During a time when stealth-based games were finally stepping into the spotlight and winning players over with games such as Metal Gear Solid 2 and Splinter Cell, Rockstar North wanted to create something different from their usual Grand Theft Auto series. Keeping up with the extreme violence that earned the studio its reputation – alongside its undeniable talent –, the next game was going to ramp up the controversy and become a target from several countries.
What is it?
Manhunt is that game, a survival horror game with stealth-based gameplay for most of its duration. It’s heavily inspired by snuff films and hints at the yet relatively unknown reality show format. No need to say that it was another astounding success for Rockstar Games, despite some valid criticism.
Justly considered one of the most violent videogames ever made, Manhunt was wrongly despised by some critics, as there was more to it than its brutal, relentless gameplay, tremendously dark tone and perverse enemy gangs. It was, in fact, a very accomplished game with polished stealth mechanics and rewarding gameplay. It looked unique and depraved at the time, but a closer and more insightful look revealed that its level of violence wasn’t a first at all – Carmageddon got a lot of flak for its pedestrian murdering antics, many years before Manhunt. And what about Postal 2 and its ultra-gross depiction of human and animal violence, released a few months before Manhunt? Let’s not forget the first-person shooter Soldier of Fortune, with its “revolutionary” graphic depiction of human dismemberment.
Manhunt just looked more real than any of those, I guess. The depictions of murder were very realistic and uncomfortable at the time, even with “weapons” that didn’t look particularly menacing, such as the plastic bag. This was no Mortal Kombat with its fantasy fighters and otherworldly combos, for sure. Being a game from the makers of the Grand Theft Auto series obviously stirred up the controversy, but the realistic locations, the credible characters and especially James Earl Cash’s insistence in making sure that the gang members are dead and remain dead by means of extreme violence turned Manhunt into the new target of all the media.
It wasn’t all about melee weapons either; later in the game, Cash has access to different types of firearms and gameplay switches from an accomplished stealth approach to a wobbly, somewhat unrefined third-person shooter, with the lackluster AI being to blame for a lot of the issues. It remains interesting from start to finish, though, with a few interesting story twists.
Who made it?
Manhunt was developed by Rockstar North, previously known as DMA Design before the studio was acquired by Take Two Interactive. DMA Design’s claim to fame includes the Lemmings series, Blood Money, Walker, Hired Guns and, of course, Grand Theft Auto.
As for Manhunt, there is an account on how the game almost caused a mutiny in Rockstar North, as the team was a bit worn by the controversy resulting from its previous Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City games, and that Manhunt was just crossing the line. It was all about the violence, the realistic violence, and there was no escaping it, there was no alternate route for the players. Those were different times indeed.
Rockstar North’s latest game is Grand Theft Auto V and is said that the studio is still working on Agent, a game going through its very own development hell, as it was announced in 2009.
What makes it a true classic?
The high levels of violence. The realistic and uncensored nature of it all. The brutal executions and the snuff theme. The unremitting onslaught from start to finish. The worldwide controversy that came with it really pushed the envelope of video game violence.
But also, because Manhunt is a good game. It’s not a mere murder simulator, a grotesque and shallow work that tries to glorify violence; no, Manhunt is a skillful game, one of the few that lead the revolution of the stealth genre. It was unsettling and exploitative, but it was also fun and challenging. For some, the violence was nauseating, but for most players it was just an added factor that made the game stand out from the competition.
Manhunt was another jewel in Rockstar’s crown. It was further proof that this developer wasn’t afraid to try new things, even if it meant risking its own reputation. Heck, they even got some aggravation over Bully, a game that was wrongly judged based on its name alone.
I’m surprised that Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis wasn’t banned in several countries as well. Now that would have been fun to watch.
Platforms: PC, PS2, Xbox (Original releases)
Release date: 2003
Publisher: Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design)
Developer: Rockstar Games
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