Manhunt (2003) (VG)

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Writers:

Alan Davidson (written by) &
James Worrall (written by) ...

Release Date:

19 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

They just killed James Earl Cash. Now they want to kill him again.

Plot:

Death-row inmate James Earl Cash awakens from his "execution" to discover that prison officials were bribed to fake his death and deliver him into the clutches of a snuff film ring that wants to use him as its newest star.

Plot Keywords:

Death Row | Alley | Snuff | Gore | Execution

Cast

Stephen Wilfong	...	James Earl Cash (voice)
Brian Cox	...	The Director (voice)
Kate Miller	...	Journalist (voice)
Renaud Sebbane	...	White Rabbit (voice)
Mark Margolis	...	Tramp (voice)
Noelle Sadler	...	Dispatcher (voice)
Brad Abelle	...	Prison Voice (voice)
Sean R. Lynch	...	Hoods #1 (voice) (as Sean Lynch)
John Doman	...	Hoods #2 (voice)
Lenny Venito	...	Hoods #3 (voice)
Gregory Salata	...	Hoods #4 (voice) (as Greg Salata)
Peter Appel	...	Hoods #5 (voice)
Nestor Serrano	...	Hoods #6 (voice)
Gregory Sims	...	Innocentz #1 (voice) (as Greg Sims)
Adam Sietz	...	Innocentz #2 (voice) (as Adam Seitz)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:MA (original rating) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Australia:Refused Classification (re-rating on appeal) | Germany:(Banned) | Ireland:18 | New Zealand:(Banned) | Norway:18 (self applied) | UK:18 | USA:M

Company:

Rockstar North

Trivia:

The level "Kill the Rabbit" is an obvious reference to the Merrie Melodies animated short What's Opera, Doc? (1957), in which Elmer Fudd (Arthur Q. Bryan) characteristically sings "Kiw da wabbit, kiw da wabbit, kiw da wabbit" to the tune of Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkeries."

Goofs:

Factual errors: The game is said to take place in the same world as GTA, yet the game manual specifically states that the director moved to Carcer City to start producing snuff films after an accident in Hollywood, a place that is replaced by Vinewood in the GTA universe.

Quotes:

Smileys #1: Big surprise! That's what they said. Big surprise!

Movie Connections:

References Manhunter (1986)

Intense, Vulgar, and Quite Brutal

Manhunt is perhaps the most disturbing game that I have ever played. This gives the Resident Evil series a run for its money. Let me break it down.

Graphics: Nice. Enviornments are gritty. It has a surreal, realistic look to it. Characters are well designed and have original features. It definitely delivers.

Sound: The most important part of the game, so, of course, it is superb. Everything sounds great and real. Totally good.

Controls: Solid. No other way to put it. You'll see.

Gameplay: Ah, yes, very nicely done. The story is nice and emotional. The levels are detailed. Each mission has it's own objective, and the wide variety of violence keeps it fresh. There is some repetativeness, but nothing horrible. Stealth at it's best since Tenchu.

Violence: Okay, nothing compares. It is fierce, brutal, and constant. Weapons vary and each delivers a different, more graphic kill. This game is not shy to show gore. Spurts, mists, and splashes are everywhere. Limbs get severed, and chunks go flying.

Sexual Content: Suggestive. There are some references, and men and women in their skimpy undergarments. Nothing to worry about.

Profanity/ Adult Themes: This game is constant with the vulgar language. It's left and right. Some comments can be quite suggestive as well.

Overall: This game is violent and disturbing. It brings life into Rockstar, and shows that they haven't run out of ideas. A must have, but not for the young ones.