Manhunt 2

It's hardly the pinnacle of stealth games - the enemies are dumb, and there's not much to do aside from sneaking and killing - but if you're in the mood for something creepy and horrific that'll leave you feeling a little dirty, Manhunt 2's still-shocking murders and eerie, is-it-real-or-am-I-just-insane storyline won't disappoint.

Manhunt 2, though not as original and challenging as its predecessor, is a worthy sequel but not necessarily a must-buy. It’s certainly worth renting, and rental period is sufficient enough to beat the game’s 8 to 9 hour campaign.

Story aside, however, Manhunt 2 is an important game--not because of the controversy surrounding it, but because it is one of the final few original PS2 games. [Holiday 2007, p.81]

Highly stylised, dark and immersive, Manhunt 2 is a study in brutality, depravity and the spiralling descent into madness. In terms of content, it’s no worse than the original, but it’s not really any better, either.

A bland third-person stealth adventure with sub-par combat and annoyingly stylized death sequences.

It all comes down to the basic fact that a work of art, created specifically for a mature audience, should not have been forced to compromise the way that this game has been. Gamers who have been waiting a long time for this game to come out, or even just gamers in general, should definitely stay far away from Manhunt 2. While it is definitely not the worst game I have ever played, it is definitely one of the biggest letdowns.

Manhunt 2 has suffered many delays and lots of problems before release, but it´s finally here. A game that is not suitable for everyone, due to its gore and violent nature, but it has some charm for those PS2 users who are looking for something fun for their machine. Sadly, a confusing story and some problems like close combat controls make it not as good as it could have been. The lack of the Wii motion controls makes it a less compelling experience.

Manhunt 2 isn’t a bad game as such, and had a lot going for it, if it had been released in the PS2’s heyday. It wasn’t, and a year later, those polygons aren’t looking any smoother.