Manhunt

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 205 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 136 out of 205
  2. Mixed: 52 out of 205
  3. Negative: 17 out of 205
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. ShawnH.
    Nov 21, 2005
    6
    Not a very deep game, but it is still entertaining. The grainy video look of the game takes some getting used too, especially since most of the game takes place in darkened areas. The kill sequences are gruesome and unusual, but become repetitious. I agree with Bahman that the Director should have been fleshed out more. Even though the Director is thoroughly evil, there is a funny edge to Not a very deep game, but it is still entertaining. The grainy video look of the game takes some getting used too, especially since most of the game takes place in darkened areas. The kill sequences are gruesome and unusual, but become repetitious. I agree with Bahman that the Director should have been fleshed out more. Even though the Director is thoroughly evil, there is a funny edge to him and that could have been expanded on. The Director is excellently voiced, and there is a variety of dialogue for the rest of the loonies, crazies and psychos found in the game. In the end, this is a very average game with a twist.… Expand
  2. ERB
    Jul 28, 2013
    7
    A violent and brutal game,I proclaim this game as one of the deadliest,most violent,and brutal video game I have ever played.And still I kinda like this game because of my reason.
  3. Groundfisher
    May 6, 2004
    5
    This game was a huge disappointment. I'm not a big fan of 'stealth' games, but a good game is a good game and this is not a good game. In a word: boring.
  4. AndyL.
    May 4, 2004
    5
    Ugh, its almost like taking all the gameplay and fun outta of gta3 and instead opting for a storyline, which while being decent, is certainly no half-life. Dull is the best word here.
  5. JawadP.
    Aug 19, 2005
    7
    It is nice stratigic game i lke it but it is weird that it is nice since it have some logical blunders u can locate them.
  6. R.S.
    May 26, 2004
    5
    Repitive killing styles wich get boring after alot of the levels. The end, yet tough, is as the same as the last levels, just with more men with god-like accuracy and flashlights. I didnt care what the ending looked like ( uninstalled ) but by the way the trailers on TV show, it makes it look like you've escaped from prision and a bounty is placed on your head. Your running Repitive killing styles wich get boring after alot of the levels. The end, yet tough, is as the same as the last levels, just with more men with god-like accuracy and flashlights. I didnt care what the ending looked like ( uninstalled ) but by the way the trailers on TV show, it makes it look like you've escaped from prision and a bounty is placed on your head. Your running (literaly) for your life, not placed in a deserted location with men looking for you. After awahile you lose that being hunted feeling and more of a slaughter-hide and sneek game.… Expand
  7. AstiX
    Sep 2, 2018
    7
    It's not amazing, but it's fun. It takes off slowly with the first few levels, but gets more interesting toward the middle. Violent stealth kills are fun to perform, but get repetitive after a while since there are only a few kill animations that you keep seeing over and over, but luckily the second part of the game turns into guns-blazing action and keeps things varied.

    The concept of    It's not amazing, but it's fun. It takes off slowly with the first few levels, but gets more interesting toward the middle. Violent stealth kills are fun to perform, but get repetitive after a while since there are only a few kill animations that you keep seeing over and over, but luckily the second part of the game turns into guns-blazing action and keeps things varied.

    The concept of the story line is interesting, but doesn't quite develop or matter at all.    … Expand
  8. AlexKVideos1
    Feb 20, 2021
    5
    I always wondered why Manhunt wasn't given as much attention as much as Rockstar's other hit games. Now I understand why.

    I want to make this clear. This review is not negative because of the violence, or because of the issues with newer Window's OS. I don't recommend this game because its not enjoyable. The story can be phrased in one sentence. Killing gang members for a snuff film    I always wondered why Manhunt wasn't given as much attention as much as Rockstar's other hit games. Now I understand why.

    I want to make this clear. This review is not negative because of the violence, or because of the issues with newer Window's OS. I don't recommend this game because its not enjoyable.

    The story can be phrased in one sentence. Killing gang members for a snuff film in order to gain freedom. While having a simple story isn't necessarily bad, it makes the game even more of a drag.

    The game has a great, griddy, dark vibe to it that I like. However, with that comes these very boring, unrealistic, and uninteresting environments to go through. Navigating these restricted environments can be tricky when there are few dark areas to hide in and a ton of gang members.

    Another huge issue is the long time to complete a level. This will be the slowest stealth game you will ever play. While games like Hitman also take a lot of time, with good planning, and strategy, it keeps you in interesting environments, with many approaches. Here, you literally have to either wait for them to turn their back to go for a quick kill, or fight them head on. You can make noise to attract them to a certain area, or run into a dark area to escape them, but that's all the variety you will experience. It becomes super repetitive, and its really not that rewarding to get a kill after a while.

    That leads me to my biggest frustration, the save points. Sometimes there are huge areas you have to cross before you can reach a save point to save your game. There is no auto-save, and you can't save anywhere that you want. This means that you are essentially forced to keep playing a level to reach a save point so you wouldn't have to do it all over again. So if you die during the level, you are better off just quitting the game before you punch a hole through your screen.

    One of the best levels is the last bonus scene. It is a timed event, however the AI feels smarter, and you have more options on your approach. Sadly its the only mission like it.

    Just like what I said about Hatred, and Postal, there is no subsistence to this game, it was made just purely for the controversy.    … Expand
  9. Tyrique
    May 28, 2023
    5
    This game for it's time had great gore and stuff but it's repetitive gore scenes and bare bones stealth makes this game shallow and boring and you even forget a story even exists. I wouldn't recommend this game for anyone who's big into stealth since fighting someone in this game is a pain in the ass.
  10. PenetratorGod
    Aug 26, 2023
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After the Grand Theft Auto series, Manhunt was another acclaimed series of games created by Rockstar. Manhunt was released in 2003 and was an adult only action and stealth based game. The level of violence in this game surpassed that of the GTA games or any game you've ever seen before. The game's story revolves around illegal manhunts secretly organized in the United States.

    Players take on the role of James Earl Cash, a criminal sentenced to death by lethal injection. Interestingly, the sentence was carried out, but the main protagonist didn't die and woke up in a room full of cameras. At this point, a wealthy man named Starkweather, a former director of gore and violent porn videos for anonymous clients, informs our protagonist that he must participate in a manhunt.

    The game's action takes place in Carcer City, where the authorities are bribed by the likes of Starkweather and allow them to organize the aforementioned manhunts. On the streets of this corrupt city, players help James Earl Cash survive, fighting different gangs and "hunters". The main protagonist's actions are recorded by Starkweather's hidden cameras. The game offers realistic 3D visuals for the period and is very good at scaring players and making them feel trapped due to the gloomy surroundings of the city and certain buildings. The game's sound effects also add a good quality to the atmosphere.

    Gameplay mainly revolves around sneaking through enemy locations, avoiding direct confrontation and eventually eliminating enemies that threaten the main protagonist. In order to succeed, you need shadows that give you the necessary stealth and sounds that can warn you of the incoming threat, shown as red blips on the radar. You need to pay attention to these.

    Once you've decided to kill someone, you can do it in many different ways: slitting their throat, strangling them with a plastic bag, breaking their neck with a special hilt, cracking their head with a brick, and using a firearm you can find on the way. However, in the early stages of Manhunt players have to deal with all the threats with their own hands, using tools such as smashed bottles. Each murder presents the player with a level of brutality with three options to choose from.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best PC Game of 2004
34
#34 Most Discussed PC Game of 2004
30
#30 Most Shared PC Game of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. PC Gameworld
    80
    Manhunt is no kid’s game. Adult players should anticipate an incredible amount of gore and some uncomfortable scenes of violence. Looking beyond that, Manhunt does offer a unique story and some challenging, stealth-based gameplay.
    Read full review
  2. Gamezilla!
    82
    It’s really up to you – the person behind the controller – to decide whether the violent content makes or breaks Manhunt since the core gameplay mechanics of Manhunt aren’t all that compelling.
    Read full review
  3. Gamer's Pulse
    80
    An optimized visual performance clearly makes the PC version the preferred edition of the game; however, the game attempts to combine excessive violence with stealth-action gameplay, but fails to invoke a sense of value and worth in play.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »