Manhunt Delivers Stealthy Shock For Rockstar

Posted by simoniker on Wednesday November 19, 2003 @11:41PM from the pushing-the-envelope dept.

Thanks to U.S. Playstation Magazine for its review of Rockstar North's ultraviolent PS2 stealth action title Manhunt, which it rates as "a solidly constructed third-person affair." The reviewer also explains the most unique feature: "As an interesting gimmick, Manhunt supports the USB headset. With the headset, the Director's comments [as voiced by Brian Cox] are heard only through the earpiece." GameSpot also largely rates the title positively, approving of the "tension and grim satisfaction" in the stealth action gameplay, but highlighting the ways the "game unflinchingly depicts intense graphic violence" as the Director "captures on video the bloody executions" carried out by your in-game character. This leads Playstation Magazine to question the ESRB rating system, suggesting that if Manhunt "didn't merit an AO rating, then I don't know what will", while IGN PS2 simply says, with regard to the gore: "No videogames to date have gone as far."

1 of 68 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

AO is as pointless a rating as NC-17 by AtaruMoroboshi · 2003-11-20 03:56 · Score: 2, Informative

No major film is released as NC-17. Kill Bill Vol 1 had a long scene edited to be in Black & White soley to avoid an NC-17.

No major game meant to be profitable is going to be released as AO. The same religious conservatives and "watchdog" groups that threaten to boycott any theaters showing NC-17 films will raise a rukus over any AO game.

Sad though, as in principle I firmly believe in ratings like AO and NC-17. Occasionally, I want to go to see movies intended for adults only, such as Crash, which was NC-17 and recieved a limited release.

.