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Manhunt 2

November 26, 2023

Manhunt 2 is a 2007 stealth game by Rockstar Games. It was developed by Rockstar London for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 2, Rockstar Leeds for the PlayStation Portable, and Rockstar Toronto for the Wii. It is the sequel to 2003's Manhunt and was released in North America on 29 October 2007, and in the UK on 31 October 2008.[1] The game follows Daniel Lamb, a mental patient suffering from amnesia as he tries to uncover his identity, and Leo Kasper, a sociopathic assassin who guides Daniel in his journey.

Manhunt 2
Developer(s)Rockstar London[a]
Publisher(s)Rockstar Games
Producer(s)Mark Washbrook
Designer(s)Charlie Bewsher
Programmer(s)Thomas Busser
Artist(s)Leigh Malpas
Writer(s)
Composer(s)Craig Conner
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)
ReleasePS2, PSP, Wii
  • NA: 29 October 2007
  • PAL: 31 October 2008
Microsoft Windows
  • NA: 6 November 2009
Genre(s)Stealth
Mode(s)Single-player

Originally scheduled for a North American and European release in July 2007, the game was suspended by Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive when it was refused classification in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and given an Adults Only (AO) rating in the United States.[2] As Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony Computer Entertainment do not allow licensed releases of AO titles on their consoles, this would have severely limited their potential customer base in the US as well.[3] In response to these ratings problems, Rockstar censored the game, blurring the screen during the game's executions and removing the scoring system, which rewarded players for particularly brutal killings.[4] This edited version was rated M in the US by the ESRB and was released on 29 October.[5] However, the BBFC still refused to classify the edited version for its UK release. Rockstar appealed their decision, and ultimately, the Video Appeals Committee voted that the game could be released with an 18 certificate.[6]

Manhunt 2 received largely polarized reviews from critics: the improved gameplay, game engine, plot twists, darker storyline, and use of extreme violence was praised, but its voice acting and outdated graphics drew mixed response. The title garnered controversy before and after its release, getting the attention of Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, anti-video game activist Jack Thompson, and various US senators. It was nominated for GameSpy's 2007 Game of the Year Award for the PS2.

Gameplay edit

 
Stealth in Manhunt 2; Daniel Lamb, attempting to execute an enemy guard with a baseball bat.

Players primarily assume the role of Daniel Lamb in a third-person perspective, with Leo Kasper also playable in certain missions. Although different in appearance and personality, both have similar controls. As with the original game, the primary gameplay mechanic is stealth execution, whereby the player character must approach an enemy from behind, undetected, and kill them.[7] There are three 'levels' of execution, with each level progressively more violent and graphic than the last; Level 1 (Hasty) executions are quick and not very bloody, Level 2 (Violent) are considerably more gory, and Level 3 (Gruesome) are over-the-top. The player is in control of which level they use; once the player has locked onto an enemy, the lock-on reticule changes color over time to indicate the level; white (level 1), yellow (level 2), and red (level 3). When playing on PC or Wii while doing the executions, there is a quick time event which lists down certain moves that either the mouse or Wii Controller must move or by pressing a certain button at a specific time in order to finish the execution. If it does not finish in the specific time, it will stop the execution and skip the execution completely, although the player still kills the person.

Manhunt 2's stealth elements have been updated from the previous game. For example, players are given more choices in terms of executing enemies. Aside from the three levels of execution per weapon, players can use firearms for executions.[7] Two further additions to the execution system are "environmental executions" whereby the player can use elements of the game world (such as manhole covers, telephones, fuse boxes, toilets, etc.) to eliminate opponents, and "jump executions" whereby players can attack enemies from above by leaping off a ledge.[7] A scoring system based on how brutal the executions was excluded from the console versions in order to obtain an M rating from ESRB, while the PC version retained this feature.[4]

While out of combat, players must hide from enemies by staying out of their point of view or hiding in the shadows. The shadow system in the game has been tweaked from the first game. In Manhunt, unless a hunter saw a player enter a shadow area, he would be unable to detect the player within it. In Manhunt 2 however, enemy AI has been expanded, with some enemies more vigilant than others. When hiding in the shadows, if an enemy investigates the area, the player may have to mimic a combination of buttons or motions (similar to that of a quick time event), in order to regulate the character's breathing so as to ensure that he remains calm and undetected. In the PC and Wii version, the player must keep the cursor inside an on-screen circle. Climbing and crawling have been added to the game to increase the sense of exploration. Another new feature is the ability to smash lights so as to create extra pockets of shadow.[8] Audio is an important aspect of the game. Tasks such as running, opening doors, walking on gravel and cornstalks, or accidentally knocking objects over, can alert the enemy to the player's position. However, sound sources such as machinery can be used as a tool to cover the player's own noise. Other forms of combat aside from stealth are incorporated. Firearms allow for gunfights. Players can take cover from enemy fire, while individual body parts such as the head can be targeted. Painkillers can be found throughout the game, improving the player's low health. When the player is discovered by an enemy, they can either run, hide or attempt to fight back with hand-to-hand combat.[9]

Synopsis edit

Setting edit

Manhunt 2 takes place in 2007, within the fictional city of Cottonmouth,[b] which is inspired by several southern US cities, mainly New Orleans. Like its predecessor, the game is part of the same shared universe as the Grand Theft Auto series also created by Rockstar Games.[10][better source needed]

Plot edit

In 2007, at the Dixmor Asylum for the Criminally Insane, a severe thunderstorm causes the security system at the asylum to momentarily go offline, opening the cell doors throughout the facility, resulting in the populace wandering freely through the corridors. Two somewhat saner patients are Daniel Lamb (Ptolemy Slocum) and Leo Kasper (Holter Graham). Daniel, who suffers from disorientation and is partly amnesiac, is unable to remember how or why he was admitted to Dixmor. Under Leo's guidance, they escape the facility and make their way to the ruins of Daniel's old home. Inside, Daniel recovers medication which Leo says he left there for himself in the event of him forgetting the past. The medication helps to clear his head somewhat, and he begins to remember fragments of his former life. He and Leo then set out to unravel the secrets of Daniel's past, all the while pursued by bounty hunters and agents of a mysterious organization called "The Project".

As the plot unfolds, Daniel learns that he was once a top scientist in the employment of the "Pickman Project", a government-sponsored weapons program involving brainwashing and mind control techniques. The Project's goal was to create the perfect assassin; to accomplish this, they developed the "Pickman Bridge", a brain implant containing the personality and skills of a trained assassin which could be activated on command. Theoretically, these personalities can coexist, unaware of each other. The idea is to remotely activate the assassin persona for a mission, but keep it disabled otherwise, meaning the person would then have no memory of what happened, neutralizing enemy interrogation.

As Daniel puts the clues together and begins to remember more of his past, he and Leo set out to find Dr. Whyte, a Project researcher and one of Daniel's co-workers. However, before they can get to her, they are ambushed and sedated. Daniel wakes up in a room with Whyte, who reveals the truth to him. Six years prior, with the Project's funds under threat, Daniel volunteered himself to test the Pickman Bridge, hoping that the resulting payoff would allow him to clear his family's debts and provide a financially secure future. However, the Bridge malfunctioned soon after it was implanted, causing Daniel to suffer from dissociative identity disorder, resulting in him being able to directly communicate with the implanted personality, who he perceives as a real person - Leo Kasper. Whyte explains that Leo is dangerously unstable, and has been working against Daniel from the very beginning.

Whyte reveals that, after the implant malfunctioned, Leo's personality asserted itself, suppressing Daniel's own, and he went on a rampage across the city, murdering police officers and members of the Project, destroying the Project's records of Daniel and himself, and finally making his way to Daniel's household and killing his wife. His goal was to weaken Daniel's grip on reality to the point where Leo could take complete control of his mind. However, the Project caught Daniel/Leo after the murder, erased his memory, torched his house, and had him committed to Dixmor, where they had been working to study the effects of the implant and repair the damage, without success. Upon learning the truth, Daniel determines that he must destroy Leo once and for all. He enters a deep hypnotic state and faces off against Leo within the confines of his own mind. He is finally able to let go of the guilt he feels over his wife's death, allowing him to destroy Leo and assert control.

Having done so, Daniel awakens on a deserted road with his memory erased once more. He is holding an envelope informing him that his name is "David Joiner", providing him with a new home address at 526 Hope Street, Apartment B, and wishing him luck. Daniel briefly hesitates before walking away.

An alternate ending is unlocked on the Hard difficulty or if Danny killed too many civilians throughout the game, resulting in the final battle being played from Leo's perspective. He successfully destroys Daniel's personality and wakes up in control of his mind and body. Whyte, believing she is speaking to Daniel, asks him if he is okay, to which he replies he is keen to get back to work on the Bridge. As he looks at himself in the mirror, Daniel sees Leo's reflection looking back at him.

Development edit

Development on Manhunt 2 commenced shortly after the release of the first Manhunt. Rockstar North, who had developed the first game, were working on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, so development was handed over to Rockstar Vienna.[11] From Q1 to Q3 of 2005, German developer Rabcat Computer Graphics assisted them in the creation of 350+ 3D assets.[12] However, on 11 May 2006 Rockstar Vienna was closed, and the main development of the game was handed to Rockstar London. Rockstar Toronto was tasked with developing a Wii version and Rockstar Leeds was tasked with the PSP version.[11] It was officially announced by Take-Two on 6 February 2007, scheduled for a worldwide July 2007 release.[13] Despite working on the game for two years, members of Rockstar Vienna received no credit in the final product.[14]

Rockstar launched the first teaser website of the game on 7 February 2007, and the official website was launched two months later. Additional information was provided by the Official PlayStation Magazine who had the first look at the game.[15] Press coverage from other sources such as Kotaku and IGN soon followed. Kotaku posted an eyes-on-preview of Manhunt 2 featuring a recording of someone playing the game, which showed the first footage of direct gameplay.[11] The video was recorded at a Sony Computer Entertainment event held in North America.

Controversy edit

Pre-release edit

The controversy surrounding Manhunt 2 began two days after its announcement, before any footage or information on the game had been released. The initial topic of discussion was the fact that the first game had been erroneously connected to a murder in the UK.[16][17][18] Take-Two themselves preempted this debate, issuing a statement on 8 February, in which they said "We are aware that in direct contradiction to all available evidence, certain individuals continue to link the original Manhunt title to the Warren Leblanc case in 2004. The transcript of the court case makes it quite clear what really happened. At sentencing the Judge, defence, prosecution and Leicester police all emphasised that Manhunt played no part in the case."[19] Later that day, Patrick and Giselle Pakeerah (parents of Leblanc's victim) condemned the game and insisted that Manhunt was a factor in their son's murder. Leicester East MP Keith Vaz supported the Pakeerahs, claiming he was "astonished" that Rockstar were making a sequel.[20]

On 23 February, activist Jack Thompson vowed to have the game banned, claiming that the police were incorrect in asserting the game belonged to Pakeerah, and that Take-Two were lying about the incident; "[I] have been asked by individuals in the United Kingdom to help stop the distribution of Take-Two/Rockstar's hyperviolent video game Manhunt 2 in that country due out this summer. The game will feature stealth murder and torture. The last version allowed suffocation of victims with plastic bags. The original Manhunt was responsible for the bludgeoning death of a British youth by his friend who obsessively played the game. The killer used a hammer just as in the game he played. Take-Two/Rockstar, anticipating the firestorm of criticism with the release of the murder simulator sequel, is lying to the public on both sides of the pond in stating this week that the game had nothing to do with the murder."[21][unreliable source?] On 10 March, Thompson said he planned to sue Take-Two/Rockstar in an effort to have both Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV banned as "public nuisances".

On 16 March, Take-Two petitioned U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to block the impending lawsuit, on the grounds that video games purchased for private entertainment could not be considered public nuisances.[22] The following day, Thompson wrote on his website: "I have been praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid, that such a misstep would enable me to destroy Take-Two. The pit Take-Two has dug for itself will be patently clear next week when I strike back."[23] On 21 March, Thompson filed a counter-suit, accusing Take-Two of multiple violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), specifically a continued effort to violate his constitutional rights.[24] He also accused the Entertainment Software Association, Penny Arcade, IGN, GamePolitics.com, GameSpot, GameSpy, Eurogamer, Kotaku, Blank Rome and the US Justice Department of collaborating and conspiring with Take-Two to commit racketeering activities. He went on to refer to Rockstar North as "Scottish sociopaths sipping their single malt Glenlivet in between brainstorming software programming sessions",[24] and accused Take-Two of "spewing its pop culture sewage to the world's children". However, his claim was weakened by several factual errors contained within it.[24]

The dispute was ultimately settled before it went to the courts; Thompson agreed not to sue, threaten to sue or attempt to block the sale or distribution of any Take-Two game, and not to communicate to Take-Two or any store selling their games any accusation that they have committed a wrongdoing by selling such products. For their part, Take-Two agreed to drop a prior suit accusing Thompson of contempt of court concerning the game Bully, which he attempted to have banned in 2005.[25][26]

However, in a letter dated 8 May, to Wendy's CEO Kerrii Anderson, Thompson demanded that the restaurant drop an upcoming promotion featuring children's toys designed after the Wii games Excite Truck, Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy because Manhunt 2 was scheduled for release on the console.[27] Wendy's did not respond to Thompson, and continued with their Wii promotion.[28] On 12 May, he sent a letter to Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Florida Governor Charlie Crist which read, in part, "Florida retailers are scheduled to sell a very violent video game called Manhunt 2 which will be available, remarkably, for "play" on the kids-friendly Nintendo Wii gaming platform. The Wii device does not utilize traditional push button game controllers but instead utilizes hand-held motion capture devices ... It is a training device."[29] In a 6 June interview on Fox News, McCollum expressed concerns regarding how Manhunt 2 utilized the Wii Remote in an interactive manner; for instance, in order to stab someone, the player would have to flick the Remote forward, in much the same fashion one would do when actually stabbing with a knife; when cutting someone's throat, the player would have to move the remote from left to right.[30][31]

Also concerned about the Wii version of the game was the Center for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), who wrote to the ESRB demanding that the game be rated AO.[32]

Rating edit

On 19 June 2007, less than a month prior to the game's worldwide release, Manhunt 2 was rejected by both the BBFC and the IFCO. David Cooke, Director of the BBFC issued a statement, which read, in part;

Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly. Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board's published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game. Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game's unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game. That work was classified '18' in 2003, before the BBFC's recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category. Against this background, the Board's carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.[33]

In response to the ban, Rockstar themselves were quick to issue a statement; "We are disappointed with the recent decision by the British Board of Film Classification to refuse classification of Manhunt 2. While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules, we emphatically disagree with this particular decision. Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of psychological thrillers and horror. The subject matter of this game is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers."[34] Rockstar also stated that they felt the game was well within the guidelines to be granted an 18 certificate, and they implied that the BBFC treated games differently from how they treated films, arguing that Manhunt 2 was no more violent than recent films such as Saw and Hostel.[35] Later, the BBFC's press officer, Sue Clarke, told IGN that Rockstar was wrong in this assertion, and that "[they] haven't singled out" Manhunt 2.[36]

Later that same day, in an unexpected move, the ESRB issued the game with an AO rating. The initial impact of this decision was that major retail chains, such as Walmart, GameStop and Target would not stock the title.[37] The following day, 20 June, Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony Computer Entertainment issued statements saying they do not allow AO titles on their platforms, which effectively meant the game would have been banned in the US.[38]

A few months after news of the rating broke, an early uncut PlayStation 2 version was leaked online by a Sony Computer Entertainment Europe employee.[39]

Re-rating edit

 
US Senator Hillary Clinton was one of the senators who wrote a letter to ESRB concerning their rating of the game as Mature, asking the ESRB to re-rate the game to AO, where they described it as "visceral and casually sadistic".[40]

In light of the BBFC and ESRB decisions, Rockstar decided to censor the game. Censoring took five main forms.[41] The primary alteration was the addition of a blurring effect over executions; during an execution the screen turns red, and flashes black-and-white. The second alteration was the removal of all but two decapitations. Initially, several weapons in the game could decapitate enemies, but with the exception of two plot-important decapitations, all such executions were removed. Thirdly, the pliers executions were toned down. Originally, a gruesome execution with the pliers involved ripping off the enemy's testicles, whilst a level 2 execution involved tearing open his throat. In the edited version, the pliers are used to beat the enemy over the head. The fourth change was the removal of innocent characters from certain levels. Originally, the game was structured in such a way that the player had the choice as to whether or not to kill these characters. If they did not, they got the ending where Daniel defeats Leo; if they did, they got the alternative ending. The final change involved the rating system. Originally, the game had a rating system similar to the first game, whereby the player was rated based on speed and severity of execution types. To achieve a maximum rating, one had to perform a set number of gruesome executions in each level. This rating system was completely removed from the edited version.[4]

In August, Rockstar submitted the re-edited version to the ESRB and BBFC. The ESRB were satisfied and granted the game an M rating on 24 August. Later that day, the Campaign For a Commercial-Free Childhood called for a federal investigation into how the game had had its rating downgraded:

The [CCFC] is extremely concerned that the ESRB has downgraded its rating for Manhunt 2 ... Despite industry claims to the contrary, M-rated games continue to be marketed and sold to children under seventeen. The ESRB's reversal of its earlier decision dramatically increases the likelihood that Manhunt 2 – the most violent game to date produced for the interactive Nintendo Wii platform – will be marketed and sold to children. Just three months ago, the ESRB felt that Manhunt 2 was so violent that it took the extraordinary step of giving a game an AO rating for violent content for only the second time in its history. We urge the ESRB to make public their rationale for changing Manhunt 2's rating, including detailing any content that was removed from the game. We call upon Rockstar Games to allow the content of Manhunt 2 to be reviewed by an independent review board with no ties to the video game industry. We ask the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the process by which Manhunt 2's rating was downgraded from AO to M.[42]

California State Senator Leland Yee expressed similar sentiments: "Parents can't trust a rating system that doesn't even disclose how they come to a particular rating. The ESRB and Rockstar should end this game of secrecy by immediately unveiling what content has been changed to grant the new rating and what correspondence occurred between the ESRB and Rockstar to come to this conclusion. Unfortunately, history shows that we must be quite skeptical of these two entities. ... Clearly the ESRB has a conflict of interest in rating these games. It is time to bring transparency to this rating system and for the industry to be held accountable. I join the CCFC in urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the process by which Manhunt 2's rating was downgraded from AO to M."[43] On 29 August, ESRB President Patricia Vance stated that the ESRB had no intention of revealing how it came to the decision to downgrade the rating.[44]

Manhunt 2 was released for PSP, PS2 and Wii in the US on 31 October, with an M rating. The very next day, 1 November, a method that removed the blurring effect on the PSP and PS2 versions was released by a group of PSP crackers.[45][46] A Wii version of the blur removal soon followed. Leland Yee and the Parents Television Council demanded that Manhunt 2 be re-rated AO, but after examining the situation, the ESRB concluded it was not Rockstar's fault that these hacks could be used and decided to stick with the M rating.[47]

On 22 November, US Senators Joe Lieberman, Sam Brownback, Evan Bayh and Hillary Clinton wrote an open letter to the ESRB asking for the game to be re-rated AO: "we ask your consideration of whether it is time to review the robustness, reliability and repeatability of your ratings process, particularly for this genre of 'ultraviolent' video games and the advances in game controllers. We have consistently urged parents to pay attention to the ESRB rating system. We must ensure that parents can rely on the consistency and accuracy of those ratings." The ESRB again refused to re-rate the game, and stuck with the M rating.[40]

BBFC edit

Despite the ESRB's decision to rate the game M in the US, on 8 October, the BBFC once again refused to classify the game.[48] David Cooke, Director of the BBFC stated "We recognize that the distributor has made changes to the game, but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version. The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone, or the essential nature of the gameplay, is clearly insufficient. There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the 'execution kills', but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature. We did make suggestions for further changes to the game, but the distributor has chosen not to make them, and as a result we have rejected the game on both platforms."[49]

On 26 November, Rockstar appealed the BBFC's second decision not to rate the game with their lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson.[50] TIGA president Fred Hasson testified that he was "surprised at how tame [Manhunt 2] is compared to some very graphical scenes I've seen in other games which have received certification. I expected it to be a lot worse. I can't believe that this has been singled out as something that is worth banning." He went on to accuse the BBFC of making their decision based on media pressure, particularly from the Daily Mail, which had run a campaign to have the first game banned.[51]

On 10 December 2007, the Video Appeals Committee overruled the BBFC by four votes to three.[52] However, On 17 December, the BBFC challenged the VAC decision in the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, claiming that the VAC had overruled them based on a "misinterpretation of the law" as laid out in the Video Recordings Act 1984. This challenge superseded the VAC decision that the game could be classified, and halted any possibility of it going on sale.[53] On 24 January 2008, the BBFC won their case in the High Court. Presiding Justice Mitting agreed with the BBFC's argument that the VAC had erred when considering whether the game could be considered harmful to minors. Whereas the VAC interpreted this as "actual harm", the BBFC and Mitting believed it referred to "potential harm and risk of harm". The BBFC also argued that the VAC based its decision on whether or not the game would have a "devastating effect on society", and argued that this "harm threshold" was too high. Mitting ordered that the same seven-member panel review their findings, and whatever decision they reach the second time would stand.[54] The VAC did so, but they returned with exactly the same result as the first time – four votes to three in favor of classifying the game. The game was ultimately released on PS2, PSP and Wii on 31 October 2008 with an 18 certificate, a year after the US release and the same day as the rest of Europe.[1]

International reaction edit

Internationally, Manhunt 2 proved just as controversial. The game was banned outright in Germany,[55] Malaysia,[56][57] New Zealand[58] and South Korea.[59] The uncensored version of the game was also banned in Ireland by the Irish Film Classification Office for a short time due to "gross, unrelenting and gratuitous violence", but was later allowed in its cut form under a PEGI "18" rating.[60] In Italy, Minister of Communications Paolo Gentiloni expressed the desire to ban the game in the country, but no such ban came into effect.[61] In Australia, where the original Manhunt was banned, the game was never even submitted for classification to the Australian Classification Board, rendering it essentially banned in the country.[62]

PC release edit

On 31 October 2009, Rockstar started taking pre-orders for a PC version of the original unedited version of the game through Direct2Drive. It was released in the US on 6 November 2009 with an AO rating.[63] However, the game was later removed from the service in July 2011 after Direct2Drive was purchased by GameFly, due to GameFly's policy of not carrying AO-rated games.[64] On 25 November 2011, the uncut version was available again in GamersGate, but is only available for select regions.[65] In May 2015, live-streaming service Twitch announced a list of games which are prohibited from being broadcast on its platform, including a unified ban for all games receiving the Adults Only rating, therefore banning the uncut version from the site.[66]

Reception edit

Manhunt 2 received "mixed or average reviews", according to reviewer aggregator Metacritic. Positive reception came from the game's presentation of graphic violence and its psychological horror-based storyline. GameSpot's Kevin VanOrd said the game was "not as shocking as you'd expect, but Manhunt 2 still satisfies your primal instincts",[70] and that the game was better to play on the PSP platform.[71] Mikel Reparaz from GamesRadar stated that "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."[79] Game Informer gave the Wii version of the game 7.75/10, saying "Manhunt 2 is every bit as grim and brutal as the first [...] the writing, as is typical of Rockstar's games, is top-notch, and Daniel and the rest of the characters do come off the screen as very real and human [...] It's a testament to this quality that I was really driven to see the tale out to its end."[73] Similarly, Nintendo Power gave the Wii version 7.5/10, stating that while the game does deliver for the most part, they were disappointed by the way external influences led Rockstar to change the game, and that the story, while interesting, is "highly predictable". Yahoo! reviewed the PSP version, stating "there's simply never been a game quite as squeamishly immersive as this [...] it's even more terrifying for seeming like the most real thing in a game this year."[80]

Jeff Haynes from IGN compared the game to the original, finding it fell short of the standard that game set; "Manhunt 2 isn't the tour de force title that will grab your attention and keep you there like the first one did." The review went on to state that "the AI doesn't feel as good as the first game, the setting and environments don't feel as menacing, and the story is definitely weaker. That isn't to say that Manhunt 2 isn't a good game, because it is."[9] 1UP.com stated that "really, the game warrants a 4 [out of 10] because it's technically playable and, despite its best efforts, probably won't plunge the industry into a period of navel-gazing and political sanction. Everything else about it is largely forgettable."[67] Jonathan Hunt from X-Play suggested that without the controversy concerning the rating, the game would be "nothing more than an obscure footnote in Rockstar's history."[76] Ars Technica's Michael Thompson echoed similar thoughts, writing in a retrospective piece in 2009 that the controversy surrounding Manhunt 2 "was more interesting than the game itself."[81]

Because of its controversy the game is listed at #8 in IGN's "Top 10 Gaming Controversies"[82] and was ranked (alongside the first game) as the sixth most controversial video game by UGO Networks.[83] Machinima listed Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper #7 in their "Top 10 Criminal Duos in Gaming".[84]

Future edit

Take-Two Interactive has denied that it has any plans to continue the Manhunt series.[85]

In October 2007, Stephen Totilo of MTV Games asked Rockstar Games producer Jeronimo Barrera about the possibilities of a multiplayer component being added to future iterations of the Manhunt franchise, such as adding the game to the Rockstar Games Social Club. Barrera seemingly embraced the idea.[86]

That's a very interesting question. ... Who knows where the 'Manhunt' series is going to go? And that's definitely something that warrants some exploring on our part for sure.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Originally in development at Rockstar Vienna. Additional development by Rockstar Toronto and Rockstar North. Ported to PlayStation Portable by Rockstar Leeds, and to Wii and Microsoft Windows by Rockstar Toronto.
  2. ^ Even though the name of the city in which Manhunt 2 takes place is never mentioned in the actual game, it was revealed to be Cottonmouth in a Q&A with Rockstar.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Matt Wales (3 October 2008). "Manhunt 2 Dated in UK". IGN. from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  2. ^ Brendan Sinclair (21 June 2007). "Manhunt 2 PC gets AO rating". GameSpot. from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  3. ^ Brendan Sinclair (20 June 2007). "Sony, Nintendo forbid AO-rated Manhunt 2". GameSpot. from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Stephen Tolito (29 October 2007). "Manhunt 2 Developer Finally Talks About Game, Ratings Controversy – Much As It Pains Him". MTV. from the original on 23 July 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  5. ^ Susan Arendt (24 August 2007). "Revised Manhunt 2 Receives M Rating". Wired. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Manhunt 2". BBFC. from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  7. ^ a b c "Manhunt 2 by Rockstar Games". Wii Games Collection. from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  8. ^ "Manhunt 2 Hands-on Preview". GameSpot. 21 June 2007. from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  9. ^ a b c Jeff Haynes (29 October 2007). "IGN Review of Manhunt 2 for PS2". IGN. from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  10. ^ David Kushner (3 April 2012). Jacked The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0470936375.
  11. ^ a b c "Manhunt 2 Development History". Project Manhunt. from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  12. ^ . Rabcat Computer Graphics GmbH. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Manhunt 2 Chronology of events". Project Manhunt. from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
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External links edit

 
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November 26, 2023
manhunt, 2007, stealth, game, rockstar, games, developed, rockstar, london, microsoft, windows, playstation, rockstar, leeds, playstation, portable, rockstar, toronto, sequel, 2003, manhunt, released, north, america, october, 2007, october, 2008, game, follows. Manhunt 2 is a 2007 stealth game by Rockstar Games It was developed by Rockstar London for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 2 Rockstar Leeds for the PlayStation Portable and Rockstar Toronto for the Wii It is the sequel to 2003 s Manhunt and was released in North America on 29 October 2007 and in the UK on 31 October 2008 1 The game follows Daniel Lamb a mental patient suffering from amnesia as he tries to uncover his identity and Leo Kasper a sociopathic assassin who guides Daniel in his journey Manhunt 2Developer s Rockstar London a Publisher s Rockstar GamesProducer s Mark WashbrookDesigner s Charlie BewsherProgrammer s Thomas BusserArtist s Leigh MalpasWriter s Charlie BewsherChristian CantamessaJohn ZurhellenComposer s Craig ConnerEngineRenderWarePlatform s PlayStation 2PlayStation PortableWiiMicrosoft WindowsReleasePS2 PSP WiiNA 29 October 2007PAL 31 October 2008Microsoft WindowsNA 6 November 2009Genre s StealthMode s Single playerOriginally scheduled for a North American and European release in July 2007 the game was suspended by Rockstar s parent company Take Two Interactive when it was refused classification in the United Kingdom and Ireland and given an Adults Only AO rating in the United States 2 As Nintendo Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment do not allow licensed releases of AO titles on their consoles this would have severely limited their potential customer base in the US as well 3 In response to these ratings problems Rockstar censored the game blurring the screen during the game s executions and removing the scoring system which rewarded players for particularly brutal killings 4 This edited version was rated M in the US by the ESRB and was released on 29 October 5 However the BBFC still refused to classify the edited version for its UK release Rockstar appealed their decision and ultimately the Video Appeals Committee voted that the game could be released with an 18 certificate 6 Manhunt 2 received largely polarized reviews from critics the improved gameplay game engine plot twists darker storyline and use of extreme violence was praised but its voice acting and outdated graphics drew mixed response The title garnered controversy before and after its release getting the attention of Leicester East MP Keith Vaz anti video game activist Jack Thompson and various US senators It was nominated for GameSpy s 2007 Game of the Year Award for the PS2 Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Synopsis 2 1 Setting 2 2 Plot 3 Development 4 Controversy 4 1 Pre release 4 2 Rating 4 3 Re rating 4 4 BBFC 4 5 International reaction 4 6 PC release 5 Reception 6 Future 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksGameplay edit nbsp Stealth in Manhunt 2 Daniel Lamb attempting to execute an enemy guard with a baseball bat Players primarily assume the role of Daniel Lamb in a third person perspective with Leo Kasper also playable in certain missions Although different in appearance and personality both have similar controls As with the original game the primary gameplay mechanic is stealth execution whereby the player character must approach an enemy from behind undetected and kill them 7 There are three levels of execution with each level progressively more violent and graphic than the last Level 1 Hasty executions are quick and not very bloody Level 2 Violent are considerably more gory and Level 3 Gruesome are over the top The player is in control of which level they use once the player has locked onto an enemy the lock on reticule changes color over time to indicate the level white level 1 yellow level 2 and red level 3 When playing on PC or Wii while doing the executions there is a quick time event which lists down certain moves that either the mouse or Wii Controller must move or by pressing a certain button at a specific time in order to finish the execution If it does not finish in the specific time it will stop the execution and skip the execution completely although the player still kills the person Manhunt 2 s stealth elements have been updated from the previous game For example players are given more choices in terms of executing enemies Aside from the three levels of execution per weapon players can use firearms for executions 7 Two further additions to the execution system are environmental executions whereby the player can use elements of the game world such as manhole covers telephones fuse boxes toilets etc to eliminate opponents and jump executions whereby players can attack enemies from above by leaping off a ledge 7 A scoring system based on how brutal the executions was excluded from the console versions in order to obtain an M rating from ESRB while the PC version retained this feature 4 While out of combat players must hide from enemies by staying out of their point of view or hiding in the shadows The shadow system in the game has been tweaked from the first game In Manhunt unless a hunter saw a player enter a shadow area he would be unable to detect the player within it In Manhunt 2 however enemy AI has been expanded with some enemies more vigilant than others When hiding in the shadows if an enemy investigates the area the player may have to mimic a combination of buttons or motions similar to that of a quick time event in order to regulate the character s breathing so as to ensure that he remains calm and undetected In the PC and Wii version the player must keep the cursor inside an on screen circle Climbing and crawling have been added to the game to increase the sense of exploration Another new feature is the ability to smash lights so as to create extra pockets of shadow 8 Audio is an important aspect of the game Tasks such as running opening doors walking on gravel and cornstalks or accidentally knocking objects over can alert the enemy to the player s position However sound sources such as machinery can be used as a tool to cover the player s own noise Other forms of combat aside from stealth are incorporated Firearms allow for gunfights Players can take cover from enemy fire while individual body parts such as the head can be targeted Painkillers can be found throughout the game improving the player s low health When the player is discovered by an enemy they can either run hide or attempt to fight back with hand to hand combat 9 Synopsis editSetting edit Manhunt 2 takes place in 2007 within the fictional city of Cottonmouth b which is inspired by several southern US cities mainly New Orleans Like its predecessor the game is part of the same shared universe as the Grand Theft Auto series also created by Rockstar Games 10 better source needed Plot edit In 2007 at the Dixmor Asylum for the Criminally Insane a severe thunderstorm causes the security system at the asylum to momentarily go offline opening the cell doors throughout the facility resulting in the populace wandering freely through the corridors Two somewhat saner patients are Daniel Lamb Ptolemy Slocum and Leo Kasper Holter Graham Daniel who suffers from disorientation and is partly amnesiac is unable to remember how or why he was admitted to Dixmor Under Leo s guidance they escape the facility and make their way to the ruins of Daniel s old home Inside Daniel recovers medication which Leo says he left there for himself in the event of him forgetting the past The medication helps to clear his head somewhat and he begins to remember fragments of his former life He and Leo then set out to unravel the secrets of Daniel s past all the while pursued by bounty hunters and agents of a mysterious organization called The Project As the plot unfolds Daniel learns that he was once a top scientist in the employment of the Pickman Project a government sponsored weapons program involving brainwashing and mind control techniques The Project s goal was to create the perfect assassin to accomplish this they developed the Pickman Bridge a brain implant containing the personality and skills of a trained assassin which could be activated on command Theoretically these personalities can coexist unaware of each other The idea is to remotely activate the assassin persona for a mission but keep it disabled otherwise meaning the person would then have no memory of what happened neutralizing enemy interrogation As Daniel puts the clues together and begins to remember more of his past he and Leo set out to find Dr Whyte a Project researcher and one of Daniel s co workers However before they can get to her they are ambushed and sedated Daniel wakes up in a room with Whyte who reveals the truth to him Six years prior with the Project s funds under threat Daniel volunteered himself to test the Pickman Bridge hoping that the resulting payoff would allow him to clear his family s debts and provide a financially secure future However the Bridge malfunctioned soon after it was implanted causing Daniel to suffer from dissociative identity disorder resulting in him being able to directly communicate with the implanted personality who he perceives as a real person Leo Kasper Whyte explains that Leo is dangerously unstable and has been working against Daniel from the very beginning Whyte reveals that after the implant malfunctioned Leo s personality asserted itself suppressing Daniel s own and he went on a rampage across the city murdering police officers and members of the Project destroying the Project s records of Daniel and himself and finally making his way to Daniel s household and killing his wife His goal was to weaken Daniel s grip on reality to the point where Leo could take complete control of his mind However the Project caught Daniel Leo after the murder erased his memory torched his house and had him committed to Dixmor where they had been working to study the effects of the implant and repair the damage without success Upon learning the truth Daniel determines that he must destroy Leo once and for all He enters a deep hypnotic state and faces off against Leo within the confines of his own mind He is finally able to let go of the guilt he feels over his wife s death allowing him to destroy Leo and assert control Having done so Daniel awakens on a deserted road with his memory erased once more He is holding an envelope informing him that his name is David Joiner providing him with a new home address at 526 Hope Street Apartment B and wishing him luck Daniel briefly hesitates before walking away An alternate ending is unlocked on the Hard difficulty or if Danny killed too many civilians throughout the game resulting in the final battle being played from Leo s perspective He successfully destroys Daniel s personality and wakes up in control of his mind and body Whyte believing she is speaking to Daniel asks him if he is okay to which he replies he is keen to get back to work on the Bridge As he looks at himself in the mirror Daniel sees Leo s reflection looking back at him Development editDevelopment on Manhunt 2 commenced shortly after the release of the first Manhunt Rockstar North who had developed the first game were working on Grand Theft Auto San Andreas so development was handed over to Rockstar Vienna 11 From Q1 to Q3 of 2005 German developer Rabcat Computer Graphics assisted them in the creation of 350 3D assets 12 However on 11 May 2006 Rockstar Vienna was closed and the main development of the game was handed to Rockstar London Rockstar Toronto was tasked with developing a Wii version and Rockstar Leeds was tasked with the PSP version 11 It was officially announced by Take Two on 6 February 2007 scheduled for a worldwide July 2007 release 13 Despite working on the game for two years members of Rockstar Vienna received no credit in the final product 14 Rockstar launched the first teaser website of the game on 7 February 2007 and the official website was launched two months later Additional information was provided by the Official PlayStation Magazine who had the first look at the game 15 Press coverage from other sources such as Kotaku and IGN soon followed Kotaku posted an eyes on preview of Manhunt 2 featuring a recording of someone playing the game which showed the first footage of direct gameplay 11 The video was recorded at a Sony Computer Entertainment event held in North America Controversy editPre release edit The controversy surrounding Manhunt 2 began two days after its announcement before any footage or information on the game had been released The initial topic of discussion was the fact that the first game had been erroneously connected to a murder in the UK 16 17 18 Take Two themselves preempted this debate issuing a statement on 8 February in which they said We are aware that in direct contradiction to all available evidence certain individuals continue to link the original Manhunt title to the Warren Leblanc case in 2004 The transcript of the court case makes it quite clear what really happened At sentencing the Judge defence prosecution and Leicester police all emphasised that Manhunt played no part in the case 19 Later that day Patrick and Giselle Pakeerah parents of Leblanc s victim condemned the game and insisted that Manhunt was a factor in their son s murder Leicester East MP Keith Vaz supported the Pakeerahs claiming he was astonished that Rockstar were making a sequel 20 On 23 February activist Jack Thompson vowed to have the game banned claiming that the police were incorrect in asserting the game belonged to Pakeerah and that Take Two were lying about the incident I have been asked by individuals in the United Kingdom to help stop the distribution of Take Two Rockstar s hyperviolent video game Manhunt 2 in that country due out this summer The game will feature stealth murder and torture The last version allowed suffocation of victims with plastic bags The original Manhunt was responsible for the bludgeoning death of a British youth by his friend who obsessively played the game The killer used a hammer just as in the game he played Take Two Rockstar anticipating the firestorm of criticism with the release of the murder simulator sequel is lying to the public on both sides of the pond in stating this week that the game had nothing to do with the murder 21 unreliable source On 10 March Thompson said he planned to sue Take Two Rockstar in an effort to have both Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV banned as public nuisances On 16 March Take Two petitioned U S District Court for the Southern District of Florida to block the impending lawsuit on the grounds that video games purchased for private entertainment could not be considered public nuisances 22 The following day Thompson wrote on his website I have been praying literally that Take Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid that such a misstep would enable me to destroy Take Two The pit Take Two has dug for itself will be patently clear next week when I strike back 23 On 21 March Thompson filed a counter suit accusing Take Two of multiple violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act RICO specifically a continued effort to violate his constitutional rights 24 He also accused the Entertainment Software Association Penny Arcade IGN GamePolitics com GameSpot GameSpy Eurogamer Kotaku Blank Rome and the US Justice Department of collaborating and conspiring with Take Two to commit racketeering activities He went on to refer to Rockstar North as Scottish sociopaths sipping their single malt Glenlivet in between brainstorming software programming sessions 24 and accused Take Two of spewing its pop culture sewage to the world s children However his claim was weakened by several factual errors contained within it 24 The dispute was ultimately settled before it went to the courts Thompson agreed not to sue threaten to sue or attempt to block the sale or distribution of any Take Two game and not to communicate to Take Two or any store selling their games any accusation that they have committed a wrongdoing by selling such products For their part Take Two agreed to drop a prior suit accusing Thompson of contempt of court concerning the game Bully which he attempted to have banned in 2005 25 26 However in a letter dated 8 May to Wendy s CEO Kerrii Anderson Thompson demanded that the restaurant drop an upcoming promotion featuring children s toys designed after the Wii games Excite Truck Wii Sports and Super Mario Galaxy because Manhunt 2 was scheduled for release on the console 27 Wendy s did not respond to Thompson and continued with their Wii promotion 28 On 12 May he sent a letter to Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Florida Governor Charlie Crist which read in part Florida retailers are scheduled to sell a very violent video game called Manhunt 2 which will be available remarkably for play on the kids friendly Nintendo Wii gaming platform The Wii device does not utilize traditional push button game controllers but instead utilizes hand held motion capture devices It is a training device 29 In a 6 June interview on Fox News McCollum expressed concerns regarding how Manhunt 2 utilized the Wii Remote in an interactive manner for instance in order to stab someone the player would have to flick the Remote forward in much the same fashion one would do when actually stabbing with a knife when cutting someone s throat the player would have to move the remote from left to right 30 31 Also concerned about the Wii version of the game was the Center for a Commercial Free Childhood CCFC who wrote to the ESRB demanding that the game be rated AO 32 Rating edit On 19 June 2007 less than a month prior to the game s worldwide release Manhunt 2 was rejected by both the BBFC and the IFCO David Cooke Director of the BBFC issued a statement which read in part Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly Where possible we try to consider cuts or in the case of games modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board s published Guidelines In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed and encouraged in the game Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game s unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer together with the different overall narrative context contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game That work was classified 18 in 2003 before the BBFC s recent games research had been undertaken but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category Against this background the Board s carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2 on either platform would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks to both adults and minors within the terms of the Video Recordings Act and accordingly that its availability even if statutorily confined to adults would be unacceptable to the public 33 In response to the ban Rockstar themselves were quick to issue a statement We are disappointed with the recent decision by the British Board of Film Classification to refuse classification of Manhunt 2 While we respect the authority of the classification board and will abide by the rules we emphatically disagree with this particular decision Manhunt 2 is an entertainment experience for fans of psychological thrillers and horror The subject matter of this game is in line with other mainstream entertainment choices for adult consumers 34 Rockstar also stated that they felt the game was well within the guidelines to be granted an 18 certificate and they implied that the BBFC treated games differently from how they treated films arguing that Manhunt 2 was no more violent than recent films such as Saw and Hostel 35 Later the BBFC s press officer Sue Clarke told IGN that Rockstar was wrong in this assertion and that they haven t singled out Manhunt 2 36 Later that same day in an unexpected move the ESRB issued the game with an AO rating The initial impact of this decision was that major retail chains such as Walmart GameStop and Target would not stock the title 37 The following day 20 June Nintendo Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment issued statements saying they do not allow AO titles on their platforms which effectively meant the game would have been banned in the US 38 A few months after news of the rating broke an early uncut PlayStation 2 version was leaked online by a Sony Computer Entertainment Europe employee 39 Re rating edit nbsp US Senator Hillary Clinton was one of the senators who wrote a letter to ESRB concerning their rating of the game as Mature asking the ESRB to re rate the game to AO where they described it as visceral and casually sadistic 40 In light of the BBFC and ESRB decisions Rockstar decided to censor the game Censoring took five main forms 41 The primary alteration was the addition of a blurring effect over executions during an execution the screen turns red and flashes black and white The second alteration was the removal of all but two decapitations Initially several weapons in the game could decapitate enemies but with the exception of two plot important decapitations all such executions were removed Thirdly the pliers executions were toned down Originally a gruesome execution with the pliers involved ripping off the enemy s testicles whilst a level 2 execution involved tearing open his throat In the edited version the pliers are used to beat the enemy over the head The fourth change was the removal of innocent characters from certain levels Originally the game was structured in such a way that the player had the choice as to whether or not to kill these characters If they did not they got the ending where Daniel defeats Leo if they did they got the alternative ending The final change involved the rating system Originally the game had a rating system similar to the first game whereby the player was rated based on speed and severity of execution types To achieve a maximum rating one had to perform a set number of gruesome executions in each level This rating system was completely removed from the edited version 4 In August Rockstar submitted the re edited version to the ESRB and BBFC The ESRB were satisfied and granted the game an M rating on 24 August Later that day the Campaign For a Commercial Free Childhood called for a federal investigation into how the game had had its rating downgraded The CCFC is extremely concerned that the ESRB has downgraded its rating for Manhunt 2 Despite industry claims to the contrary M rated games continue to be marketed and sold to children under seventeen The ESRB s reversal of its earlier decision dramatically increases the likelihood that Manhunt 2 the most violent game to date produced for the interactive Nintendo Wii platform will be marketed and sold to children Just three months ago the ESRB felt that Manhunt 2 was so violent that it took the extraordinary step of giving a game an AO rating for violent content for only the second time in its history We urge the ESRB to make public their rationale for changing Manhunt 2 s rating including detailing any content that was removed from the game We call upon Rockstar Games to allow the content of Manhunt 2 to be reviewed by an independent review board with no ties to the video game industry We ask the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the process by which Manhunt 2 s rating was downgraded from AO to M 42 California State Senator Leland Yee expressed similar sentiments Parents can t trust a rating system that doesn t even disclose how they come to a particular rating The ESRB and Rockstar should end this game of secrecy by immediately unveiling what content has been changed to grant the new rating and what correspondence occurred between the ESRB and Rockstar to come to this conclusion Unfortunately history shows that we must be quite skeptical of these two entities Clearly the ESRB has a conflict of interest in rating these games It is time to bring transparency to this rating system and for the industry to be held accountable I join the CCFC in urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the process by which Manhunt 2 s rating was downgraded from AO to M 43 On 29 August ESRB President Patricia Vance stated that the ESRB had no intention of revealing how it came to the decision to downgrade the rating 44 Manhunt 2 was released for PSP PS2 and Wii in the US on 31 October with an M rating The very next day 1 November a method that removed the blurring effect on the PSP and PS2 versions was released by a group of PSP crackers 45 46 A Wii version of the blur removal soon followed Leland Yee and the Parents Television Council demanded that Manhunt 2 be re rated AO but after examining the situation the ESRB concluded it was not Rockstar s fault that these hacks could be used and decided to stick with the M rating 47 On 22 November US Senators Joe Lieberman Sam Brownback Evan Bayh and Hillary Clinton wrote an open letter to the ESRB asking for the game to be re rated AO we ask your consideration of whether it is time to review the robustness reliability and repeatability of your ratings process particularly for this genre of ultraviolent video games and the advances in game controllers We have consistently urged parents to pay attention to the ESRB rating system We must ensure that parents can rely on the consistency and accuracy of those ratings The ESRB again refused to re rate the game and stuck with the M rating 40 BBFC edit Despite the ESRB s decision to rate the game M in the US on 8 October the BBFC once again refused to classify the game 48 David Cooke Director of the BBFC stated We recognize that the distributor has made changes to the game but we do not consider that these go far enough to address our concerns about the original version The impact of the revisions on the bleakness and callousness of tone or the essential nature of the gameplay is clearly insufficient There has been a reduction in the visual detail in some of the execution kills but in others they retain their original visceral and casually sadistic nature We did make suggestions for further changes to the game but the distributor has chosen not to make them and as a result we have rejected the game on both platforms 49 On 26 November Rockstar appealed the BBFC s second decision not to rate the game with their lawyer Geoffrey Robertson 50 TIGA president Fred Hasson testified that he was surprised at how tame Manhunt 2 is compared to some very graphical scenes I ve seen in other games which have received certification I expected it to be a lot worse I can t believe that this has been singled out as something that is worth banning He went on to accuse the BBFC of making their decision based on media pressure particularly from the Daily Mail which had run a campaign to have the first game banned 51 On 10 December 2007 the Video Appeals Committee overruled the BBFC by four votes to three 52 However On 17 December the BBFC challenged the VAC decision in the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice claiming that the VAC had overruled them based on a misinterpretation of the law as laid out in the Video Recordings Act 1984 This challenge superseded the VAC decision that the game could be classified and halted any possibility of it going on sale 53 On 24 January 2008 the BBFC won their case in the High Court Presiding Justice Mitting agreed with the BBFC s argument that the VAC had erred when considering whether the game could be considered harmful to minors Whereas the VAC interpreted this as actual harm the BBFC and Mitting believed it referred to potential harm and risk of harm The BBFC also argued that the VAC based its decision on whether or not the game would have a devastating effect on society and argued that this harm threshold was too high Mitting ordered that the same seven member panel review their findings and whatever decision they reach the second time would stand 54 The VAC did so but they returned with exactly the same result as the first time four votes to three in favor of classifying the game The game was ultimately released on PS2 PSP and Wii on 31 October 2008 with an 18 certificate a year after the US release and the same day as the rest of Europe 1 International reaction edit Internationally Manhunt 2 proved just as controversial The game was banned outright in Germany 55 Malaysia 56 57 New Zealand 58 and South Korea 59 The uncensored version of the game was also banned in Ireland by the Irish Film Classification Office for a short time due to gross unrelenting and gratuitous violence but was later allowed in its cut form under a PEGI 18 rating 60 In Italy Minister of Communications Paolo Gentiloni expressed the desire to ban the game in the country but no such ban came into effect 61 In Australia where the original Manhunt was banned the game was never even submitted for classification to the Australian Classification Board rendering it essentially banned in the country 62 PC release edit On 31 October 2009 Rockstar started taking pre orders for a PC version of the original unedited version of the game through Direct2Drive It was released in the US on 6 November 2009 with an AO rating 63 However the game was later removed from the service in July 2011 after Direct2Drive was purchased by GameFly due to GameFly s policy of not carrying AO rated games 64 On 25 November 2011 the uncut version was available again in GamersGate but is only available for select regions 65 In May 2015 live streaming service Twitch announced a list of games which are prohibited from being broadcast on its platform including a unified ban for all games receiving the Adults Only rating therefore banning the uncut version from the site 66 Reception editReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScorePS2PSPWiiMetacritic67 100 75 69 100 77 62 100 74 Review scoresPublicationScorePS2PSPWii1Up comD 67 N AN AGame InformerN AN A7 75 10 73 GamesMasterN AN A88 74 GameSpot7 5 10 70 7 5 10 71 7 0 10 72 IGN7 5 10 9 7 5 10 68 7 7 10 69 Nintendo PowerN AN A7 5 10 74 Official U S PlayStation Magazine80 75 N AN APlay82 75 N AN APSM383 75 N AN AX PlayN AN A2 5 76 AwardPublicationAwardComplexThe 100 Best Video Games of the Complex Decadeby Complex Magazine 81 78 Manhunt 2 received mixed or average reviews according to reviewer aggregator Metacritic Positive reception came from the game s presentation of graphic violence and its psychological horror based storyline GameSpot s Kevin VanOrd said the game was not as shocking as you d expect but Manhunt 2 still satisfies your primal instincts 70 and that the game was better to play on the PSP platform 71 Mikel Reparaz from GamesRadar stated that 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 79 Game Informer gave the Wii version of the game 7 75 10 saying Manhunt 2 is every bit as grim and brutal as the first the writing as is typical of Rockstar s games is top notch and Daniel and the rest of the characters do come off the screen as very real and human It s a testament to this quality that I was really driven to see the tale out to its end 73 Similarly Nintendo Power gave the Wii version 7 5 10 stating that while the game does deliver for the most part they were disappointed by the way external influences led Rockstar to change the game and that the story while interesting is highly predictable Yahoo reviewed the PSP version stating there s simply never been a game quite as squeamishly immersive as this it s even more terrifying for seeming like the most real thing in a game this year 80 Jeff Haynes from IGN compared the game to the original finding it fell short of the standard that game set Manhunt 2 isn t the tour de force title that will grab your attention and keep you there like the first one did The review went on to state that the AI doesn t feel as good as the first game the setting and environments don t feel as menacing and the story is definitely weaker That isn t to say that Manhunt 2 isn t a good game because it is 9 1UP com stated that really the game warrants a 4 out of 10 because it s technically playable and despite its best efforts probably won t plunge the industry into a period of navel gazing and political sanction Everything else about it is largely forgettable 67 Jonathan Hunt from X Play suggested that without the controversy concerning the rating the game would be nothing more than an obscure footnote in Rockstar s history 76 Ars Technica s Michael Thompson echoed similar thoughts writing in a retrospective piece in 2009 that the controversy surrounding Manhunt 2 was more interesting than the game itself 81 Because of its controversy the game is listed at 8 in IGN s Top 10 Gaming Controversies 82 and was ranked alongside the first game as the sixth most controversial video game by UGO Networks 83 Machinima listed Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper 7 in their Top 10 Criminal Duos in Gaming 84 Future editTake Two Interactive has denied that it has any plans to continue the Manhunt series 85 In October 2007 Stephen Totilo of MTV Games asked Rockstar Games producer Jeronimo Barrera about the possibilities of a multiplayer component being added to future iterations of the Manhunt franchise such as adding the game to the Rockstar Games Social Club Barrera seemingly embraced the idea 86 That s a very interesting question Who knows where the Manhunt series is going to go And that s definitely something that warrants some exploring on our part for sure Notes edit Originally in development at Rockstar Vienna Additional development by Rockstar Toronto and Rockstar North Ported to PlayStation Portable by Rockstar Leeds and to Wii and Microsoft Windows by Rockstar Toronto Even though the name of the city in which Manhunt 2 takes place is never mentioned in the actual game it was revealed to be Cottonmouth in a Q amp A with Rockstar References edit a b Matt Wales 3 October 2008 Manhunt 2 Dated in UK IGN Archived from the original on 21 October 2020 Retrieved 3 October 2008 Brendan Sinclair 21 June 2007 Manhunt 2 PC gets AO rating GameSpot Archived from the original on 4 March 2014 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Brendan Sinclair 20 June 2007 Sony Nintendo forbid AO rated Manhunt 2 GameSpot Archived from the original on 21 March 2014 Retrieved 29 November 2012 a b c Stephen Tolito 29 October 2007 Manhunt 2 Developer Finally Talks About Game Ratings Controversy Much As It Pains Him MTV Archived from the original on 23 July 2014 Retrieved 29 November 2012 Susan Arendt 24 August 2007 Revised Manhunt 2 Receives M Rating Wired Retrieved 2 September 2010 Manhunt 2 BBFC Archived from the original on 21 February 2013 Retrieved 27 November 2012 a b c Manhunt 2 by Rockstar Games Wii Games Collection Archived from the original on 9 November 2020 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Manhunt 2 Hands on Preview GameSpot 21 June 2007 Archived from the original on 19 March 2023 Retrieved 26 November 2012 a b c Jeff Haynes 29 October 2007 IGN Review of Manhunt 2 for PS2 IGN Archived from the original on 25 February 2012 Retrieved 2 September 2010 David Kushner 3 April 2012 Jacked The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 978 0470936375 a b c Manhunt 2 Development History Project Manhunt Archived from the original on 6 November 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Projects Rabcat Computer Graphics GmbH Archived from the original on 4 April 2016 Retrieved 9 April 2016 Manhunt 2 Chronology of events Project Manhunt Archived from the original on 30 July 2013 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Rockstar Vienna s Missing Credits for Manhunt 2 Artificial Intelligence 1 November 2007 Archived from the original on 15 November 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Manhunt 2 Chronology Project Manhunt 1 November 2007 Archived from the original on 30 July 2013 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Police reject game link to murder BBC News 5 August 2004 Archived from the original on 7 April 2012 Retrieved 27 February 2007 Rob Fahey 4 August 2004 New twist to Manhunt murder allegations GamesIndustry biz Archived from the original on 19 April 2013 Retrieved 8 November 2012 Teenage murderer gets life term BBC News 3 September 2004 Archived from the original on 23 October 2011 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Tom Bramwell 8 February 2007 Manhunt 2 excuses in early Eurogamer Archived from the original on 14 March 2013 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Tim Ingram 8 February 2007 Murder victim s parents condemn Manhunt sequel MCV Archived from the original on 2 March 2008 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Jack Thompson versus Manhunt 2 N4G 23 February 2007 Archived from the original on 8 November 2013 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Take Two sues Jack Thompson over Manhunt 2 GTA 4 GamePolitics com 16 March 2007 Archived from the original on 22 July 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Thompson reacts to Take Two lawsuit GamePolitics com 17 March 2007 Archived from the original on 22 July 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 a b c Brendan Sinclair 21 March 2007 Thompson countersues Take Two GameSpot Archived from the original on 14 March 2013 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Take Two Interactive Software Inc v John B Thompson PDF Archived from the original PDF on 1 October 2008 Retrieved 2 September 2010 GTA Publisher Jack Thompson Settle Lawsuit GamePolitics com 19 April 2007 Archived from the original on 22 July 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Remo Chris 8 May 2007 Thompson demand Wendy s cut Wii promotion ShackNews Archived from the original on 4 December 2010 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Hey Jack You Want Fries With That GamePolitics com 8 May 2007 Archived from the original on 21 September 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Florida Attorney General Looking into Wii Version of Manhunt 2 GamePolitics com 6 June 2007 Archived from the original on 25 November 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Matt Casamassina 25 May 2007 Eyes on Manhunt 2 Wii IGN Archived from the original on 22 May 2011 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Brian Ekberg 12 September 2007 Manhunt 2 Updated Hands On GameSpot Retrieved 27 November 2012 More Bad News for Rockstar Wii mote Control Prompts Demand That Manhunt 2 Be Adults Only in North America GamePolitics com 19 June 2007 Archived from the original on 25 November 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Stuart Bishop 19 June 2007 Manhunt 2 denied UK release Rockstar s sequel cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK after BBFC refuses to rate it CVG Archived from the original on 16 December 2013 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Matt Martin 19 June 2007 Rockstar disappointed at Manhunt 2 ban GameIndustry biz Archived from the original on 22 February 2014 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Manhunt 2 Trivia Ratings Issues Project Manhunt Archived from the original on 6 November 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Wales Matt 26 June 2007 Manhunt or Witch hunt Inside the BBFC IGN Retrieved 30 November 2012 It s Official Manhunt 2 Rated Adults Only by ESRB GamePolitics com 19 June 2007 Archived from the original on 13 January 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Sinclair Brendan 20 June 2007 Rockstar Sony Nintendo forbid AO rated Manhunt 2 GameSpot Archived from the original on 14 March 2013 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Unedited Manhunt 2 leaked by SCEE employee GameSpot 22 October 2007 Archived from the original on 23 July 2018 Retrieved 9 April 2016 a b Parker Jennifer 22 November 2007 Hilary and Manhunt 2 ABC News Archived from the original on 21 September 2013 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Manhunt 2 Beta Project Manhunt Archived from the original on 6 November 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Watchdog Group Call For Investigation in Wake of Manhunt 2 Re rate GamePolitics com 24 August 2007 Archived from the original on 22 September 2012 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Antonucci Mike 27 August 2007 The Manhunt Problem San Jose Mercury News Archived from the original on 31 December 2007 Retrieved 27 November 2012 ESRB s Vance Fires Back at Yee CCFC GamePolitics com 29 August 2007 Archived from the original on 23 October 2014 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Unlock Manhunt 2 to Show Uncensored Uncut Adult Only Violent Portion Hack My Digital Life 21 November 2007 Archived from the original on 27 August 2010 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Rockstar Confirm Manhunt 2 PSP Hack GamePolitics com 1 November 2007 Archived from the original on 23 October 2014 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Sliwinski Alexander 2 November 2007 ESRB issues statement about Manhunt 2 hacks and controversy Joystiq Archived from the original on 11 October 2010 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Matt Martin 8 October 2007 BBFC rejects latest Manhunt 2 GamesIndustry biz Archived from the original on 2 March 2008 Retrieved 8 October 2007 Burman Rob 8 October 2007 BBFC Rejects Manhunt 2 in UK Again IGN Retrieved 27 November 2012 Gibson Ellie 26 November 2007 Rockstar fights back against BBFC ban GameIndustry biz Archived from the original on 26 November 2010 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Gibson Ellie 26 November 2007 TIGA boss psychologist defend Rockstar s position GameIndustry biz Archived from the original on 19 January 2016 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Parfit Ben 10 December 2007 Rockstar s Manhunt 2 appeal successful MCV Archived from the original on 13 April 2014 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Censors Go To Court Over Manhunt 2 Computer Game Sky News 21 December 2007 Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Boyes Emma 24 January 2008 Manhunt 2 UK release in peril again GameSpot Archived from the original on 23 October 2014 Retrieved 11 July 2016 Top 10 banned video games Silicon Republic 21 November 2010 Archived from the original on 16 August 2019 Retrieved 1 December 2019 Fomca Regulate video games Malaysian Bar 13 October 2011 Archived from the original on 10 June 2011 Retrieved 26 October 2011 Bennett Colette 8 August 2008 Malaysian Consumer Group blame it all on GTA Destructoid Archived from the original on 11 February 2010 Retrieved 23 January 2010 Manhunt 2 Banned in NZ NZGamer com Archived from the original on 23 January 2016 Retrieved 26 June 2017 Bhattacharjee Rajarshi 3 August 2016 RapeLay banned for sexual content Manhunt for gore Pokemon GO could be next The Economic Times Archived from the original on 16 November 2019 Retrieved 1 December 2019 Manhunt 2 Video Game Prohibited Archived 2007 11 20 at the Wayback Machine Irish Film Classification Office Maruccia Alfonso 22 June 2007 Censura Gentiloni blocca Manhunt 2 Punto Informatico in Italian Archived from the original on 11 November 2013 Retrieved 11 November 2013 Dazza 8 January 2008 Manhunt 2 was never submitted for classification in Australia RockstarWatch Wayback Machine Archived from the original on 26 September 2008 Retrieved 17 July 2023 Collins AJ 31 October 2009 Manhunt 2 PC confirmed by D2D coming November 6th RockstarWatch Archived from the original on 6 November 2009 Retrieved 31 October 2009 Hailstone John 11 July 2011 Manhunt 2 Disappeared From Direct2Drive No Longer Available On PC Anywhere GameBreakers Archived from the original on 2 August 2012 Retrieved 8 April 2009 Manhunt 2 available again for PC RockstarWatch 25 November 2011 Archived from the original on 19 January 2016 Retrieved 12 January 2019 McWhertor Michael 27 May 2015 Twitch bans Adults Only rated games from streaming Polygon Vox Media Archived from the original on 28 May 2015 Retrieved 14 July 2020 Twitch explicitly names three games that will be banned due to their AO rating Manhunt 2 Fahrenheit Indigo Prophecy Director s Cut and upcoming mass shooter game Hatred a b Scott Sharkey 29 October 2007 Manhunt 2 Serial murder was never less fun 1UP com Archived from the original on 5 January 2010 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Jeff Haynes 29 October 2007 IGN Review of Manhunt 2 for PSP IGN Retrieved 2 September 2010 Jeff Haynes 29 October 2007 IGN Review of Manhunt 2 for Wii IGN Retrieved 2 September 2010 a b VanOrd Kevin 29 October 2007 Manhunt 2 Review PS2 GameSpot CBS Interactive Archived from the original on 30 October 2020 Retrieved 5 September 2020 a b Kevin VanOrd 29 October 2007 GameSpot Review of Manhunt 2 for PSP GameSpot Archived from the original on 25 May 2011 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Kevin VanOrd 29 October 2007 GameSpot Review for Manhunt 2 for Wii GameSpot Archived from the original on 17 January 2012 Retrieved 2 September 2010 a b Matt Helgeson GameInformer Review of Manhunt 2 for Wii Game Informer Archived from the original on 2 January 2008 Retrieved 2 September 2010 a b c Manhunt 2 Wii Metacritic Archived from the original on 15 April 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 a b c d Manhunt 2 PlayStation 2 Metacritic Archived from the original on 25 March 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 a b Jonathan Hunt 26 October 2007 X Play Review for Manhunt 2 for Wii G4tv Archived from the original on 30 June 2018 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Manhunt 2 PSP Metacritic Archived from the original on 28 March 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Best 100 Games of the Complex Decade Complex Complex Networks Archived from the original on 24 June 2012 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Mikel Reparaz 29 October 2007 GamesRadar Review of Manhunt 2 for PS2 GamesRadar Retrieved 2 September 2010 Yahoo Videogames Review of Manhunt 2 for PSP Yahoo Archived from the original on 12 February 2008 Retrieved 2 September 2010 Thompson Michael 10 November 2009 Manhunt 2 s AO re release shows problems with highest rating Ars Technica Conde Nast Archived from the original on 21 August 2020 Retrieved 6 August 2020 Kristan Reed 30 November 2009 Top 10 Gaming Controversies IGN Retrieved 2 December 2012 Marissa Meli 19 July 2011 The Most Controversial Video Games UGO Networks Archived from the original on 5 February 2013 Retrieved 2 December 2012 Ten FTW Top 10 Criminal Duos in Gaming Machinima Archived from the original on 9 August 2011 Retrieved 20 August 2013 Manhunt 3 Won t See Consoles Anytime Soon as Take 2 Kills the Idea Gofanboy Archived from the original on 16 March 2012 Retrieved 28 March 2012 Manhunt future titles Project Manhunt Archived from the original on 6 March 2019 Retrieved 28 March 2012 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Manhunt 2 Official website Manhunt 2 at MobyGames Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manhunt 2 amp oldid 1186702746, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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