Game | | Manhunt | Format | | PS2, XBox | Publisher: | | Rockstar | Release date: | | Out now |
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This game is frightening! Not because it is based around the rampagings of a serial killer given a reprieve from death-row, but because I know just how impressionable you kids are out there, and that playing this game will lead to gangs of marauding homicidal maniacs sweeping down Granby Street leaving a bloodbath in your wake. Just you see, I listen to what the government tells me! Paranoia aside, this game is a bit frightening. Yet again I have been lucky enough to be asked to review another stealth 'em up (yawn!). This one is slightly different though, only slightly. The game starts with very atmospheric cut-scenes showing you coming round in a gas chamber following your "execution". You, James Earl Cash, are obviously not dead, somehow having been given another chance by a mysterious figure you can hear in your head (like most psychos!).  | | Dr leevil wonders about the effect on the youngsters! |
Actually through an earpiece you are able to hear Lionel Starkweather - a rich and powerful "pornmeister" who has kept you alive to do some work for him. Unfortunately, this work is not what you would expect to get from a Porn King. Disappointingly, rather than strutting your stuff with the ladies you are instructed to exact revenge for Mr Starkweather by offing bad-assed dudes he has a grudge against. The game is viewed through the camera lens of Mr Starkweather, as your playful assassinations are the subject matter of his latest snuff film. Starkweather guides you through the early tutorial stages and gets quite excited when you do a particularly gruesome execution. All of which is shown in slo-mo as a cut-scene. Some of these kills being very gory, but showing a lot of imagination. Sounds like Mr Stakweather's school report! The game itself is an average but difficult stealth 'em up, but the especially dark premise and the overall style of the game elevates it slightly above the masses. One possible gripe is the latter levels turn into more of a shoot 'em up, which are I think more suited to a first person view than the third person view used here. Overall the game is very dark, and deserving of an 18 classification, but I dare say this will just encourage a cult status amongst kids - especially those who like to kill small animals, and still wet their beds. Future psychopaths in other words! 7/10 Dr Leevil
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