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Manhunt Delivers Stealthy Shock For Rockstar

Posted by simoniker on 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."

5 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. Title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So am I the only one who read the title and thought this would be an article about Michael Jackson?

    1. Re:Title by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 4, Funny
      Yup, nothing funnier than a little kid getting molested; high comedy there.

      You remember when all those priests were getting busted? You must have been in stiches!

      --
      I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
  2. About the AO bit... by Bagels · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They mostly define AO (Adults Only)-rated games as games that would involve nudity or sexual acts - a few hentai games from Japan would warrant this, but not much else. As it is, though the game is brutally violent, it's pretty much the same stuff that a 17 year old could see in some of the more violent R-rated movies. The problem is that people have become used to allowing under-17-year-olds to play M-rated games; in this case, the game is clearly *not* targetted at that demographic, though I'm sure that I'm about to be shocked when I hear some ten year olds talking about that awesome cleaver murder they committed in Manhunt...

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    --- Bwah?
    1. Re:About the AO bit... by martinde · · 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.

  3. It's not a movie, but... by bottlerocket · · Score: 5, Funny

    "As you go into battle, just remember what the MPAA says: Horrific, deplorable violence is okay, as long as nobody says any naughty words!"

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    where the comment ends and sig begins