User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 221 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 12 out of 221
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  1. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    8
    Brutal game that I had to hide from my parents, because I didnt want them to forbid me to play it lol
  2. Jan 24, 2023
    6
    I'd give atleast an 8 to this game, but considering the amount of games out there that have the same gameplay and mechanics, I just can't say this game is great or even a masterpiece.
    The first 2 hours are actually pretty fun to play, until you realize that the entire game is just doing the same thing over and over, doing executions behind the enemies pressing X for 6 seconds with the game
    I'd give atleast an 8 to this game, but considering the amount of games out there that have the same gameplay and mechanics, I just can't say this game is great or even a masterpiece.
    The first 2 hours are actually pretty fun to play, until you realize that the entire game is just doing the same thing over and over, doing executions behind the enemies pressing X for 6 seconds with the game forcing you to wait this unnecessary time to get the best score possible, you can't even fight the enemies because they deal so much damage, without mentioning that if you die, you'll need to do the same thing over and over again, making the game too tedious sometimes.
    I don't give it a lower score because of the history, bosses and ambience, the bosses lore and design are just gold, and the ambience catches that dark/violent tune of the game, but it isn't actually that scary, I've seen worse scenes that the ones that are in this game.
    If you're going to give it an opportunity, do it, as I said, the first hours are actually enjoyable until you realize how repetitive the game is, and also, ps2 games don't pass from the 3 dollars nowadays, but if you want a good 10 year old stealth game, I'd say Hitman: Blood Money is a better option than this.
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  3. Sep 4, 2022
    10
    Obra maestra ojalá hagan un remake a esta querida obra de arte... si no fuera por la generación de cristal...
  4. Aug 16, 2022
    8
    **** too much. (you're crazy son, it's blood everywhere, don't play, you're high)
  5. May 13, 2022
    10
    no other game makes you feel like disturbed serial maniac, Manhunt 4 life..
  6. May 12, 2022
    10
    best game from Rockstar and gorest masterpiece ever exist. Sequel was good but this one is unique...
  7. Mar 5, 2022
    8
    The infamous Manhunt is a morally repugnant guilty pleasure. It's a stealth slasher game that blends The Most Dangerous Game with The Warriors. Is stylish and well-made, but disturbing to a tee. Players are encouraged to commit the sickest murders possible. The longer you hold down 'A' button, the gorier they are. As the victim struggles for dear life, you feel the controller's vibrationThe infamous Manhunt is a morally repugnant guilty pleasure. It's a stealth slasher game that blends The Most Dangerous Game with The Warriors. Is stylish and well-made, but disturbing to a tee. Players are encouraged to commit the sickest murders possible. The longer you hold down 'A' button, the gorier they are. As the victim struggles for dear life, you feel the controller's vibration simulate their last movements. It gives off a queasy feel. Plastic bags, crowbars, shards of glass, bats and firearms can be used to mutilate people.

    Aside from the shock value, Rockstar Games have actually made an intense and creepy experience with Manhunt. You play as James Earl Cash, an inmate that is unleashed from prison by an unseen man for mysterious reasons. Like in The Warriors, Cash spends an entire night running through scary neighborhoods patrolled by crazy costumed gangs. The game starts out slow with simple goals, but then expands considerably as you progress. It plays out like a macabre Splinter Cell with an atmosphere straight out of an 80's slasher film (complete with retro synth music). The ultra violence becomes old fast, but the gameplay is intense.

    Overall, Manhunt is not a brilliant game like Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto. But as a stealth title, it's quite solid. If you like the sneaking genre then you should enjoy this. Just don't be surprised if you feel uneasy as you dispatch the opposition. I'd rate "Manhunt" with an 8.4 out of 10.
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  8. Sep 26, 2021
    10
    Çok güzel bir oyun. Tek işiniz karşınızdaki adamları değişik şekillerde canice öldürmek. Sadece vahşet oyunu desek yeridir. PC versiyonunu hiç oynamadım o yüzden onu bilmiyorum fakat ps2 versiyonu güzel. Tavsiye ederim.
  9. Jan 29, 2021
    9
    A highly atmospheric stealth game. A sinister scenario, unsettling environment with violent kills. Great stuff.
  10. Oct 1, 2020
    4
    Распиаренненный унылый шутерок, очень затянут, стэлс никакущий, жестокость ради жестокости. Интеллект врагов постоянно глючит, то слышат, то стопорятся. Просто черезмерно затянуто. Интересна была только битва с пигси и когда получаешь бензопилу... всё, реально. Распиаренненный унылый шутерок, очень затянут, стэлс никакущий, жестокость ради жестокости. Интеллект врагов постоянно глючит, то слышат, то стопорятся. Просто черезмерно затянуто. Интересна была только битва с пигси и когда получаешь бензопилу... всё, реально.
  11. Jul 19, 2020
    10
    Awesome Game. Brutal Kills And The The Creativity Of The Game, Stealth Combat. This Is A Must Buy Game.
  12. Jun 26, 2020
    10
    Manhunt creates a good atmosphere of very good horror coming from a 2003 game.
  13. May 20, 2020
    10
    The best stealth game Okay Ready? Camera Action! The best game ever and best director dialogue.
  14. Feb 4, 2020
    9
    MANHUNT was such a controversial game when it released. It is very violent, maybe a bit over-kill but the gameplay was good and it kept me on edge throughout.
  15. May 7, 2018
    8
    A linear game compared to the open world games Rockstar is now known for. Very gruesome and brutal.
  16. Jan 3, 2018
    7
    Mostly fun with a few setbacks. You play as James Earl Cash, a released death row inmate (or should I say kidnapped) and who would kidnap a death row inmate you may ask? A psychotic film director who would like nothing more than to use your natural cold-blooded instincts to create the ultimate snuff film. Throughout the game the director has set up filming sets crawling with gang members,Mostly fun with a few setbacks. You play as James Earl Cash, a released death row inmate (or should I say kidnapped) and who would kidnap a death row inmate you may ask? A psychotic film director who would like nothing more than to use your natural cold-blooded instincts to create the ultimate snuff film. Throughout the game the director has set up filming sets crawling with gang members, big game hunters, crazies and trained military all on a manhunt, to find you. Using what you can find, from plastic bags to glass shards, bricks and bottles and mayhap a severed head or two, you must distract your enemies, flank them, and take them out one by one. Stealth is essential, as enemies outnumber you, and will overpower you should you be seen. The stealth mechanics at play here work, but more options would have done to flesh out the experience, which begins to grow stale past the halfway mark. The majority of the game can be played by simply sticking to the shadows, which sometimes lay in areas right next to a light source (why is there a shadow here?) and can break immersion in quite funny ways when a hunter is looking around stupidly when you're standing right in front of him, directly in front of a light. Solid Snake can get away with using a cardboard box, however, so suspension of belief isn't a problem here. From the shadows you can make a knocking sound much like a Metal Gear game, wait for your target to turn around, and strike. Stealth kills are formed in executions. By walking behind an unaware hunter, Cash will raise whatever weapon he is holding, and by holding x or square, a reticule will form above his head flashing from white, to yellow, to red, indicating various levels of violent execution. The kills play out in a VHS style fashion, static lines running down the screen as you watch Cash cut, gut, and smash his opponents to ruin. These are the main selling point in Manhunt, and although they add cinematic flare, they do become rather repetitive as the game goes on, and I began using quick, white executions to save time and hassle. Lining up red kills is visceral and rewarding, even earning you higher scores on your missions (you can score 1-5 stars on each mission) but often, holding that button down for as long as needed will result in the hunter turning around, seeing you, and leaving you looking stupid and greedy. Combat IS an option in Manhunt, but fighting anymore than 1 hunter at a time will lead to certain death as hunters are quite spongey against melee combat. Executions are mandatory. There's also a few levels where you are given handguns and shotguns, even sniper rifles, where the game changes genre from stealth action to shooter, playing very much like the shooter missions in previous Grand Theft Auto games. These sections help break up the pace from the slow, brooding stealth sections, and some more would have been kindly accepted. Other areas are bogged down by tedious escort missions, three if you count a gas tank you have to walk from one end of the map to another.
    Manhunt shines its best when it leaves you alone with a screen full of scumbags. Patience clashes with anticipation as you plan out your every move, satisfaction ringing in as you watch that final execution from a tough scenario you were having issues with. Manhunt is a difficult and punishing game, requiring patience and key timing to do the work that only Cash can do.
    Over all, I love the game for its atmosphere, which I would put as daunting, and at times chilling. It holds up today, feeling almost like a precursor to The Last of Us in many ways. It's far from perfect though, with some sections that just aren't fun to play, limited stealth mechanics, and being overall repetitive. 7/10
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  17. Jun 29, 2017
    8
    The atmosphere of this game is one of the best and at the same time depressing that I have ever seen. We have to play for James Earl Cash, who was supposed to be executed, but the so-called director saved him from the death penalty, but on one condition, he must star in his film and become a "star." The gameplay is a stealth shooter with shooter elements.
  18. Apr 6, 2017
    0
    Ergonomie déplorable, interface à revoir entièrement, injouable sur tous les plans et assez moche : pas de doute, on est bien dans un jeu Rockstar réalisé par des manches en dépit du bon sens le plus élémentaire. Le plus mauvais jeu d'infiltration au monde, une sacrée performance !
  19. Sep 28, 2015
    8
    Manhunt is a stealth/action/horror game with tons of gore and vulgarity. The gameplay consists of hiding in the shadows and brutally murdering people that are out to kill you. You can perform melee combat or use guns also. The sound design is superb, delivering that 80's horror movie sound of dark synth ambiance. It has a very snuff film look to it even incorporating static and film grainManhunt is a stealth/action/horror game with tons of gore and vulgarity. The gameplay consists of hiding in the shadows and brutally murdering people that are out to kill you. You can perform melee combat or use guns also. The sound design is superb, delivering that 80's horror movie sound of dark synth ambiance. It has a very snuff film look to it even incorporating static and film grain during certain parts. The voice acting is pretty well done, delivering that creepy feel of each gang as they stalk you. Starkweather, the man behind the reasoning for the entire story of the game, at times becomes excited and even sexually aroused by the violence you're committing via earpiece you're wearing throughout the game. You can also use a headset to say things to enemies and they'll react to it. The graphics are not bad for PS2 standards from 2003. Very gritty and true to that Rockstar game look. The controls may feel dated to some but I don't have a problem with them. The melee can feel stiff sometimes, especially if you get caught by multiple enemies. The environments are all unique and never get boring. The variety of weapons is quite large as well with 3 different kills for each minus the guns and throwables. The story is pretty straightforward for the most part, not the greatest but it's not bad. If you like violent, gritty stealth games then you'll definitely appreciate this game. Expand
  20. May 11, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. wow this game. i enjoy it. I do not have to say anything more. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it. Expand
  21. Jun 10, 2014
    6
    Polémico juegos de infiltración y asesinato que en su segunda parte fue inclusive censurado en Inglaterra ya que se consideró que exhibía conducta violenta innecesaria. Algunas de sus mecánicas son interesantes. Para echarle un ojo al primero o segundo como referencia histórica.
  22. Nov 16, 2013
    10
    i wish i can go back to the same day this came out in 03. i still got the same magazine of game informer with manhunt gameplay pics. this was the main game we wanted out of the game books of 2003. still play one and two in 2013. these classics i hope, wont ever be forgot.
  23. Jun 24, 2013
    5
    I admit that I never played Manhunt until the year 2013 when I anxiously downloaded it from psn. I have no problem with the violence or the blood, I actually find it entertaining but I do hate poor controls (a rockstar trademark during the ps2 era), I also despise the poor camera angles, lack of save points, lack of choice, and the dull graphics (even for the ps2, this is not good). I doI admit that I never played Manhunt until the year 2013 when I anxiously downloaded it from psn. I have no problem with the violence or the blood, I actually find it entertaining but I do hate poor controls (a rockstar trademark during the ps2 era), I also despise the poor camera angles, lack of save points, lack of choice, and the dull graphics (even for the ps2, this is not good). I do love the story and the premise of the game but unfortunately at some point you have to actually use the controller and that is when the game fails. Its different, its violent, and at first its exciting--if you can deal with its many, many problems. Expand
  24. Jun 8, 2013
    8
    Building up to Manhunt's release in 2003 media focus centred solely on the games graphic violence and, while it is certainly rated 18 for a reason, this attention caused many to overlook just how good a game it actually was.

    The player takes on the role of James Earl Cash, a criminal sentenced to death for committing a series of heinous crimes. Instead of being put to death however he
    Building up to Manhunt's release in 2003 media focus centred solely on the games graphic violence and, while it is certainly rated 18 for a reason, this attention caused many to overlook just how good a game it actually was.

    The player takes on the role of James Earl Cash, a criminal sentenced to death for committing a series of heinous crimes. Instead of being put to death however he is given a second chance by someone known as "The Director". Waking in an isolated area of Carcer City Cash is instructed to murder the gang members that inhabit the streets and alleys in front of the hundreds of cameras set up to create his very own snuff film. Every level is even narrated by The Director who passes comments as to how well you are progressing.
    With little story to be told (aside from the final couple of levels) the focus is very much on the stealth based gameplay. What makes Manhunt different however is that Cash is very much the hunter rather than the hunted as is often the case in games such as Metal Gear or Splinter Cell. On the normal difficulty setting an on-screen radar provides information as to the enemies position and state of alert. The environment itself can be used to cause distractions and once approached enemies can be dispatched in a variety of ways depending on which weapon the player is holding. Be sure to strike quickly and quietly however as Manhunt can be an unforgiving games and it is easy to find yourself surrounded by shotgun wielding enemies in later levels.

    Each of the games twenty or so levels plays out in similar fashion but enough variety is added as the game progresses to help retain the players interest. One level for example sees your family members captured and being spotted even once results in their deaths whilst another tasks the player with accompanying a drunk man through a cemetery. Some of the later levels even see a shift to more gun based gameplay helping to pick up pace as the game reaches its climax.

    Manhunt may be violent and a little too slow for some but it is truly on the best games available on the Playstation 2 and at the price it can now be found for a must have game.
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  25. Mar 21, 2013
    5
    This game is designed to be "shocking," uber-violent and do what no other game has done before. And with that it does succeed. But does that make it a good game? No. For the most part the story is nothing we haven't seen before in movies, the gameplay is really nothing more than a violent Splinter Cell or Metal Gear clone. General graphics in game are dull to look at and add very little toThis game is designed to be "shocking," uber-violent and do what no other game has done before. And with that it does succeed. But does that make it a good game? No. For the most part the story is nothing we haven't seen before in movies, the gameplay is really nothing more than a violent Splinter Cell or Metal Gear clone. General graphics in game are dull to look at and add very little to the atmosphere. However it does have some nice camera work/effects that fit nicely into the tone. Kill sequences are also done very well and are rather graphic. Overall: A game that perhaps relies too much on its own notoriety to sell itself. Those who are a bit squeamish or not use to this type of violence in the media are likely to enjoy it more. Those who have been numbed by years of violent media bombardment will just think it's OK. Expand
  26. Jan 15, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. You are put into the shoes of convicted criminal James Cash. Sentenced to death (for a crime that is unknown to the player), his execution is staged, and rather than being put to death, he is simply given a sedative, and then abducted. Thus, he ends up in the clutches of a sick snuff film director, who intends to use James in his latest movie. Left in an abandoned part of city, with paid gangs hunting him down, James has no choice but to listen to his instructions given to him through an ear piece. He must survive by killing those that are hunting him, and remain hidden, whilst the director catches it all on film.

    Throughout the game, the whole point is to remain hidden from the gangs hunting you down, and then either creep past them without them seeing you, distract them, or creep up behind them and kill them. If you walk, rather than run, your footsteps are too quiet for the hunters to hear. If you run, they will hear you and investigate, similarly, if you bump into a trash can or walk on a noisy surface, then they will hear. The game is set at night, and so there are lots of dark shadowy areas to hide in. Once you are completely within a shadow, hunters will not be able to see you.

    The game is split up into scenes, and each scene involves a particular gang of hunters. Each of them has their own kind of dress code and way of speaking. You start off against The Hoods, who are basically just thugs in balaclavas. You later face a gang of racist skin heads, some lunatics, some ex-army nutcases and so on. Each gang uses different weapons, starting unarmed, then gradually getting more dangerous with knives, bats, and eventually guns.

    The hunters will actively search for you. They do not follow set paths as they look for you, unlike other stealth games. Some hunters in the game are reluctant to leave a certain post that they are defending, but 99% of the time, hunters will look anywhere for you. This means that you constantly have to be careful about what you're doing, and where you are.

    If a hunter is at long distance, and he catches a glimpse of you, he will just walk over and examine the area, he won't know that it's you instantly. Similarly, if you make a slight noise, he will check it out. If you are close by and he sees you, he will recognise you and chase you, and call any of his partners nearby. With this in mind, the best thing to do is wait in shadows, or out of sight, and wait for opportunities to strike, or to creep past. By tapping walls with your hand, you can lure hunters to your position, and then creep away, leaving them where you were. This becomes a basic tactic that you will continually use in order to get past hunters, or to lure them in to kill them.

    Once a hunter has been alerted and is chasing you, he will run as fast as he can, and so you must run away. You can decide to fight hunters face-to-face, but you will normally get defeated if they gang up, which they normally do. The best thing to do is to try and lose them. If you just run straight ahead down an alleyway or corridor, you will never lose them because they will be able to see you. You have to break the line of sight, by taking a corner. After you do this, the hunter will run to the junction or corner, and turn in the direction that he saw you take. But if by then you're hidden somewhere, he won't know where you went, so he will stop and search. Depending on what gang you are against, they will search for longer periods of time, and they can run faster and have a higher state of alert and awareness.

    Whilst you could try to get through the game by avoiding the hunters, your best bet is to try and take them down if they're in the way of progress. The best way to do this is by using stealth kills. The way this works is by targetting a hunter from behind, when they are unaware of you, then getting in range and then holding down the kill button. Then, when you release the kill button, James will perform the stealth kill, which the hunter cannot escape from. You must use a weapon in order to perform a stealth kill, James can't do it with his bare hands.

    Each weapon has three kills. While you hold down the kill button, the target around the hunter's head will turn from white to yellow to red. Thus, there are three levels of execution. The level 1 (white) executions tend to be instant kills, level 2 (yellow) involves a more brutal killing, and level 3 (red) will have James trying to inflict as much pain as he can whilst executing the hunter. The purpose of this is to satisfy the director, who insists that James makes his movie as brutal as he can. Ultimately, however, it is up to the player how James deals with the hunters, and you can choose to punish the hunters with level 3 executions if you feel like it; it allows you to vent your frustration especially if the hunter is badmouthing you, or has been difficult to stalk. On the other hand, you can give the hunters a break and kill them instantly
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  27. Oct 12, 2012
    8
    Disturbing, scary, graphically violent. Rockstar North's urban horror game is a tense and taut spin on "The Most Dangerous Game". Players control James Earle Cash, an inmate who is busted out of prison by The Director; a mystery man who sees your every move. Once Cash escapes the prison facility, his journey home becomes a literal fight for survival. Armed with bladed weapons and firearms,Disturbing, scary, graphically violent. Rockstar North's urban horror game is a tense and taut spin on "The Most Dangerous Game". Players control James Earle Cash, an inmate who is busted out of prison by The Director; a mystery man who sees your every move. Once Cash escapes the prison facility, his journey home becomes a literal fight for survival. Armed with bladed weapons and firearms, Cash uses both stealth and full-out assaults as to fight off the creepy gangs who are out to kill him. The macrbe twist is that The Director aids Cash through an earpiece throughout the game. He directs Cash to his final destination, ordering him to kill as gruesomely as possible every step of the way. The disturbing aspect of the game is that it rewards you for doing so. You are encouraged to perform the most graphic killings to unlock challenge rooms. In movie terms, "Manhunt" is "The Running Man" meets "The Warriors" with a touch of "8MM". Gameplay-wise, it is very similar to "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" and "Hitman 2". This game features shooting segments, but it's very much a stealth game. The horror atmosphere is extremely thick with a synth musical score straight out of an 80's slasher flick. In a sense, "Manhunt" is a survival game as much as it is an action title. In fact, you'll probably creep out when you first get spotted by a crazed gang member.

    Rockstar North made three great "Grand Theft Auto" games for the PS2. This game is nowhere as grandiose as those mammoth titles. But it is an efficient and effective actioner that is truly creepy. 8.5 out of 10.
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  28. Dec 3, 2011
    8
    Is it scary? Sure. Is it gory as hell? For the time, definitely. One thing it truly is, is one twisted and disturbing game. You literally play as a killer who, against his will, stars in what is the largest snuff film ever made. This game is 50% survival horror and 50% sadism, and what better than a soundtrack sounding somewhat like Ennio Morricone's music in John Carpenter's The Thing.Is it scary? Sure. Is it gory as hell? For the time, definitely. One thing it truly is, is one twisted and disturbing game. You literally play as a killer who, against his will, stars in what is the largest snuff film ever made. This game is 50% survival horror and 50% sadism, and what better than a soundtrack sounding somewhat like Ennio Morricone's music in John Carpenter's The Thing. Low synth-bass notes play constantly and when you get noticed by the insanely sadistic gang members who constantly hunt you down these notes get louder and intensify. This is one of the first survival horror games to use the element of sound to not only create atmosphere, but also to be apart of the survival aspect itself. Running causes hunters to hear you, banging against walls and fighting does the same thing. If you kick a shopping cart by accident or walk on gravel, noise is emitted. Really the game is brilliant, even if it is shockingly sadistic. It's unique and all survival horror fans should experience it all the way through at least once. Expand
  29. JoeM.
    Sep 18, 2007
    9
    An incredibly atmospheric, gritty and bold masterpiece that every mature gamer should consider experiencing.
  30. DaveW.
    Sep 8, 2007
    2
    I originally bought this game because I had so much of the hoo-ha surrounding it that I just felt I had to give it a go to see what all the fuss was about. And after having played it for a few days, I still couldn't tell. Yes, the game is (at times unnecessarily) gory, yes it's extremely violent, but unfortunately it's also not very good. The difference between the speed of I originally bought this game because I had so much of the hoo-ha surrounding it that I just felt I had to give it a go to see what all the fuss was about. And after having played it for a few days, I still couldn't tell. Yes, the game is (at times unnecessarily) gory, yes it's extremely violent, but unfortunately it's also not very good. The difference between the speed of Cash's walk and his run were too extreme, making any attempts at sneaking up then running away near impossible to accurately control. The stealth element, while pretty well executed, was let down by the slow pace of the game. Basically, this game is great for anyone who's going to find it funny or thrilling to stab a character in the neck with a crowbar. Anyone else should leave well alone, because this game just isn't strong enough in terms of gameplay to make anything other than a cheap shockfest. Expand

Awards & Rankings

81
10
#10 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003
8
#8 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2003
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 47 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 47
  2. Negative: 4 out of 47
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    An engrossing thrill ride. [19 Dec 2003, p.L2T 20]
  2. It is incredibly easy to screw up and get killed in this game, which sometimes forces you to repeat lengthy and difficult sections of each level. Thankfully, there are mid-stage save points that allow you to restart there instead of at the beginning of the level.
  3. The controls are responsive and worked well, both for the sneaking around aspect and the heads up melee fighting if you happen to get spotted.