outlet

I heard a lot of buzz about Manhunt and was thoroughly impressed with the graphic executions and realistic stealth techniques. This game is so viciously graphic that it is actually scary. The plot of the game is you play as James Earl Cash, a convict who is believed to have been executed by the state only to realize he was kidnapped by a snuff film producer. Now he, you, must survive in an abandoned city while gangs try to kill you, while the entire adventure is being filmed. The best part so far is the executions, which are seen through the lens of the camera. I haven't finished the game but it is definetly worth the fifty dollars. Finally, a realistic, graphic, and well-concieved horror stealth game for the Xbox.

First off, this game gained my intrest ever since I WATCHED it being played on the crappy PS2. I stress watched because I would never touch such a vile and disgusting pile of technological bile of which is the PS2. Sorry, almost lost it there. This game just goes to show you why Rockstar is one of the premier developers, they continue to push the envelope by using that beautiful little rating box in the lower right hand corner of your game case. They have found and intriguing little niche, by blending both stealth and survival horror into a graphical 8mm snuff film fest. As far as gameplay and control, don't look for Sam Fisher type moves but expect tight and well designed control schemes and level creativity. If you've watched the movie 8mm and the Running Man then you've got a pretty good idea what the story is about. My only quirk with the game is that their are no port improvements. There should have been some sort of "And this version has". It's like game companies know the Xbox is the superior console, but won't use it's power to the fullest extent. But anyway they'll realize the power the system has to create great games. So all you Xbox fans out there, don't let this great game slip through your fingers, in other words don't sleep on this sleeper hit. And if your wondering why I didn't give "This Great Game" a perfect 5 stars, it's because, as we all know, the greatest game of all time is Halo

This game starts off slow... but it gets amazing fast. The camera is very user friendly and the control is near perfect (the only thing missing is the ability to make Cash (the anti-hero) crouch). I'll warn you though... the early levels are repetitive: it does (believe it or not) get somewhat tiresome sneaking around executing people. But with each level comes a new environment, new weapons, and new foes. The enemies also get progressively smarter to the point in fact that they use squad based tactics to track you, trap you and storm you. It turns into a very difficult game. In the first few levels you fight ruthless gangs with melee weapons such as bats, knives, glass shards, wires, and sickles. Near the end of the game you'll find yourself at odds with the cops and SWAT teams in all out gun blazing atmospheres with handguns, sniper rifles, shotguns, assault rifles and uzis just to name a few (with tonnes of steath thrown into the mix). Think Max Payne/Dead to Rights meets Splinter Cell. You can surprise enemies by popping out from behind cover, have them targetted from the protection of the shadows, trap them by moving dead bodies to locations that they will come to check out (locations where you just may be waiting silently in the shadows), make noise to attract them... trust me, it gets very entertaining/challenging when you've got 10 members of a SWAT team tracking you and you've got nothing but a shotgun and your wits to off them all. You cannot outgun them... theres no slow motion dives here. In all honesty, if you begin blasting without any thought, you'll take down one or two enemies tops... depending on your luck, before they kill you. You've got to split them up... off them one at a time, but they stick together making this task extremely difficult. And remember.. guns make noise so you have to kill and move or you'll be tracked and shot. Enemies are fully aware of what they see and what they hear.

This game will startle you at times and it does perfectly combine stealth, action gun play and horror. Be warned though: its not a run and gun... you have to be smart and use stealth and you have to keep moving through the shadows or the enemy will track you. This game takes patience and is difficult and very violent but play to the end and you'll agree that its one amazing game.

Graphics: 9
Sound: 10
Fun: 9.5
Replay: 9.5 (I haven't unlocked all of the goodies yet)
Control: 10
Overall: 10 (I rounded up...)