Manhunt
- April 20, 2004
- Rockstar North
- 3h median play time
The game is about staying in the shadows and stalking your prey, featuring impressive A.I. and a variety of gruesome execution kills, but suffers from a flawed camera system and repetitive gameplay.
Get on Xbox Games Store"Manhunt is a third-person stealth horror game where players, as convict James Earl Cash, must survive scenes filled with enemy gang members called Hunters. Emphasizing gruesome stealth kills, players are rated on the gruesomeness and speed of their executions, with higher scores earned for more violent takedowns. Hiding in shadows and dark spots is key to evading Hunters, making stealth a crucial aspect of gameplay."
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Playstation 2
Playstation 3
Xbox
Reviews
- Manhunt offers a unique and disturbing atmosphere that immerses players in a gritty world filled with violence and tension.
- The execution mechanics are varied and satisfying, allowing players to choose from different brutal methods to eliminate enemies.
- The game's story, while simple, provides an interesting context for the gameplay and keeps players engaged.
- The PC port is plagued with bugs and glitches, including a game-breaking gate that often prevents progress in the tutorial.
- Players must download and install community-made patches to fix numerous issues, which can be frustrating and time-consuming.
- The gunplay mechanics are clunky and inconsistent, detracting from the overall experience, especially in later levels.
- story205 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally described as dark and simplistic, revolving around a death row inmate forced to participate in a brutal snuff film directed by a mysterious figure. While some players appreciate the unique atmosphere and engaging narrative elements, others criticize the lack of depth and repetitive mission structure, noting that the gameplay often overshadows the story. Overall, the narrative is seen as a vehicle for the game's graphic violence, with mixed opinions on its execution and character development.
“The game has an amazing story, atmosphere, ambient soundtrack, and satisfying and rewarding gameplay as well as brutal kills.”
“The story is also really interesting and makes every level you go into have meaning behind it; it isn't just mindless killing.”
“The dark story and its setting will keep you engaged as you face off against staggering odds and do whatever it takes to survive.”
“After playing nearly 4 hours, I've noticed there is very little story.”
“The story isn't great but the gameplay is.”
“The storyline and the plot do not really make any sense at all, but the gruesome murders that occur throughout the game make it so that the story does not matter to an average player.”
- gameplay144 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its focus on stealth mechanics, which are generally considered simple yet effective, creating a tense atmosphere that complements the narrative. However, many players find the gameplay repetitive and criticize the clunky shooting mechanics and AI behavior, leading to a mixed reception overall. While the game offers satisfying execution mechanics and a unique horror experience, its dated systems and occasional frustrating elements detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The stealth gameplay holds up very well, even 19 years later, and the patrol AI is surprisingly devious and unpredictable for something that came out in 2003.”
“Gotta love the simple but tense stealth gameplay and the punchy and deliberately janky gunplay that makes you think twice about using firearms too; it's a nice system that rewards strategy and planning.”
“The gameplay really does back up the tone of the story, rewarding you for a variety of gruesome kills.”
“After about two hours, the gameplay becomes monotonous.”
“The stealth system is very primitive, so you already know all the behavior patterns of the enemies and just mechanically lure/kill them over and over again.”
“The gameplay is extremely repetitive and boring: hide in shadows, perform a takeout, try not to get caught.”
- atmosphere104 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gritty, and immersive qualities, effectively evoking feelings of dread and tension throughout the gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the excellent sound design and music, which enhance the overall experience, while the game's unique visual style contributes to its unsettling vibe. However, some players note that the atmosphere can diminish in later levels as gameplay shifts towards more action-oriented mechanics, detracting from the initial horror and stealth elements.
“Manhunt is a special horror game due to its dark atmosphere, gruesome content, and satisfying yet terrifying mechanics while stepping outside of its boundaries as a normal stealth/survival-horror game and creating something that I feel like I haven’t played before.”
“An essential atmospheric masterpiece, it conveys a feeling of dread that can't be found in many other horror games.”
“The game has a great atmosphere that pulls the player in and immerses them into a dark world where killing is the only way to stay alive.”
“The disturbing atmosphere completely falls apart over time, because about halfway through the game suddenly becomes a corridor shooter with covers.”
“The game is gruesome, bloody, gory, violent, and has a disgusting atmosphere which makes you feel gross.”
“Its stealth mechanics are pretty basic and the later levels don't hold up as well, but its nihilistic atmosphere and voyeuristic approach to violence will sink its teeth into you.”
- graphics83 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting the standards of its time (early 2000s), but they still manage to create a fitting atmosphere for the gameplay, particularly with clever use of lighting and a gritty aesthetic. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and the visual design of certain levels, others find the overall graphics mediocre and lacking in innovation. Despite the graphical limitations, the game's sound design and thematic elements contribute significantly to its unsettling and intense experience.
“Good story, graphics, and amazing sound design for its time.”
“The graphics for the game that came out in 2003 are very impressive.”
“The game has some really nice environments and the graphics are really well designed and laid out, especially for when the game came out.”
“From a visual point of view, there is nothing special about the game - typical for its time graphics and lack of interesting design solutions.”
“The gameplay mechanics are basic, the graphics were mediocre even for its time, and it eventually degrades into a clunky third-person shooter.”
“The big thing for me is that it's difficult to determine if something will really keep you hidden or not since the graphics are just generally bad.”
- music72 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, drawing strong comparisons to 80s horror soundtracks, particularly those of John Carpenter. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance tension and dread, with dynamic elements that respond to gameplay, while the voice acting and sound design further contribute to the overall chilling experience. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly elevates the game's horror atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is really good, especially in moments of danger, as it has some 80s horror movie vibes.”
“What really sells the experience is the amazing soundtrack from Craig Conner, emulating an 80's slasher vibe that departs unique ambiance and instills you with creeping feelings of dread.”
“The music is atmospheric, dark, visceral, and heightens the sensation of dread the entire time.”
“Audio settings didn't save after each crash and thus got my ears destroyed by loud menu music.”
“There's not really any music, just water dropping and other silent noises that make the menu feel empty.”
“It really ruins the tense, horror atmosphere that the game builds up with its soundtrack and setting.”
- stability57 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, particularly on PC, where players report numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as crashes, unresponsive controls, and issues with the tutorial. Despite some community-created patches that can alleviate certain problems, many users still find the game unplayable without extensive troubleshooting. Overall, the consensus is that the game is significantly buggy, making it a frustrating experience for players, especially on modern systems like Windows 10 and 11.
“Runs great under Windows 7; I haven't tried installing it on Windows 10.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or major bugs.”
“The amount of effort Rockstar has put into this game is great, other than the bugs and glitches on the PC port which took a significant amount of time for me to patch, like the game crashing, audio looping, and more.”
“This game just doesn't even work; the first level is buggy, and I can't even get past the introduction. Glad I didn't buy this game at full price.”
“The game is so buggy that I can't run it once without experiencing a glitch or crash!”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and absurd comedy, reminiscent of Rockstar's signature style, with players praising the outrageous dialogue and entertaining character interactions. The game's satirical take on violence and its gritty atmosphere contribute to a uniquely satisfying experience, filled with hilarious enemy banter and ironic commentary. Overall, the humor is described as both funny and unsettling, appealing to those who appreciate a twisted sense of comedy amidst the chaos.
“Also just love the different gangs and their voicelines...absolutely hilarious stuff brimming with entertaining psycho babble.”
“It combines all the absurd humor of Grand Theft Auto with the gritty atmosphere of Max Payne and adds a special feeling of unease and distress throughout to make a very satisfying world to dispense violence in - if you aren't killed first.”
“Humor is thrown in the game in the form of funny enemy dialogue and the director (played expertly by the wonderful Brian Cox) speaking to you and encouraging you via an earpiece.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including crashes and AI problems, particularly on modern systems. While some users have found community-created fixes that improve gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game is not well-optimized for current PCs, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Despite these challenges, the game is still praised for its atmosphere and performances, particularly that of Brian Cox.
“Edit: I have been able to find a Manhunt game fixer in the community guide section; the game now runs smoothly and is a good game to play again.”
“Once you get past the initial setup, the game should run smoothly.”
“It's got some optimization issues, but when you patch it, it works just as it should.”
“I can recommend Manhunt as a game, but this release isn't even optimized for modern systems.”
“This is a great game with a great atmosphere; however, it is not optimized to run under current operating systems.”
“The game has some poor performance issues, so a fan-made fix is easily found online to fix what should have been the developers' job, but Rockstar Games apparently hates PC.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers solid replayability due to unlockable content like alternate skins and cheat codes, as well as bonus modes that enhance the experience after the main story. While some players find the core gameplay and themes less compelling, the inclusion of multiple difficulty settings adds to its replay value. Ratings for replayability generally hover around 8/10.
“This gives Manhunt a lot of replay value since you can unlock alternate skins, concept art, and cheat codes!”
“And if that wasn’t enough, the game has some very good replay value; it has two difficulty settings, and the hardest setting only removes the enemy radar.”
“Once it enters its conclusion, and players have earned their rewards, the game has some bonus modes to expand replay value.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious at times, especially in later levels where combat shifts to less engaging ranged encounters. However, some variety in tasks, such as escort missions, helps alleviate the monotony. Overall, the grinding can feel overwhelming, suggesting that players may need to invest significant time to progress.
“It gets kind of tedious at times, but if I want to seem like a hipster, or have nothing to do in my spare time, then I will be playing this game.”
“Later levels get very tedious, as the combat is mostly shifted towards ranged combat. Sneaking past is rarely an option, and the ranged combat isn't that fun to make the game focus on that.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine fear, marking it as a standout in the horror genre for its emotional impact.
“One of the few horror games that made me feel actual fear.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players noting that it falls short compared to its original console version, suggesting a lack of value for the price.
“I was putting all these reviews about it being a bad port aside, but playing it myself and seeing how bad it is compared to its original console version, you can see the cash grab they were going for with this game.”
