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[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Manhunt is a 2003 stealth game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It was released for the PlayStation 2 in November 2003, followed by Microsoft Windows and Xbox releases in April 2004.

Set within the fictional Carcer City, players control a death row inmate named James Earl Cash, who is forced to participate in a series of snuff films by killing criminal gang members sent to hunt him on camera.

1. Manhunt is banned in 6 countries... Owning this game can land you in prison or with a €5,000 fine....

2. It is banned in Germany, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.

3. Rockstar Games of New York was going to change the name of the game, because there was a gay dating website with that name.

4. The game is based on the movie The Warriors. It so happens that at the time, Rockstar wanted to make a video game based on the movie, but they couldn't get the rights back then... So they created a new IP, but later they were able to develop The Warriors game... That's why it uses the Manhunt graphics engine.

5. The Xbox version had censorship regarding the tattoos... The Playstation 2 version has no censorship.

6.It was going to be a first-person game... But it was changed at the last minute to what we know today.

7. The Steam version is the worst version of the game, due to anti-piracy measures that block the game and prevent progress... Pirated versions are the best.

8. It was going to have a multiplayer mode, a cooperative mode or a versus mode... But in the end it was scrapped.

9.Discarded enemies, a scarecrow that was the pig's enemy... A group of enemies in garbage armor... Some clowns with shotguns who were addicted to amphetamines and were laughing.

10.The game is based in New York.

 

[Plague Doctor]

God I miss old Rockstar. They had huevos and a idgaf attitude putting out games.

We need AAA devs like that again.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Old Rockstar ruled. I loved their The Warriors game too.

 

[Faltherion]

I remember this game. Was fun.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

I played the second one... and it's a good game. I need to play this first game .

 

[amigastar]

Old Rockstar ruled. I loved their The Warriors game too.

Yeah, imagining that it was a movie adaptation is mindblowin also, it was so good.

 

[AndrewRyan]

My first stealth game so will always be special. Works with a headset so you can say funny stuff to the enemies on patrol to make them search nearby so you can... you know. The way the narrator would egg you on was nuts. Never finished the 2nd one.

 

[diffusionx]

it's available on ps5 as bc but apparently it is glitchy, and has been for years, sad they dont bother to fix it

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

it's available on ps5 as bc but apparently it is glitchy, and has been for years, sad they dont bother to fix it

Really? I wanted to buy it yesterday and I didn't see it.

 

[RSMan]

This thread makes me sad.

We will never get games like this again. It was a different era.

Manhunt is still on my top 5 of all time list. Unmatched brutality, atmosphere and excellent gameplay.

 

[A.Romero]

I tried on steam a few years back. I like the concept but I found it too clunky.

Good to know the steam version is bugged.

 

[EDMIX]

This was such a wild concept, I'd love to see it return one day, but the output by devs now will make this a risker and risker project. Not as huge as GTA and RDR series

 

[bender]

It's the only game I've played that made me feel like a prude. Not that I think it should be banned, but I nope'd out at the beginning when asphyxiating an enemy with a plastic bag.

 

[Killer8]

One of the best horror games of all time. Brian Cox was a beast as the Director.

 

[TheloniusFabdul]

I remember convincing my dad to buy me this when I was 14. Good times

 

[Tarnpanzer]

5. The Xbox version had censorship regarding the tattoos... The Playstation 2 version has no censorship.

I want to add that the Xbox-version is 60fps, while the PS2 version is 30fps.

It runs in 1920p(4:3) on Series X. I actually played it the first time on Series X, it is a good way to play this game today.

There is also a PS4-version which is 1080p and 16:9, but it runs only in 1080p with 30fps.

 

[The Cockatrice]

I enjoyed it back then, but nowadays I'm not sure I'd like such an edgy game.

 

[Sohurmk833]

Was a decent game but nothing special gameplay wise. Great atmosphere though.

 

[J3nga]

Game is based in New York? Complete nonsense

 

[Paasei]

I loved this game. The set pieces were so good. Who doesn't remember the abandoned zoo, mall and my favorite; the prison levels.
Felt like a true killer in a slasher movie in that level with the giant mansion of the main antagonist.

This game is not based in New York. In Rockstars universe it is near Liberty City, which in turn is based on NYC.

 

[AeonGaidenRaiden]

I tried playing this game recently again...yeah its a game of its time. Think its ass now with those controls and not as edgy as I remember it.

 

[Memati187]

I played the second one... and it's a good game. I need to play this first game .

Lol, opposite for me. Never got around to play the 2nd, but that one was censored I heard.

 

[Soodanim]

I have no idea where they got NY from unless it's a misunderstanding of an AI result.

Carcer City being near Liberty City which is based on (not in) NYC means Carcer could be in the equivalent of NY state, that's all. But no GTA game aside from London is set in a named real world location.

 

[Germuso]

Sounds like a gay club

 

[David_Android]

a remake we need but will never get.

 

[DeepSpace5D]

Popping out from cover and blasting a hole through a gang members face with the shotgun never got old.

 

[freemandos]

Old Rockstar was great, when they were the "bad boys" of the industry.

Manhunt is an unique and atmospheric game...and made A LOT of noise in the industry.

 

[Paasei]

Lol, opposite for me. Never got around to play the 2nd, but that one was censored I heard.

I think there's versions out there that aren't censored. I never really bothered with the 2nd game either. Think I called it a day after the levels that are inspired by the Hostel horror movie or whatever sex dungeon torture shit it's based on.

Couldn't really get into it. To me it felt they tried a little too hard to add shock value with the gore and setpieces. In the end it did the opposite of that to me. Didn't feel anything "special".

 

[Jesb]

Old Rockstar was the prime of the industry. Pretty sad it'll never go there again.

 

[Lokaum D+]

its not a game for this moderns days

 

[StueyDuck]

While there's always the conversation around how the modern industry would never allow such a game to be made today (not just because of the violence), it is also worth mentioning that both games aren't really spectacular to play.

The whole murder mechanic kind of does the heavy lifting, I'd argue something like The Punisher was better and also did the whole "visceral murder" thing (even though it was toned down in the final release).

Of the PS2->360 era Rockstar games i always felt Manhunt was on the lower end of their catalog. Down there with state of emergency and the warriors.

 

[GymWolf]

I would buy a modern remaster in a heartbeat.

 

[awwr999999]

This was such a wild concept, I'd love to see it return one day, but the output by devs now will make this a risker and risker project. Not as huge as GTA and RDR series

It will be back but not as a 'remaster'. Manhunt's one half of Rockstar's original game IP (GTA, Manhunt) and just as important as GTA.
Rockstar needs Sony to let them ship AO-rated games on PSN in the US because both Manhunt and GTA need to be AO.
Rockstar's games have always been made for adults and the move will put them on the right side of video game history.
Gaming as a whole will never move beyond dumbed-down kid's games until PlayStation goes back to being the "Adult Console" that it was with PS1 and PS2.

 

[awwr999999]

I want to add that the Xbox-version is 60fps, while the PS2 version is 30fps.
It runs in 1920p(4:3) on Series X. I actually played it the first time on Series X, it is a good way to play this game today.
There is also a PS4-version which is 1080p and 16:9, but it runs only in 1080p with 30fps.

They built the game around the PS2's unique HW and the DualShock 2. All of Rockstar's PS2 games are better than the xbox and PC ports that came later.

 

[Moondoggy]

The at the time controversial nature of the game really is the only thing that makes it of note nowadays, I played it on an emulator a couple of years ago when it was brought up in a conversation I was having about past Rockstar games that aren't GTA, and yeah, if you liked this back in the day I'd keep it in the past, if you play it now it's just a repetitive, gimmicky, stealth game with very dated and basic stealth mechanics.

 

[Kupfer]

1. Manhunt is banned in 6 countries... Owning this game can land you in prison or with a €5,000 fine....

2. It is banned in Germany, Malaysia, Australia, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.

Manhunt has been banned and confiscated in Germany due to its explicit depiction of violence. It was banned in 2004 and shortly thereafter confiscated nationwide, resulting in a ban on its sale and distribution.

The sale, import, and distribution are punishable by law in Germany.

But it's not illegal to own. You can easily buy a copy on ebay and you'll be fine.

Great games btw

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Game is based in New York? Complete nonsense

It's based in that area, because the Warriors are in New York.

 

[missiles]

The way it didn't give any serious firearms until quite far into the game was a masterstroke. When you finally got your hands on a shotgun it felt so liberating and rewarding. Really made you feel vengeful and powerful, and the gunplay was spectacular for the time. Playing it with Starkweather directly in your ear via the Xbox live headset was a completely new experience that made the game even more atmospheric and immersive. An absolute classic of its time. Dark as fuck, funny as hell and really pushed the limits of acceptability. When Rockstar lived up to their name and made grimy, sleazy, provocative games just because they enjoyed it.

I miss the days when you'd get games like this, Midnight Club, The Warriors and a bunch of GTAs in the space of a single console generation. The arse has totally fallen out of this fucking industry.

 

[Nocty]

seems im in the minority here but I thought this game was cheeks when it came out. Bully was way better.

 

[SawBlade]

Loved it so much on PS , I rebought it on steam when I saw it in the store.... regrets. but i couldnt bring myself to refund it. but yea I can't get past the tutorial because the enemy doesn't path into a playable area.

 

[Kupfer]

Got myself a copy of Manhunt 1 and 2 for the PS2 some years ago.
Manhunt 2 became surprisingly expensive recently.

 

[NuclearDiarrhea]

Which is the definitive way to play this game now?

Might start another playthrough.

 

[Kupfer]

Which is the definitive way to play this game now?

Might start another playthrough.

For me the game and its grittyness profit from the oldschool VHS vibe that is perfectly transported via a CRT TV; so PS2 + CRT for me.

 

[hollams]

I've playing a bunch of PS2 games through emulation and I tried this last night. The control scheme for most PS2 games are tough to get used to as the camera is tied to the left stick and not right stick so it's hard to get a good view of your surroundings. The opening is pretty gruesome and the narrarator is a vile person.

I did try out another game this weekend, Bujingai, which has the best opening of any game ever.

Spoiler

The game starts with you in this small area without any tutorial and then spawns enemies. I took them out and a second wave of enemies spawned and after killing them I looked around and couldn't find an exit so I wasn't sure what to do. I tried to jump up the walls, but that didn't work so I thought the game had bugged out.

A few seconds later the game cut to the opening credits.

The openining credits was a remix of what I had just played. It was awesome as I've never seen that in a game.

 

[Chuck Berry]

I already made this thread you toolbox. You should've checked first but I understand you were probably busy banging your inflatable Kat doll.

Thread 'Manhunt - Rockstar's grimy, daring and macabre masterpiece'

Aug 24, 2023

In 2003 Rockstar Games still had balls. They were still experimenting with ideas. What wound up as one of the most violent and controversial games of all time paved the way for them to continue pushing the boundaries of what a game could be with the cult classic The Warriors in 2005 (arguably the greatest movie based game in existence) and Bully in 2006.

This was Rockstar's first full attempt at a stealth driven title, something they had only really briefly experimented on in GTA San Andreas. Perhaps they were driven by the surging popularity of stealth action hits such as Metal Gear...

• Chuck Berry
• Replies: 47
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

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[Lions Gate]

Never played it, but i heard it's good thou

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Got myself a copy of Manhunt 1 and 2 for the PS2 some years ago.
Manhunt 2 became surprisingly expensive recently.

It's actually kind of interesting .

I remember Manhunt 2 being sold cheaply everywhere, for around $20 or less, and it was easy to get.

But seeing its current price, it's increased by 500%, which is also thanks to YouTubers.

It's like the case of Godzilla for PlayStation 4, which saw its price skyrocket to 1000% of its actual value.

This is a common phenomenon in the video game industry, but it's important to know which games become cult classics or relics—a pastime I find fascinating.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Manhunt has been banned and confiscated in Germany due to its explicit depiction of violence. It was banned in 2004 and shortly thereafter confiscated nationwide, resulting in a ban on its sale and distribution.

The sale, import, and distribution are punishable by law in Germany.

But it's not illegal to own. You can easily buy a copy on ebay and you'll be fine.

Great games btw

Indeed, owning the game is no longer as severely punished in Germany.

And it's curious that there are German sellers advertising the game for sale on eBay.

It used to be punishable, but it goes to show how time changes people's ways.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Which is the definitive way to play this game now?

Might start another playthrough.

Honestly, a pirated PC version.

Otherwise, the uncensored version... Playstation 2.

Oh.

Xbox—censored version, but with more power and better stability.