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."

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Re:About the AO bit... by martinde · 2003-11-20 01:32 · Score: 5, Insightful

Sadly, I think you're right. I've never understood these moral judgements in American society (I can't speak for other societies) - sex is "worse" than violence. Excuse me? Sex is a normal part of a healthy (and sexually mature) human being's life. Violence is not a healthy part of anyone's life - even if you want to argue we're hardwired for it in same manner as we are for sex. If we want to repress instincts, let's start with violence, not sex, thank you very much.