Manhunt - A Nihilistic Horror Masterpiece
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- Опубликовано: 1 июл 2022
- Special thanks to Corbin for recommending this game to me. Man, this game is tough to take. Nonetheless, I would recommend playing through it at least once. It's an important part of gaming history, and has some unique artistic merit to it.
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#manhunt
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The real horror of Manhunt is what a human being can do.
True
Indeed
What if the real horrors were the friends we murdered along the way?
Yeah, furthermore the making them all violent criminals points to something darker. This is just justifying some people's actual suffering. People born into tyranny and never escaped. It has happened. Children born with chronic illness that have painful lives and meaningless deaths, it happens. There is no joy to be found at times and perhaps we should admit it.
Agreed. It's unapologetic about it too
I always felt Cash was in HELL
He doesn’t “wake up” from his execution, he’s dead and in this eternally dark nightmare world.
That’s the best description I’ve ever heard.. felt that too while playing it as a teenager. lol.
At some points, I muted the games volume and had music playing in the background to get myself through the hellish music, enemies babbling, and the ambiance 😂😂 good times
Always wanted a true manhunt sequel where you hunt down the main villain (Mr Nasty) but the sequel that we got was watered down and different characters and rockstar was already facing too much controversy over it all.
That's exactly it. It's in this world that kinda looks like ours but seems to have completely succumbed to all that is terrible about human beings.
The book Blood Meridian has this same feeling. It references things in our material world but seems to be this nihilistic hellscape where nothing is good or happy.
I wish the game ended with Cash's death and then he wakes back up on his way to the execution chamber in the beginning.
Making the game an endless loop.
Anyone else hates this type of stories, like "it never really happened" or "It was all a dream"
Manhunt made me think about that quote from the jackal from Far Cry 2
"You’re not a good person, you’ve just been lucky enough that you’ve never had to be otherwise"
It's so raw, and it feels like it's more true than I'm willing to admit, I think that everyone, you, me, my friends, and my family are just always some really bad days away from falling into the abyss, and that's what makes every single good day absolutely precious, it's the only thing you can hold on, the only single thing I can always hope
It's so wrong too.
I'm a volunteer firefighter, I risk my life monthly to help people, and I don't get paied.
Through my experience, people are in general far more brave and good than you give credit. People will offen run into blazes to try to save dogs, family, neighbors, friends, even random strangers.
Ive also seen people light houses on fire intentionally.
Humanity is capable of both great good, and great evil. And acknowledging both leads to a much more correct understanding of the world.
Trust me kid, ive had some *really* bad days. But as long as you have good mental health support, friends, and family. You are not one joker step away from insanity.
@@thegrandnil764 I agree with that, saying that everything is horrible is just wrong, but what I'm saying is that not everyone has that comfort of a good family, a home, or support, and tipping them over the breaking point takes just one bad day and that's why it's important to just be nice to people, just to be nice in general or to at least be decent, one never knows what kind of day they're having
@@buttertool6211 That's a good lesson, and I think I would agree.
One huge reason for that is the total lack of any mental health services.
This country really needs to take a step back and consider what's really worth it.
We spend more money per capita on healthcare than Switzerland, yet at the same time the cost of healthcare is the highest in the world.
There is some literature that explores Nazi soldiers during WW2 and how they could partake and commit atrocities. Most said they were just following orders, some said they couldn't muster up the courage to oppose/protest/resist.
But sadly many, many, many grew into committing atrocities. You know Standford Prison experiment? Yeah, basically that: The overwhelming domination, power and supremacy they had and felt over their victims completely blinded them from the suffering of others.
Why am I talking about this?
Because those Nazis were normal people, like you and me. That could happen to you and me. We could've been Nazis.
It's a very uncomfortable thought, that every single one of us has the cabability of evil, no matter how good we think we are...
Periodically check yourself, that you're not dehumanizing someone or a group. That's the key these normal people were able to commit atrocities. Likewise, check your surroundings that if dehumanizing is happening. It might not be obvious, you might even find it difficult to humanize the groups and people you really hate.
That's the "one bad day": It's not a bad day for you, but bad day for those you don't deem as human anymore.
@@jesustyronechrist2330 Just to add on a little bit.
The hardest thing for you to fight is your own culture. It's a part of your identity. To reject your culture is to sever yourself from society. To reject your parents, friends, family, everyone you know.
Even worse, to reject a violent culture is to die. Your betrayal will be your end. Rejecting like this is so against our nature it's absurd.
On top of all of that, what's happening doesn't affect you or your family. Most people would die for their loved ones, friends, family, people they care about...
but would you die for a stranger? for an idea?
That's a much bigger ask.
...
Even with all that staked against people, almost *~800,000 german people* were arrested by the Gestapo for resistance activities, with 10% of them being killed.
I remember playing this game as a teenager. Even though I was already indoctrinated into violence from movies and video games, I always felt very uneasy playing Manhunt. Guess I now know why.
I played Manhunt back in 2010 when my state in Mexico was the most violent it had ever been. Honestly, it was like a toned down version of what happened in my hometown every weekend. 10/10
@@PhillKaggitz yeah, when the killing became such a daily thing. The war on drugs
Beacuse most video game violence is not violence, if you walk into a school and start killing kids you do not get a score on how stylish your kills are with neon lights appearing beside them as they explode into loot. Nobody goes on a rampage and says they had done that in Call of Duity and then they did it in real life it was just as fun.
I love Manhunt 2 a ton... But Manhunt? That game is a survival horror.
there's a quote from the liner notes of ok computer by radiohead that comes to mind, printed on top of a demographic bar chart;
"you are a target market."
Heard this on youtube a few days ago "When there's a trial in hell, the victims are not going to be angels." Fits almost too well here.
At least they'll have plenty of lawyers down there.
Angels were created first. Then Man.
@@tonygalati2672 Johnnie Cochran
This game actually made me feel nauseous playing on PS2. I'd never played a game so bleak and like I was committing actual crimes. I never knew a game could do that.
Resident Evil 1 taught me that video games could be scary, Manhunt taught me that video games could make you feel truly uneasy and awful.
You would've 'hated' "Hatred" OLOLOLOLO
@@vxidwvlkxr Nah, I remember Hatred. Hatred was soulless and dumb and D-level compared to Manhunt.
Try out og postal your gonna love the loading screens
Same here it's still the only game I've ever had to take a break when I first played it bc it was so violent lol
Had this game, and I think it is one of the most messed up videogames I have ever played. Got rid of it a couple of years later, didn't wanted to sell it to anyone.
I played though Manhunt in my teens and have always considered it one of my favorites.
For me I figured Cash's motivation was pretty straight forward. "Live". Honestly, even if you are a monster in a world full of monsters, living is important, and people will kill for it. Even if its not a completely free life, they will still kill to live. We do it all the time to lesser animals after all. Our society has simply sanitized and obscured the mountain of death human society operates on and inflicts. If people think other humans aren't innately capable of doing what Cash does to live, then I feel you've been sheltered.
"My life and the lives of my family are worth more than the lives of the millions of faceless people I will never know or care about."
This is also weirdly similar to the vibes that the manga/anime Berserk has. No matter what fucked up shit keeps happening to you, resist and live on.
I think the principal motivation to cash goes from living to revenge, a instinct survival sense to a human emotion. After the dead of his family he decides he has a score to settle whit the director. In the end of the game this is proven by being the end of the game/movie, the credit music represent the hell that cash has been through and even if he doesn't make it past this or destroy the snuff-ring he accomplished that human emotion, revenge. The second part of the credit music sounds "angelical" because he finished the only thing that is left for him, violence.
@@mkarg5012 With this I would have to agree but only partly as the 'revenge' part seemed to just be an addition on top of it. Remember the Director made it clear to Cash that he is supposed to die for the film and later he makes it clear that if left alive he would eventually hunt Cash down (cuz he did slaughter Cash's family for just being involved). In most circumstances Cash is in a position where life is only an option from ruthlessly murdering those that stand before him, and the Director put himself in Cash's cross-hairs by not only breaking his end of the deal, but also actively taking steps to try to kill Cash.
In a messed up way, most of the killing Cash inflicts can be seen as retaliatory in nature.
The only group of people in the game that appeared to be out of the loop and could be considered innocent casualties of the entire affair were Cash's family, who Starkweather had killed, and the police who where thrown into the situation ignorant of what was going on. They were murdered by Cash who was trying to escape, and in mass by Stark's men when they finally caught Cash.
@@Exile_Sky the fact that cash decided to go directly to Stark's home instead of keep running whit the reporter proves how he only thought of "settling things" whit him. The cops send to stop him could be innocent or corrupt since they came right after stark made the call to the chief, killing cash family after making him save/get them killed (depending on how you play) and sending those Cerberus to kill him at the prison are just one of the many things cash has against starkweather. More than the fight for living is the fight for revenge, after all even if cash escapes Carcer he will be hunted down to the end of days and in the ending of the game is never clear what happens to him, after all, he doesn't have a reason to live.
Other thing to prove that maybe cash is dead are the credit song getting more "angelical", the fact that we are playing the movie and even not future mention of him by the reporter.
@@mkarg5012 Heading to the home was just the "most assured means of living*. Cash's natural response to a threat is violence (if you watch, it's beat out of him in the first couple of "abduction" scenes, only for it to return later). Stark has already shown he had massive resources so just running wasn't an option. Going after him and sending the reporter away was actually a fairly shrewd ploy. Since they would be hard pressed to deal with Cash and catch her at the same time. Especially with Cash grinding through their men like a blender set to frappe.
As for whether he will be hunted or is dead, that's pure speculation with no support from the game itself. Mr. Nasty is still a thing, but that's taking information that isn't in the game proper and is only found on the box. Which as far as Cash is concerned, could be someone he will try to hunt down to secure his "reward" of "life" or could be someone that may as well not exist and never both Cash at all. As far as the world is concerned, Cash doesn't exist anymore. He died from lethal injection. An anonymous individual caused the death of multiple police officers with no description (remember, all the police that got a good look were killed). The reporter not mentioning him means he wasn't at the scene of the mansion, because they would mention a supposed dead man from a death row execution just days prior being at the scene (assuming Cash is as well known as they make him out to be). That would be big news and would be physical evidence of some kind of corruption in the state that could be used to turn the public opinion sharply against the chief of police. If he was there, I think she would have used it. Given her focus on making "my(her) career", I can't imagine she wouldn't.
If we're using the music's "angelic" uptick, it may be that Cash went on to live a better life, or found freedom. Hell it could just be killing Stark, since that could be seen as an objectively good thing, even if done for wrong or selfish reasons. I'd rather take a view that can be inferred directly from the game and the little characterizations we get than jump to the idea of Cash being dead or 'on the run'. Neither really follows with what could be inferred from the games sparse ending. At least that's my take on it.
One of greatest games Rockstar made and will never remaster in next gen unfortunately
Someone else should do it... Like a Bluepoint, but for Rockstar remakes. Lol
It's us their best game , was a statement about graphic video games and the demand for em and how they would look of they was norm , you demand we supply,wouldn't get made now to "woke" one might say
@@ianthorpe1925 the question is, would it be allowed in todays climate? Got a feeling it would be canceled
@@Muramasa1794 Canceled like the development would stop? Or cancelled like whiny bitches on twitter? Because I dont think the whiny bitches on twitter would make much difference.
It is available on modern consoles.
So glad you took this bad boy on, but given it's almost 20 years in existence you're making me feel terribly old.
I always felt like Manhunt was the last great inheritor of the "video-nasty" era.
It pushed the envelope of violence in video games at a time when adults were still quite naive and a 16 year me could physically buy this game in a shop with no questions asked.
Looking back at the game now, I see a weird irony to it in that quite a few of us have become a lot like Lionel Starkweather; thirsty for on-screen footage of gore and violence on a regular basis, and to an increasing level.
In that sense Manhunt kind of accidentally predicted the media landscape we inhabit today, one very much hooked on the extreme...
Well said and weirdest thing is people would blame Manhunt and whatnot being too violent and even causing deaths but yet we have Facebook where people literally share videos and pictures of people being killed or dying and no1 bats an eye to that purely because they use facebook themselfs. It's just hypocrite shit.
That is pretty true, this game is a very good reflection of The darkness within human society how we have this kind of idealistic belief that things are inherently good, actuality there’s a much darker underbelly to life but we are too afraid to think of the dark implications that it has on the ideal world that we want.
I don't think so. contemporary games don't treat violence seriously. it's always some kind of abstraction, a euphemism, having the outward appearance but none of the meaning.
well mankind in general, but there are many of us who at some point just think: "enough."
True but pointless ass violent media doesn't cause one to commit violent actions irl.
Manhunt is just a video game documentary about life in Detroit
Personally I always summed up Manhunt with the question: "At what point in the game do you stop killing to live, and begin living to kill?"
Pretty sure every single person you in the game is specifically trying to kill you, including Starkweather. After that, it's implied in other games set in the same universe that James Earl Cash stopped killing, had a son, and started a construction company with him. So it's pretty safe to say he didn't "live to kill".
at the end of the asylum lol
Well when we smash the Flame Clock, that’s when we stop fighting to live and living to fight
What most people don't get about Manhunt is its technical nature; using stealth and calculating the execution while the target is on his back makes it a very bold experience. For me is an essential horror experience.
I love how well Manhunt emulates the feel of 70's and 80's exploitation horror. The music and atmosphere does cause Manhunt to really feel like if John Carpenter made a video game.
That said, I'm hesitant about a Manhunt 3, considering how butchered the console versions of Manhunt 2 were, and with today's graphics they could make 1 and 2 look like baby stuff.
If I'm not mistaken, Manhunt OST was indeed influenced by John Carpenter soundtracks, such as Assault on Precinct 13 and Halloween.
Which version of Manhunt 2 was uncensored? I played the PSP version
@@marcoszavala8898 The PC version.
"You mean you have to use your hands?! That's like a baby's toy!"
How about a VR Manhunt game?!
They'd probably make it open world considering Rock star these days.
Maybe a third installment in that environment might be good, but could completely tarnish it.
Brian Cox's voice acting in this game was incredible
What
@@TheMagnificentGman He voices Lionel Starkweather, the snuff film guy who yells at you to be more depraved and violent in your killings and executions that are assigned of you by him. Besides Piggsy, he's maybe the worst person in that game.
@@dasuero7489 the astrophysicist?
Brian Cox is, in fact, the man.
@@TheMagnificentGman The actor.
You'll know him from Braveheart, The Ring, The Bourne Trilogy, and as the first guy to play Hannibal Lector (in "Manhunter").
Manhunt's plot and world gets even darker when you remember that said game is supposed to be set in the same universe as the PS2 era GTA games.
Sure, those games were still fairly violent and had their share of disturbing content, but to think that such a bleak city like Carcer City does exist alongside the likes of Vice City or Los Santos, which are more cartoony in comparison, kind of makes you think.
I mean its much like real life don’t you think? Unfortunately
I would argue that Cash unwittingly was moral in his killing of Starkweather and Pigsy. Albeit in a very temporary form that once again slips back into a nihilistic outlook. Killing Starkweather not only completes your revenge for betrayal and for the murdering of your family. It avenges all those that were his victims. Of course that resolution dissipates as with time someone like Starkweather only worse will form a new snuff ring and bring violence and meaningless depravity to new heights.
Similarly with Pigsy killing him frees him of his tortured hedonistic existence. As there was no way he could integrate himself. And giving him one final show ironically pays him respect as well as enacts a sense of justice upon him for his role in the ring. Of course this is also transitory. More snuff film stars will rise like Cash and Cash himself is still a wanted man. A man condemned to die and forced to be a puppet as well as to see his loved ones perish. All he can do is live meaningless as much as a condemned man can.
I don't believe that being "unwittingly moral" is being moral at all. It's like when one cartel leader kills another cartel leader- even though the world is better off without them, you don't suddenly praise the other as a hero. Cash killed Starkweather simply to sate his bloodlust, he's killed numerous others to sate his bloodlust, and he'll likely continue killing people until he's finally put down.
@@nathanniesche6380 Fair point though Cash might have also gave up being a murderer and instead went on to do something else. After all we have no idea what he was even sent to death row for. Though plenty of theories point to him having been part of a criminal organization as a hitman. And while Cash certainly had bloodlust in regards to Starkweather, the cops, and any Cerebrus guards in his way. When it came to Pigsy that was more of a self-defense killing. Well as self defense as you can get sawing the arms off of a retarded cannibal snuff star and sending him plummeting to his death.
let's also add the score system it shows how much willing Cash is to go along with Lionels if he refuses to kill most of his enemies (yup even with the first guy you can give Starkweather the middle finger and not kill him the very later levels don't offer much freedom though) so yeah pissing of the antagonist is us not going along with his BS
you can also make an example with manhunt 2 how danny literally regrets his first kill and eventually grows into it because of his alt personality i like to think of cash simply growing into all of those murders since as shown you have to kill more and more and more per mission compared to the first few which are just some thugs that are literally the most sane then you eventually go into the smileys where some of them literally think your their abusive husband and will literally think of one of their own lying dead on the ground as nothing almost
Not gonna lie, despite it being almost 20 years old, I still find this game hard to play.
Check out the arcade game Chiller... It's the only video game that makes me wanna throw up from the premise alone
It's hard to play emotionally, and mechanically difficult to play on console. xD
Then you're just weak of heart tbh
@@AK-su3tz cringe xd
@@cppbear6115 How so?
Sometimes a story needs to be bleak. In a world without moral actors or heroes, like Manhunt, it makes no sense to have a happy ending. I think even a story as nihilistic as Manhunt can still convey a moral lesson. If evil is truly the absence of good, then here is an example of such a world. You're given a firsthand look at what true nihilism really looks like, with you the player being a participant in this world's depravity. There are no good results of any of the story's evil actions, the world simply becomes worse. I would consider the story actually reprehensible if it depicted nihilistic hedonism as a positive thing, something that should be sought out and enjoyed, something that brings a happy ending. A story of inverted morality is far more sinister than a story of evil people in an evil world.
As a teenager, I read 1984 and realized that sometimes a story needs to have a bleak ending. Resolution satisfies you and makes you feel that the problem is solved and you can safely move on. A bleak ending leaves you with a lingering warning.
To have a happy ending you need to have someone strong enough to defeat the evil forces that make up the terrible world you live in
If you don't then nothing will change
Beautiful take. And I would just add in that, and maybe this is more of an absurd take, but it just seems more honest to me and maybe it is to all of us if we're more honest-that I think a story like this ironically, rather more metaphorically reflects our own world _to an extent._
And this could be something to really more contemplate on than a story that's not. And to try to head that warning like you said-to moves ourselves to change that in some way, in bettering the one we reside in through whatever means we can.
And as a Christian myself, I believe that's mainly in embracing what Christ taught and becoming what God has made us to be through the human willed-spirit and utilizing the gifts He has given us.
But sadly I don't believe many of us have chosen this & so that's why the world could be why it is as bleak as it is. _(But I understand not many will entertain this part of what I'm saying here, just something I pray you all may also consider)._
Anyway, although I don't believe our world is as redeemable or profusely hopeful as found in a typical story brimming with morality-the difference is that there is some good left in our world, and resolution that's possible-rather than that of Manhunt. (Even if I believe it is more closer to it still).
It's all in the end worth seeking and fighting for-despite also of the vast amount of vapid meaninglessness and hedonistic nihilism that abounds in the one we find ourselves, at least from what I can tell. God be with you!
There is a happy ending, though. He escapes with his life, freedom, and a second chance at life since he's officially dead. Other Rockstar games set in the same timeline and universe imply he went on to have a son, and they started a construction company together. It's also pretty safe to assume he stopped killing since he seems to have gotten his life together and there was never any motive in the game for him to kill other than self defense.
1984, T.G's Brazil, Surrogates, Idiocracy, Sword Art Online, Overlord, and Sword Art Online. One of the these will be our reality, some hopeful some bleak and some ongoing.
4 years ago i had quadbike accident leaving me paralized from niples down and you said something what ive been wondering for last half a year.. Im in soo much pain every day (at the start i was unable to feel anything from the injury down, but after some time i can feel again which is what i wanted, but i didnt relize im gonna be able to feel the pain. Also 1 day before accident ï was drunk and alone in the forest, such a beautiful place and looked in the sky and ask in my head if something can happend becausr i feel lost and unhappy... And what i got? I litteraly died next day and they had to brink me back to life (Being dead was wierdly the most beautiful thing i ever felt... The amout of love i felt..I cant explain it, for 3 months i was telling everybody that they dont have to be scared of death. its beautiful. Now i forgot the feeling and im scared of death again like every other person) . So im often asking myself... Am i in hell? Because i have soo many complications... Just trying to lie in the bad is painful and i have spasms třriggered by just fly landing on my leg... I cant handle it any more and the only way out is to kill my self which im scared off, so much that i rather gonna suffer every day in pain... If i have to imagine hell, it would be something like this..Make them suffer so much that they want to find way out of the suffering, but make only one way out the scariest thing , that they cant even imagine in their brain what it is. Thanks for your videos, they distracting me enouch that i can forget for few minutes that im in pain. Thanks (sry english is not my first language)
Maybe the pain is a silver lining for you regaining your body functioning again. Maybe stem cell therapy could be a thing for you
( I have no idea if it could help but I’ve heard good things.)
the fact that you felt anything at all means you weren't really dead.
@@arsenii_yavorskyi Bro, ull see... You are avare that time is floating no more, yet you are still able to think, but its not with your body... i cant explain it... you can feel there but its not your body anymore you using to feel....the last time i was scared was when i relized i cant feel time no more then i started to feel soo much love , such an incredible love.. you cant find this kinda love anywhere but in death... ehm i dont want to argue, this is what i was able to remember
I know that feeling you're talking about. That feeling of total detachment, the overwhelming sense of relief. You feel an all-encompassing love because for the first time you are able to relate to and empathize with every living being. We are all born without consent and are doomed to die alone. Rich and poor, communist, nazi, gamer, smoker, health nut, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, smart or stupid, saints and serial killers -- everyone. It is the Nothing we all crave, that place of peace where we were before conception, where we return to when we die. Every birth is a tragedy, every death a miracle. The suffering of this world is only temporary, and we are all committing suicide by virtue of existing. Only you can decide how long to tolerate it. The power of self-destruction is immense; to be able in one second to end time forever. No immortal god could dream of such power. Thus do we regard it with such dread. The fear of "what if?" So we shamble from one day to the next, not wanting to exist but hesitant to confront the alternative. We are all murdered slowly by hope, hope that life will get better. It might. It might not. But what is certain is that it ends, and if it ends now rather than 50 years from now, it won't matter to you one way or the other whether it could have improved. For once it's done, it's like it never happened.
@@kucicek6313 Your brain is still functioning at that point. When that bad boy dies, you can't be revived.
Manhunt 1 is a perfect video game recreation of the 80's slashers and thrillers with Carpenter-esque aesthetics, it's realistic and reserved enough to be impressive, even tho the second part of the game is much less impactful than the first one.
Nietzsche is not a nihilist or a proponent of nihilism at all. He's very very very explicitly opposed to nihilism across his work and his distain for it informs much of his writings. I understand that this is a common misconception about him but as a philosophy student it still bothers me to see it repeated here. Nietzsche has an incredibly life affirming philosophy.
Yep. I was surprised after delving a bit more into his philosophy, that he is radically opposed to nihilism in his life affirmation. It's kinda weird how his words have been twisted so much. I guess it's those out-of-context quotes without explanation, or with a misinformed one.
I was looking for a comment talking about that. Imagine devoting your academic life writing works that warn the world about the dangers of nihilism and the degradation of the human spirit only to be labeled as a nihilist over a century later...
Exactly.
Nietzsche's writing basically was that the Enlightenment and our progressing knowledge of the natural world has upended traditional Judeo-Christian morality and how the world needs of overcome both traditional morality and nihilism for the betterment of the humanity and the individual.
Thanks to his sister and the Nazis
It's true - he's really an existentialist, not a nihilist.
Be it hubris or privilege, most of us fail to realize that we’re only a few bad days away from reaching depths of depravity and sadism that we only thought monsters could reach.
Things like this serve as a reminder that through the right lens, we can identify with and even empathize with these monsters, whether or not we realize it.
This reminded me of a scene i saw in one documentary about the nazi concentration camps. One survivor mentioned that it took usually about 2 weeks for a new guard to become as abusive as the rest of the guards. Now some might say "i'd never do that" or "how morally lacking they were", but all i could think "that took surprisingly long". They saw first hand what the prisoners endured, and if their cruel boss would have thought they were jew sympathizers, they might have been right there among them. But still something within them was so not okay with that, that they couldn't immediately start adapting that kind of cruelty. But nevertheless, because of their situation, they became one of the monsters too. Whether they liked it or not, they weren't immune to that.
It is said that it only takes 9 days without food or water before your average person will lose all morality and act only on primal instinct, so I guess you could say most of us are just a simple 9 days from losing our humanity. That's reality, manhunt is just a video game, Rockstar was made popular by the uproar of gta, people were extremely offended by it, however this did not stop it from becoming a huge success in fact the backlash added to Rockstars success. So what did Rockstar do, like any money hungry developer they doubled down with manhunt, and it worked, everyone is still talking about it, it's nothing more than good marketing to a target audience. Everyone trying to find some meaning in this game through existentialism is a bit dramatic to say the least.
@nocf6597 Exactly. People are looking way too deeply into a videogame that was made for the sole purpose of pushing the envelope, shocking people, and getting publicity for Rockstar. The studio that thinks thing like 69 and things shaped like penises is comedy was not pondering any deep or meaningful topics while making a game where peoples heads completely explode like watermelons when hit by a bat. It's not even a realistic depiction of violence like people claim. It's over the top theatrics that you would see in something like Saw, or Hostel, or most slasher films. Theres no deep hidden meaning, and it doesn't say anything about the player. Just like it doesn't say anything about someone who chooses to play the Germans in a game like Battlefield 1942. It's a videogame, and not some serious life statement. Many games have deep meaning. This is not one of them.
This game taught me a lot of patience that I lacked that lacked growing up. It's one of favorites and seeing you cover it is amazing. I might need to do another hardcore run soon.
No matter how disturbing a monster can be, real, plausible evil is worse. And there's an island, manager by the late uncle Jeff, which probably was the stage of much worse, irl and with authorities looking away.
Good parallel!
The atmosphere they accomplished with this game on ps2...the tense ambient and synth 70s/80s horror soundtrack...just goddamn superb.
As a player that have been complete the whole game with all stars, Manhunt is a journey to the most darkest and real devils of the mankind.
Manhunt keep you heart bumping adrenaline meanwhile you play, you are on the real world no monsters or magic. the only monster in this game, is the humans. A great run away to forward to end a real nightmare.
I think the most disturbing part of the game was actually Cash having to watch his family get murdered. They were absolutely innocent. Even though there is no way Cash could have predicted it, and even though he made the effort to rescue them, the reason they died is because Cash got convinced from murder. He is basically partly quilty for their death, even though it was totally unintentional.
Same player here.
This game is a masterpiece.
Monkey see Monkey do was hard !!
I remember playing this game when it first came out with a headset. It also had a feature that if you talked or yelled from being scared, etc, it would give treat nearby enemies like they saw/heard you and theyd get alerted to your position. made it terrifying going around corners and really tough when a group of guys were after you.
One of the things which also makes sense in your interpretation is that when a kill is performed, the screen takes on the appearance of a VHS player complete with distortion/noise. You said that we are performing the mindless acts of violence as the player, but simultaneously we are also 'watching' the snuff film in the sense that we are excited by the death animations. We are at once the performer of the snuff film, and the audience.
Pretty sad that a philosopher whose whole body of work denounces nihilism is commonly mischaracterized as a nihilist by people today. Nietzsche was not a nihilist.
Me and a buddy of mine were big fans of this game. The vhs aesthetic, the John Carpenter influences in the sountrack and aesthetic. For context, we were into things like video nasties and death metal music. And we were both doing film school at the time and both made our own manhunt style short film. We didn't care if the game was graphic, in fact we saw an artistic beauty to the sheer darkness this game produced.
"Given the right circumstances, we could become like them. No wonder some people wanted to censor this game...because some people can't handle the truth".
It's actually very easy to make someone "like them"; just give them authority without accountability (aka tyranny). If you want to know someone's character, just give them a modicum of power.
Right. Power doesn't corrupt, it just shows a person's true nature. And I wonder how many of us are like Cash and how many are like Starkweather.
Hell, there isnt even a need to give someone power to see humanity true face, just give them a chance to do what they want and they will reveal themselves, doesnt matter if at the end the chance means their death or failure they WILL take that chance
@@nathanalexander5598 "doesnt matter if at the end the chance means their death or failure they WILL take that chance"
That reminds me of a quote I read recently: If humans were given utopia they would destroy it just to prove they have agency (which is why utopia is impossible).
@@deanchur
That and humans would just invent dumb reasons to NOT live in a utopia
"We need violence cause peace makes us weak"
"It wasnt perfect by anymeans"
"We simply didnt like it"
Ad infinitum, humanity is just horrible
"Power attracts the corruptibile."
-Frank Herbert
I played this in highschool, I remember playing as a good guy, I assumed the main character was wrongly convicted (can't remember if its hinted at at any point in the intro or instruction booklet) and I also remember trying not to kill the police when you go out into Carcer City later on, again, can't remember if the game ever forced you to kill police during that level. You also get a chance to rescue some family members of yours that the director has kidnapped.
So I played the game from the perspective that I was doing right. Killing the bad guys, and ultimately, ending the snuff films ring that the director was running.
So I think of Cash as more of an anti-hero, but in the end, doing overall good by stopping this snuff ring and killing-off the psycho gang members who participated.
I specifically remember the AI in alert mode, poking around in the shadows and verbally taunting you for hiding. Always thought that was a cool, immersive touch, especially when you cut them off mid-sentence with an execution.
To be fair, even if the game did force you to kill the police all of them are canonically corrupt.
@@komradekradles8731 yep, basically the game show you are every single one of them deserve the dies, except for the Journalist and James' families
Cash is doing it for his own survival, he doesn't care about the bigger picture considering he himself is jo different to those he's killing. He wasn't innocent, he was just as much a monster as Starkweather
@@SamuelBlack84 Its never explained what cash did to earn the death penalty, its also never outright said he enjoys the killing being more up to player interpretation, the fact he's willing to help people like the journalist and his family (who he is said to not have the best relationship with) proves he is nowhere near the monster that Starkweather was.
@@komradekradles8731 Then, the true monster must be me because I do so enjoy the killing
In college I took a class called sex and violence in media. I had never realized that violence is overwhelming ok in m media but sex is not.
and did they tell you why that is the case
Violence isn’t private and personal the way sex is supposed to be
In america it's like that but in Europe it's the opposite, sex is much more acceptable than violence
I absolutely love that Manhunt has been getting so much coverage, I fell in love with the game at 16/17 (I’m 19 now) and it’s one of my favorite games. I love it’s disgusting atmosphere, it’s gritty locations and the MUSIC!
I had hoped you’d give us some content on this one day; not disappointed in the least. Kudos, Max!
Hey for what it's worth, I've always appreciated how indepth you go into stuff.
I personally find it very fun to listen to and it even helps me think outside of my own box.
Manhunt had a similar effect on me as silent hill 3 in that they both made me feel incredibly uneasy and uncomfortable in my own skin. Both games know how to get to you but in different ways. On a lighter note max - you're making me feel old with this one brother haha ! 😎
Manhunt is more realistic than silent hills series
@@BhaskarGhosh9379 well yeah, I mean I wouldn't argue with that dude!
For there to be such a dark empty shadow to allow such vile beings like them to exist, what kind of blinding light is there to cast such an empty void.
Light needs a void to exist, but the void needs no light
This takes "voyeuristic lens" to a whole other level
Incredible video as always. You inspired me to finally checkout this series!
Played this when I was 13 or 15 got as far as after The Junk yard before my game went missing damn.
Respect and keep up the epic work.
I loved this game. It had this sleazy grindhouse feel to it. Out of all the games Ive played, this one is near the top for setting a mood of dread.
It seems like Manhunt has really gained appreciation over the last few years. Its been my favorite game ever since the day it released and i felt like i always had to defend it. All my friends hated it haha its so nice seeing videos like this pop up!
I remember when I played Manhunt, it truly felt like someone took the world seriously and pulled back the veil and showed me what truly goes on in the world. Like for real, the stuff in the game? That's literally what the Cartels in mexico do, I have no doubt the scenario in Manhunt has played out many times in the real world.
I never expected you to make a video on this , great work man .
0:46 I agree with them, this channel has gotten me to think more about the video games I play more philosophically and trying to figure out what the games and their themes have to say. Having this channel to watch and discuss multiple gamed I've played in such a analytical light is just a joyride I wouldn't feel right getting off.
This has to be the best description/ explanation of the over all meaning of this game I’ve seen, and I’ve seen just about every breakdown video out there on this game since it is one of my all time favorites. You were the perfect person to cover this, and I my opinion you hit the mail right on the head behind the artistic meaning behind the so called meaningless violence this title portrays.
Thanks Max, I love your channel and your in-depth look at videogames. Since Manhunt it's one of my favorite horror games ever, I really enjoyed this video
I just started playing this game for research purposes. I have been on a quest to find stories and characters and settings associated with Hell in movies and video games primarily for a novel I'm developing. An hour in and I'm feeling very uneasy. This makes me believe this version of Hell will give me a lot to think about. Thanks for this. Your videos have really helped me find inspiration for my work and I've learned a lot. Keep 'em comin!
Great video Max, what a great game and what great times to be alive.
I don't care for a few of these games you cover, but I watch them because of your excellent narrative quality and philosophical themes. Great work!
When I saw the thumbnail on my notification bar. I got excited to watch it. Manhunt one of Rockstar’s most infamous stealth/action/thriller based games ever made by them. It’s so dark that the devs themselves were very ashamed of their own creation. Glad that you did a topic on this one.
Is it weird a lot of Manhunt Video essays have started to pop up in the last few months?
And they all pretty much say the same thing, I don't get the point of them. You'd think if you were going to make a video essay on a topic you'd check to see if others have done it already, especially if you've got nothing new to bring to the conversation. Complete global saturation.
@@Alice-Cullen-Fan I mean... I wasn't criticizing it, just pointing out that this game has finally got renewed attention after all these years..🙂
With the world going so soft, u wind right back up to this masterpiece
One of my all time favorite nightmare games (alongside the Silent Hills earlier installments).
Macabre journeys into the darkest recesses.
By earlier you mean 1 to 4?
@@morkgin2459 I do indeed.
@@JohnDWJ Glad you said 4.
@@morkgin2459 4 is my personal favorite actually. I think 2 is objectively the best story and presentation, but 4 (wrinkles and all) still delights me to no end. It's the one that got me hooked on the series.
It's amazing how the "s" at the end of "Silent Hill" stuck out despite that game never actually getting off the ground!
Damm I saw this suddenly and it's a love letter in a level of understanding the nihilism environment and feels of a game that cause so much controversy and when I played it, that was a game that needs just deep thoughts understanding it. You won a new subscriber my guy, good video
One thing that usually gets lost in the mix in these kinds of videos is just how insanely good the audio in this game truly is, especially back when it came out. Max mentioned the headset bit, but there is so much more to the audio, especially if you play it with surround sound. Everything related to sound was ridiculously well implemented. Most games have a map/radar feature; Manhunt had an amazingly well implemented sonar feature. An absolute classic, and one of my top 3 all-time favorite games.
I believe that all things have "meaning" even just survival is meaning enough. We can judge whether that meaning is ethical or not, but nothing that happens in our world is meaningless or without purpose.
@Mister Majestic it doesn't matter to the universe, and thank goodness for that, if we had a meaning we wouldn't have freedom. The beauty of the game is that you can pick your meaning, may it be in service of some higher goal or just survival. Heck, even thinking that all is meaningless is a sort of meaning in itself.
Its truly astonishing how impactful (and shocking) the horror in manhunt feels without pulling any supernatural elements whatsoever
Even the basic gameplay loop of stalking and executing enemy guards feels like its taking the piss of you for how casually you commit gruesome acts of murder against your fellow man purely for the sake of "playing a video game"
Max you've helped me make sense of my thoughts, thank you my dude
Let's go just what I needed! And I love your silent hill 2 intro excellent!
A truly horror masterpiece
i played man hunt at around 9 or 10. never once thought cant wait to practice this in real life, i couldn’t even get past a certain level because i didnt realize you had to hold the attack button down to do a green yellow or red level attack lmao. to each their own. i liked this game and wish it was still around.
I wrote a concept for Manhunt 3 which takes place immediately after Manhunt 1. Starkweather's mansion is being combed-through by police, and you play as a detective assigned to examine some of the 'evidence'. You receive a box of VHS tapes from Starkweather's collection and have to write up a report on them.
Each tape is a game level, and they can be played and replayed in any order you choose.
Sometimes you play as a 'runner' and get killed in a cutscene when you reach the end location of that level, other times you play as one of the 'hunters'.
As you clear levels and finish side missions in the levels, your police report for that tape becomes more and more complete, eventually allowing you to organize the tapes by which hunter gang appears, and doing so basically levels up the various members of that gang until you have stronger hunter characters to play as, with special abilities and weapons or equipment.
When the detective (the player), runs out of tapes, he must go to the police station and get another box of tapes, unlocking more game levels.
Eventually, unable to get more of the tapes assigned to him, the detective secretly meets with another detective who is also assigned to review some of the tapes, and convinces him to let the player copy the tapes to watch them himself, unlocking the next set of levels.
When those tapes are all viewed, the detective tries to convince yet another detective to share his tapes, but when he refuses, the detective must find a way to get them from him, ultimately resorting to murdering him and taking the tapes. As the detective falls deeper into the rabbit hole of Mr. Nasty's world of 'entertainment', he must take more and more drastic measures to cover up his actions as he seeks more tapes to study. It is becoming an obsession.
As levels are replayed and enough side objectives are completed, hidden scenes that act as bonus levels are unlocked. Some of the hidden scenes involve the legendary Piggsy, and the detective becomes determined to find the often referenced 'Piggsy tapes'.
When the detective finds the Valiant Video catalog and attempts to order videos through the listed contact, he attracts the attention of Mr. Nasty, and finds himself dragged into the world he was so curious about.
Now, our detective is being hunted by the very gangs the player just worked so hard to build up. The fun upgrades we enjoyed as we played as the hunter gangs suddenly become nightmarish elements of gameplay as the player realizes they have engineered their own downfall.
As his fellow police detectives discover him to be a killer, our detective is hunted simultaneously by the law he once upheld, and the psychopaths he has been studying with a sick fascination.
Is there any way out for him?
Love how I just picked up a copy of this game on PS2 for the 1st time the day this video comes out lol. Never played the game or the sequel before but am looking forward to it since I've known about it since it came out.
I thought Nietzsche wrote himself into an existential stupor to argue against nihilism, and was not supporting it?
"I'd rather overzealously seek meaning"
This is great. I think people these days have become scared to do this. I see "pretencious" used as criticism for media far too often. Everyone is scared of genuine feeling.
I see this a lot too, I was talking to someone the other day about psychological thrillers and he said they disliked psychological movies because they "try to be too deep". A lot of people also on the internet look at movies that have deeper meaning and bring up memes like 2deep4u as if its trying too hard.
horror movies are great because they're cheap, desperate affairs. by the time a director has moved on to the stuff theyre calling "psychological thrillers" theyre treading water, doesnt matter the socioeconomic background
@@117neither But not all directors famous for psychological thrillers started with horror, so i'm not sure what you're trying to say when suggesting directing a psychological thriller is just treading water.
There is plenty of good material as well like Seven, Silence of the Lambs, Cape Fear, Mystic River or The Usual Suspects from just the top of my head.
The word "pretentious" has ironically become a very pretentious thing to say on the internet
Yeah, we think these people are pretentious because they're just trying to sound smart as a way of saying "you're fucking retarded, I'm better than you"
It's nice to see people still remember this game. What a masterpiece!
I actually love how hard this channel digs into potential meaning in narratives and game mechanics. I have never felt like it was too shallow or that you were reaching too hard for something that wasn't there.
I strongly believe the idea behind manhunt came from the movie 8mm. It’s about a private detective trying to authenticate a snuff film to see if it’s real and if so who where the victim and murder’s. The main villain is a serial killer who wears bondage and has a piggish face when exposed. I guarantee you they all saw this movie before making the game.
Fantastic Game!!
Brian Cox as “The Director “ was phenomenal!!
Manhunt is without a doubt a very accurate depiction of my belief of what Hell could be. Searching, never finding. Fighting for your life for all you know, and hiding from things that terrify you. This game was like a study of the most primitive human behavior. It is a work of art through and through.
What a quality video this is👌. I've heard about this game but thanks for the in depth video
I played this game along with the Suffering (anothe great game I'd like you make an anlysis of) - both those games left me with a deep feeling of emptiness
I actually plan on doing a video on the Suffering in October. :)
@@maxderrat you are the best
I loved the way developers did not allow Cash to get a cliché happy ending scene. Makes me think the guy just went back to his place all covered in murder and went out cold in his bed for the next 2 days after all the madness- anyone would
I'm glad to see Manhunt getting a lot of love on YT lately.
I’ve never related more to the first 40 seconds of a RUclips video. Thank you bro.
Still not available in Germany so glad you made a video.
Are Cannibal Corpse albums still banned there too?
Correction: Nietzsche was not a teacher or promoter of nihilism. He tried to warn the world about nihilism and tried to give us solutions to escaping the nihilism of our age. I would think a person who mentions N. would have at least read and understood his books...
It’s safer to assume that a person who mentions Nietzsche _hasn’t_ read, let alone understood, his books, than the reverse.
I also often heard that. People confuse prescription with description. That said who knows for sure what Nietzche recommended the readers of his writings. Maybe he himself was not sure what his position in this was. Especially since he died from an std that ruins a person’s mind. I don’t remember whether it was Syphilis. He is claimed to have hugged a horse and cried about the horse’s suffering.
Had to literally pause everything to watch this video, thank you max
Looking forward to your take on this piece. Love your work
I haven't played it yet but I've watched some videos on this game and it has a really sinister and inhuman atmosphere about it
what I like about this game is that the horror doesn't come from a supernatural or alien force, the horror comes from the humans and how they behave in this game.
Too bad Rockstar won't update this on the PS 5
I bought this game as soon as it came out. I loved it. Fighting Pigsy gave me anxiety, almost as much as fighting the Rat King in The Last Of Us Part 2. Abandoned, neglected part of Carcer City gives you the creeps. It has what I like about a game: Stealth and violence (the more graphic, the better). One of the best games I've ever played.
I still have my copy from 04,it's a (slight) guilty pleasure that has only gotten better with time. And the news coverage only made me want to buy it quicker back in the day. Awesome coverage man.
Thank you, sir! I was kind of worried about how the video would be received, tbh.
The fact that Manhunt is so dark and nihilistic is precisely why I like it so much. It's the same reason why I liked Spec Ops the Line so much. Games that are unapologetically dark. and show just how dark the human condition is. I think James Earl Cash is a rockstar protagonist that doesn't get enough credit. The man killed 500 people over the course of one night. Who is Cash and why is he such a good killer?
and did I feel bad about all the people I was killing? No, Cash was killing scum. criminals, pedophiles, corrupt cops,
James Earl Cash was John Wick before John Wick was John Wick
I don't actually think that this game gives such great insight into the psyche of the player. A game is fictional, finite, and does not intrude on the real world. We have countless studies showing that various anti-social behaviors such as violence, sexual assault, etc. are not increased in any fashion by playing video games unless the player themselves has issue discerning fact from fiction, in which case that is an entirely different issue that needs to be addressed with a psychologist.
Ultimately, Manhunt was a good stealth-horror game with an interesting premise, but there is no way that it indicates whether the player could become like the psychopaths in the game if they were put into the same situation.
Exactly
I think the whole game is a kind of subversion of society as a whole. Most of us are like Lionel Starkweather in the sense that we enjoy watching violence and get a rush from watching the action hero shoot hundreds of people. Another thing to consider is that Starkweather hides in his mansion never doing any of the dirty work, so he's also like us in the sense that he's built his life on the foundation of the exploitation and suffering of other people. He fully embraces that fact, however, while most of us either ignore or deny it.
@@nathanniesche6380 That doesn't change the fact that the vast majority of people can tell the difference between fictional violence and real violence. In general, a person who enjoys fictional violent content usually enjoys it as part of a larger narrative, even if that narrative is something like revenge, such as in the movie John Wick. However, when faced with real violence, such as when hearing about the war currently ongoing between Ukraine and Russia, or when a mass shooting happens, the same person is horrified because it's real. In short, unless someone has issues recognizing the difference between reality and fiction, real violence tends to horrify them.
Pretty much since you dont see cash exactly become a mad man like piggsy he was simply doing what he could to survive and if anyone else was thrown into it theyd either do the same thing cash would or theyd go with the journalist but i do like to say cash did probably grow into it and im sure any other person in that situation would have started to grow into it too
@@kahns411 I don't think most people would be able to grow into it. Most people aren't suited for the type of survival game that Manhunt basically is. They would likely freeze with inaction in horror and fear and die because of it, rather than being able to fight. Cash had two environmental advantages that made killing easier for him: he was a death row inmate, and the death penalty is almost exclusively used for murders, so he had already killed people outside Carcer City; and because he was in prison, he was in a cutthroat environment already, which would have basically trained his fight-flight-freeze into almost exclusively fight.
Cash is a statistical minority; his unique life experiences made him suited for the snuff film/survival game.
Max, your self-awareness in your own possibly biases is what makes your channel 1 of 1. Keep it up!
As always, great video Max.
I played Manhunt. It was violent. Then I moved on to a game that shook my moral foundations to the core: RAD Robot Alchemic Drive. To this day my questions have questions.
Fun fact: Rockstar went out of their way to tie this game in with the canon of GTA, Bully, and Red Dead Redemption. It could be interesting to take a look at the themes of Manhunt and how they tie in with the themes of those games.
Always loved this game and it surprised me back in the day regarding it's graphics locations and voice work to story and characters and finally gameplay.
Bravo sir! After all the videos I spent trying to figure this game out you made it clear and understandable for me. Wow what an interesting game and kinda scary to think that there’s no meaning to some and we humans must create that meaning for a greater society but also there’s some that don’t follow that path. The video game is like a psychological mind game we as the gamer must decide whether we feel any remorse on the actions we done. Wow although I’m disturbed by it they do exist.
I would like to point to the fact that Carcer, as in the cities name, can be translated to dungeon or prison.
Taken from the well known American term "incarcerated" which means to be imprisoned.
It has a wonderful duality with Rockstar's other location people were loving at the time: Liberty City!
I love how both games are represented by their cities:
Liberty City is an open sandbox where you can do whatever you like (including not killing people if you're not on a mission).
Carcer City is a very enclosed city with little to no freedoms and a very linear path through. It gives you that feeling of imprisonment.
Good point! I think the initials for Carcer City, "CC", line up well with Starkweather's use of "CC"TV cameras. :)
@@maxderrat Reminds me that they intended to have a gang called camera heads that literally wore cameras on their heads or even had cameras as their actual heads, being robots.
@@maxderrat Might be looking too much into this but Carcer also sounds a lot like "cancer" and well, it describes the city rather well.
This guy made me think about this game in a way other than it being gory and violent simply for the sake of it. Good job engaging the more intellectual parts of my brain with this video that sadly don’t get all that much stimulation. 😁
This is exactly the kind of video every single one of us Manhunt fans out there have always needed. Fantastic work right there, pal
I love manhunt and it's so cool that you made a video about it
Manhunt is story that could only be told in video game format. While other games try to be "deep" by convincing you that NPCs are "real people" and you should feel bad about that, Manhunt goes on the oposite direction. "Nothing is real, nothing has meaning, let's have fun by f*cking shit up for pure hedonistic reasons". It translate well the mentality of psychopaths for normal people. You say "why would you do this!?" The psycho replies "why not?"
I've only waited 19 years for someone else to see this. Manhunt is a classic and not because it was edgey.
Being what other call being Overly Analytical is, I'm convinced what they see, not what's going on. Some see all the details in one shot. Most don't. Are the few who do, over thinking or just looking at the entirety of the complex thought, they just had?
17:58 - as I say, almost 2 decades have gone by, but I never thought this is what I was doing. I thought I was trying to save my family who were all innocent. And if I had to kill murderers and r@p1sts to do that, it seemed like a win/win.
Nice analysis, also neat to hear the SH2 soundtrack in the background. :)
? Where? That’s the manhunt soundtrack in the background I believe
i remembered being scared, especially of Pigsy, when i first play this game as a youngling. Now it's just like any other game I played because i got used to violence in video games. Pigsy to this day still made my heart race when I play the final level. It's a classic masterpiece to me.