes the violence envelope rather than a game-play one.īe sure to take heed to the "Mature"' rating in the corner of the box, therefore not suitable for players under the age of 17.I wish I could talk about Manhunt 2 without addressing the endless debacle over its censorship. "Manhunt 2" also suffers from some technical glitches, such as getting half of Lamb's body stuck in a dumpster (and having to load a saved game to continue playing) or trying to fight a guard but Lamb keeps picking up a body on the floor and tossing it over his shoulder because the game thinks I'm trying to hide a victim. Many other video games, such as Konami's "Metal Gear Solid"' and Ubisoft's "Splinter Cell"' series offer similar game-play - which includes skulking in the shadows to remain undetected, stealthily snuffing out an enemy and carrying the body away to avoid being seen - but handle it in a smoother and more compelling way. But even while wearing a liberal hat (and freedom of speech T-shirt), "Manhunt 2" doesn't really add much outside of its shock value. Some violent scenes were "blurred" out while others were removed altogether, one of which involved a pair of pliers and someone's genitals. In fact, this is the toned-down version of "Manhunt 2'' as the game was facing an "Adults Only'' rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board earlier this summer (now it carries a "Mature"' rating). This includes stabbing by thrusting the controller forward, slashing up and down or whacking someone over the head with a sledgehammer by moving your arms accordingly. This disturbing psychological story is even more controversial on the Nintendo Wii - not just because the Wii is often considered a family-friendly gaming system - but because of the Wii's wireless motion-sensing controllers, therefore all of your killing is performed by mimicking the movements with your hands in front of the TV. But not without going on a killing spree first, even though it appears to be out of Lamb's control, as it's not unusual for him to vomit and utter remorseful words after committing these murders. Without giving much of the plot away - yes, there is actually a story here - Lamb finds himself outside in the real world, beginning with a visit to his now-dilapidated home of his youth. Daniel Lamb, escapes the Dixmor Asylum for the Criminally Insane, after being injected with a mysterious drug that unleashes his homicidal tendencies. In fact, Rockstar Games' infamous "Grand Theft Auto'' games are very entertaining digital diversions even if you strip away the mature theme - but there's little substance to be found in this "Manhunt"' sequel.Īvailable for the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 2 and Sony PlayStation Portable, "Manhunt 2'' begins as your character, Dr. To be clear, "Manhunt 2" disappoints not because it's controversial. But this is not the case as this disturbing violent game is simply an average adventure that delivers more kills than thrills - not to mention some annoying technical glitches that can also mar the experience. If the talented developers who created "Manhunt 2" put half as much effort into making the game fun as they did shocking, it might be worth picking up.
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