Manhunt 2 Hands-On Preview
Rockstar Games locked us in a darkened room for a first play of the controversial Manhunt 2 on the PlayStation 2 and Wii.
Manhunt 2 is Rockstar Games' bloody follow-up to the 2003 snuff classic that has found itself in the middle of a firestorm even greater than the one conjured by its predecessor. While the stealthy gameplay of the original may have been nothing new, the style and subject matter of Manhunt made it one of the most mature games ever to hit the gaming world. While controversy always surrounded the game, it definitely didn't do any harm to its sales, so it was perhaps inevitable that Rockstar would produce a sequel. However, in its attempt to top the first game, Rockstar has opened up a big can of worms that has led to this week's recent drama. Back before everything hit the fan, we had the chance to get a proper hands-on with work-in-progress versions of the PlayStation 2 and Wii incarnations of the game. What we played then appeared to be an engaging sequel that was indeed poised to outdo the original.
For the PlayStation 2 demo, Rockstar showed off a new level called sexual deviants, which saw the main character Danny infiltrating a fetish club. If you've played the previous Manhunt you should be aware of the incredibly dark themes that the original game touched on, and the fact that it was more or less an interactive snuff film was really only the beginning. So the fact that the sequel features a level where a human torture center is masquerading as an extreme sex club is pretty much par for the course. The setup for the level revolves around main character Danny following a hunch after finding a set of matches with the sex club's address and going over for a look. Note that the excursion is just part of Danny's journey to piece together his fractured past, not to get his cheap thrill on.
The level starts around the side of the club, and as you explore, it soon becomes obvious that you need to break a window to gain entry. Debris can be used to break most of the glass in the game, though in creating a noise you can often alert nearby enemies to your presence. As with the previous Manhunt, noise will draw interest from the surrounding enemies, but this can be of benefit if you want to create a distraction. Hiding in the shadows is usually a safe way of staying out of view, but Manhunt 2 now introduces quicktime events if someone starts to become suspicious. If an enemy peers into the shadows, you sometimes have to hit a few buttons to "hold your breath," as it were, and if you make the right combos you'll remain hidden.
On the PS2, the controls remain largely unchanged since the previous Manhunt. Push the left analog stick to its extremity and Danny will walk, but push it gently and he will creep. When you stand still, the right analog controls the camera, and the designers have chosen to largely restrict the camera in order to keep the game more suspenseful. If you're pushed up against a wall and go to the edge, the right stick can also be used to discreetly poke your head out and peer around the corner. The L1 button can be used to sprint, but it creates noise and will alert any enemies in the vicinity.
Once inside the club, the first kill that we were able to pull off was one of the new environmental executions. These occur when enemies are standing next to something that can be used to kill them, such as a rope, a fuse box, or, in this case, a toilet. Our first victim was an unfortunate man in a gimp mask, who had his face introduced to a toilet in a number of painful ways. As well as environmental kills, there are puzzles that require you to dispatch people in certain ways. For example, to gain entry into the torture chamber, you have to show the guard a recognizable face. Predictably, this involves removing someone's head with an axe and then holding it up to the window.
Of course, standard kills remain the most frequent type of kills in Manhunt 2, and there's a variety of weapons to choose from as you progress through the game. Fragile items such as glass shards and syringes can be used only a single time, while buzz saws and hammers can be used multiple times. The method of killing in Manhunt 2 is pretty much identical to that in the original. Danny must approach his victims from behind in order to stay unnoticed and perform a clean kill, and when he is within range he will raise his arm. Pressing the square button will perform an immediate kill, but holding it down will produce an even gorier finishing move. The longer you hold down the button, an onscreen reticle will turn from yellow to red, with the latter color indicating the most gruesome kill available. Manhunt 2 also brings guns into the mix, although none were on offer in this particular level. It's also possible to jump off ledges and perform flying kills, although finding the combination of a raised platform and an unsuspecting bad guy was quite rare on the sexual deviants level.
Manhunt 2 Quick Links
Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Downloads | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices
- GameSpot Score7.5good
Check Prices: $10.95 – 28.99
| GameStop | $19.99 | SHOP › |
| Amazon.com | $12.01 | SHOP › |
| Deep Discount.com | $28.99 | SHOP › |
Content you might like…
-
Manhunt 2 Game Guide
Trying to escape The Project? Let GameSpot's Game Guide to Manhunt 2 show you how.
- Nov 8, 2007
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Images
- Rockstar Games
- Rockstar London
- Horror Action Adventure
- Release: Oct 29, 2007 »
- ESRB: Mature
Games you may like…
-
Manhunt 2
(PC) -
Manhunt
(PC) -
Manhunt
(PS2) -
Resident Evil 4
(PS2) -
Resident Evil Outbreak
(PS2)
Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.
See More Similar Games
435 Comments