While here in NYC for DigitalLife, I had the chance to stop by the offices of my pals over at Rockstar. Hoping to get a super-special glimpse of Grand Theft Auto IV, I instead was only able to get my hands on a Wiimote and test out the new family-friendly version of the psycho-killer title Manhunt 2. With the familiar Wiimote in my grips, I got a chance to see beyond the insane controversy that has followed this gruesome game.
As I stepped in the darkly-lit demo room, the first question on my mind when I found out I’d be giving Manhunt 2 a go was what exactly was it about Manhunt 2 that caused the infamous AO rating and a succession of events that led to nearly every store to refuse to sell it. The answer? Testicles. Yes, apparently testicle ripping is still not accepted in today’s society. Go figure.
Overblown controversy aside, was the game really all that? Was the gore so over the top that Manhunt 2 really stood alone among all the other mature-rated titles out on the market? These are the questions I wanted answers to and without a doubt, I got those answers.
Let’s first start with how the game looks. If you’re expecting some BioShock or Heavenly Sword quality animation, then you’re in for quite a disappointment. Looking at the game, it seems as if Manhunt 2 actually takes a step backward in the graphics department — especially after being treated to the vibrant environment of Rockstar’s schoolyard title Bully. All in all, just looking at Manhunt 2, you’re looking at a mid-level PlayStation 2 quality game — though the Rockstar reps assured me there would be some special Wii-enhanced love on the system, I just didn’t see it.
But where the game does do things right visually is in the camera work. Utilizing a fixed camera, any horror film fan will be fully satisfied with the overall presentation of the action. Unfortunately, because of the fixed camera there are some navigation issues, but really it’s nothing you couldn’t get used to and overcome.
Another nod to the whole idea of being immersed in a horror world was in the grainy-film overlay that fluctuated in intensity depending on the situation. It’s one of those aspects that seem like a small detail but actually add greatly to the game as a whole.
Playing the Wii version, it’s completely understood that the actual control of the game would also add to the immersion factor of Manhunt 2. And, because of the Wii itself, this is where Manhunt 2 actually struggles in the legitimacy department. Without any real solid control or feel with what you’d think is translated from your hands to the screen, the Wii version of Manhunt 2 just seems sloppy. Handcuffed by the technical limitations of the Wiimote itself, a lot of your time in Manhunt 2 feels like a game of chance — in that because there is no 1-1 control, you feel a great sense of delay.
This is most noticeable in the hand-to-hand combat. Boiling down to nothing but a Wii version of button mashing — waving your hands in the air like you just don’t care — the fighting leaves much to be desired on a fundamental level. As far as the executions, it feels like more of the same. Icons will pop up on the upper left corner of your screen to notify you of the move you’d be doing with the Wiimote.
While this may feel somewhat satisfying to any self-respecting sociopath, it really isn’t all that great. The main reason for this is that the executions themselves are nothing but a blurred mess of graphical effects that overlay the actual action happening underneath. The problem with this is that there’s no real pleasure or reward gained from pulling off a gruesome attack. It’s hard to think how this game was given an AO rating when the actual hardcore violence is so hidden. If the main appeal of your game involves detailed executions, then shouldn’t you be able to see those with no interference?
When it comes to what the game is actually like, think of Manhunt 2 as your everyday stealth game. If you enjoy sneaking around and ganking fools from the back, then Manhunt 2 is for you. If you don’t enjoy a slowly-paced violence theme park, then you’ll definitely want to move on to something much more satisfying out there.
Overall, it’s always difficult to gain a real opinion one way or the other with a limited time spent with any game, so the jury is still out. While Manhunt 2 on the surface seems to not live up to the intense media spotlight, it could actually be hiding some real quality that just didn’t jump out during an hour of play. Keep an eye and open mind and find out for yourself when the game is finally released to stores with an M rating this Halloween (Oct. 31) for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii.
