It’s very strange searching a criminals house and being like “he might have been inspired by this”. The police searched the killers house and found a copy of the Cat in the Hat and say this might have been the inspiration behind his murder spree. How do you even determine “inspiration” in this case?
My take away, is that blaming video games for violence is much easier for people than admitting personal fault or flaw. It's much easier to shed your blame onto something edgy or unsettling.
You think too difficult on that topic, bro. The simple fact is that the most of people still so dumb that they can not even understand the concept of "conditional probability", regardless of higher education. So rational rebuttal doesn't change anything...It's too much to ask the people living in this sorry-ass planet :P
Exactly. There is no way a violent/shootings game like Call of Duty be any different than old action movies like Commando and Rambo II. "oH bUt yOu'rE tHe oNe CoNtRoLliNg tHe cHaRaChTeR" Nah, there is still violence shown on screen regardless. That's hipocrisy at it's finest.
It also doesn't make sense?! If you're playing a violent video game killing people Aren't you taking your frustration there? If you're having a bad day I think a good stress reliver is going onto a game like this and releasing all your anger out on fictional beings
I remember my dad screaming at me when he found out I was playing this game on his computer when I was told not to. He said he started playing it but couldn't continue because of how violent it was. So he was legit mad when he found out I actually enjoyed it lol
I was always told that you killed innocent and helpless people in this game by the media. Not Nazi psychos. I feel like that's a huge thing to leave out.
Kinda like how for the original postal, there were articles written about how you could murder children in the game, which is entirely false. These false claims wouldn’t even be withdrawn after being asked by the developers.
I found it strange actually that the killing and sound design is the opposite of subtle but the very cut and dry white supremacist prison gang wasn’t just called that outright. That’s R* for you though . Sometimes their choices aren’t always 100% rational but they do it well. Which isn’t to say I have a problem with it. It was super cool of them to let ppl kill them lol
I always find it ridiculous when parents get upset about games "corrupting the youth" like bitch just don't buy the game for your kid. There's a rating system for a reason and they can't buy it themselves, legally at least.
That is what I always say. People need to understand that not everything is made for children. On top of that parents need to teach their kids right from wrong and that actions have consequences.
The original Xbox version had headset features. If you connected it, the director's instructions would only play into your ear and if you spoke, whistled or whispered into the microphone the enemies could hear you. Creating opportunities to lure them into the darkness with your voice. This also worked when playing the Xbox version using backwards compatibility on the Xbox 360.
So that’s why I don’t hear the director when playing it on Xbox 360. Though I assume they got rid of this feature on the Xbox One since playing the game with headphones plugged in and saying anything on the mic doesn’t do anything, and you can still hear the director on tv (unless this feature is still in if you have them plugged in on that port next to the headphone jack).
yes trying to control the crane,facing police,and cerberus is more violent than facing piggsy bcuz of how difficult it is to complete it with 5 stars 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
One reason he might be reacting more to watching his family members die on the tape is that in the first scenario, they're only killed if he gets seen, making it his own fault in a way. But it also means he has some kind of control over the situation, he can save the others if he does it right. It's some of the only power he has the entire game. But when they're killed on the tape, not only does it show that the director is a liar, it drives home just how powerless Cash is in the situation. He's been hunted all night long and the single good thing he managed to do, his one tiny win apart from just surviving, is shown to have been a trick.
WRONG neither of those do. Well maybe severe neglect and abuse but the main thing that causes it is parents not teaching their kids to have morals and values and how to act around people and in a society! And a lot of this comes from those parents not acting properly themselves, as the biggest way that young children learn is by copying their elders!
The world then: "Manhunt is gruesome and disturbing" The world now: "When does Mortal Kombat 12 come out" Edit: holy crap. RUclips didn't even alert me for any comments or likes on this. I didn't know it had the many likes. Damn
I love how this game is seen as a travesty, an overly violent video game. Yet recent games like The Last of Us 2, with far more realistic and vomit-worthy violence is hailed as a masterpiece. Manhunt is a fantastic game, and a wonderful treatise on the world's love of spectacle violence.
I’ll spare the boring anti-SJW or whatever outrage like the other comment and just chalk it up to Manhunt not having so much as a fifth of the narrative, story telling, or gameplay of TLOU. The more gratuitous forms of violence are totally optional. Though gratuitous is a fairly subjective term here but there’s levels to it. Snuffing a guy out by restricting his air flow is definitely not as bad as swing a man’s head off.
This was the biggest debate we had in debate class and I mentioned that I played this game and then my opponent mentioned how I could hurt everyone if I wanted to because what is learned through violent video games. I laughed and lost the debate
Whilst Cash isn't exactly a relatable protagonist, I can't help but be on his side all the way through. I mean, he himself is literally being hunted down by every gang in Carcer city, alongside the corrupt police and mercenaries payed off by the director. I can't help but hope some respect for the guy
Yeah, and Cash may be fucked up, but compared to the people he kills he's like a saint. Media and people against this game acts like you play as a serial killer killing innocent people. You play as a guy forced to do something and is killing fucked up people to survive or they'll kill him.
I think what the media failed to mention was how you don’t kill “innocent people” in Manhunt. You play a criminal killing other criminals and fucked up people Also there is an 18 rating for a reason, you know maybe don’t buy your 5 year old son a game that plays like a snuff film
This is 100% true. Just listen to the dialog from some of the scumbags you stalk. There's a guy in the innocentz gang that boast about how he raped his young son. Another guy in the smiley gang is wearing a pink dress. You'll notice he talks in a forced lighter voice like a woman. He's actually role playing as his dead wife that he killed.
I love these games but what makes me personally feel especially icky about the violence in this game compared to other games: It's done completely without humour or thrills. All the violence is cold, realistic and drawn out. There are no rewards, no heroes and no conclusion. Just violence, filth and depravity.
Does not justify, does not downplay, sorta reality check. You are not the chosen one, don't have a badge, aren't saving the world... It changes once Cash goes on his payback quest half way in the game, guess devs had to put some meaning behind it after all at a point.
@@destroyerofeps2714 Yes, not innocent, not a hero and definitely not a good guy. In the end Cash is a degenerate killing other degenerates. First forced to, driven by vengeance later on. There might not be any heroes or rewards, but there's damn sure a conclusion...
@@emulation2369 It's sad, but true. People who keep whining about GTA 6 not being made haven't got a clue. It's the same with the Battlefield series. All the veterans have left and the big development companies are nothing but an empty shell of their former glory.
Yes! I love it. Unfortunately most likely won't ever happen. Just like BULLY 2, however yes a dark web themed style Manhunt 3 would be the best. A 21st century 2025/2030 dark web ManHunt 3.
@@emulation2369 gta remasters were rushed because everyone wanted it that mouth or day if they even if they remastered manhunt 1 and 2 the first one would get censored thats thing now with every game everybody wants it that day and when they get they want to complain cause the game is broken
@@buddymckay3486 I personally think GTA6 is finished already, or mostly finished, but they won't release it until GTA5 stops making as much money as it does. That game makes like over a billion dollars a year. A YEAR.
Dammit and it was be great, but i think we need female protagonist with twisted past or a whore who has been capture because she tend kill their costumers who have criminal record for pedopile, child and woman abuse ect... Ect.. (aka anti-hero) and have director and audience (squid game style). Audience can bet and the higest bet can throw the protagonist in their (audience) own lair.
When playing the game you realize this game is nowhere more brutal than other stealth Action games, it's just the framing is a lot darker with it being a snuff film that you're forced into. Honestly I've played games from the time of Manhunt that are more violent than Manhunt but didn't get the same reaction.
@@bencastor9207 omg! soldier of fortune 1! I loved it so much back in 2001! My childhood! Yes indeed that was neat in terms of violence...Manhunt dint felt so violent or at least even a super great game...
It’s the fact it’s based in the real world and has really realistic deaths. Mortal kombat is 100x more gruesome but the deaths are over the top, these are slow and make you take in what your doing.
@@onesaucynougat7471 IDK maybe its because the people I'm assassinating are evil i never really got the outrage. I always saw this game as a more violent Hitman but not "the most violent game".
In high-school I passed my gr 11 English class final exam about video violence, I used Manhunt as an example and played a bit of it in class. Got a very good mark on it! My opinion comes down to parents knowing what their children are playing and watching. They have advisory ratings for a reason.
I played it recently. I can see why it was considered so controversial and violent. Hell I still don’t think there is a game that lets you suffocate someone with a plastic bag or zooms up on so many kills. That being said, the game controls like total ass and I just couldn’t get far into it. Would love an upgrade with better controls/movement.
@@onlinegac2891 RDR2 was phenomenal But since then the Director and other key members left rockstar so who were spearheading since the begining. Meaning GTA6 will likely suck
My friend had the PS2 headset with this game, and walked up to the first guy and shouted "I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU" and then guy turned around and started beating the hell out of him and he said "OH SHIT." It was hilarious.
I'll never forget the first time I wrapped a chaps head in a blue carrier bag and then stabbed his face with a broken chard of glass, oh the memories. Childhood innocence practically soaked in an acid bath playing this.
@@VainSick Bag tier 1: suffocation, t2: punch and knee strikes, t3: punches and neck break. Glass shard t3: face stabs. No combos. Would be pretty good though.
One of my all time favorite games. It's brutal, gritty, dark and pulls no punches. I miss when games didn't play it so safe, we need more games like Manhunt
Just as labelled on Postal2 : 'This game is just as violent as you are.' You can't blame a game on the violent acts you do, it's you who are violent, not the game.
I feel like games such as this as Postal 2 helped inspired the moral mechanics of Undertale, in that game it's exactly the same case; it's only as violent as you are.
I mean not really. You can't do a pacifist run on Manhunt now can you? You got scripted kills in order to progress. In Postal 2 on the other hand allows you to beat the game entirely without killing anyone if i recall correctly (unless it also has mandatory scripted kills, but i don't remember any). Undertale is a good example too aside from Postal 2, thanks to the pacifist run.
Not a good comparison. Yes, you can finish the Postal^2 without choosing violence, in every situation you can just run instead. Manhunt tho, you can't even progress the game without kills.
Aaah early 2000s was such a beautiful time. Minds of creators infused with 90s grungy aesthetic with things like Doom, Seven, NIN's music, The Matrix. It was the time when industry came to realization that there are infinite areas of creativity where they could go. Games like this prove that there were people eager to develop highly interesing concepts and stories, not afraid to go where the darkest constructs of human mind dwell in. I admire that golden era, and am afraid that it could never come back to us.
I feel the same way about the horror movies of the time haha, any reboots were completely unique to their predecessor (House of Wax) and new concepts were absolutely insane (Saw, Final Destination (though you could say that's a reboot))
That's why I personally think the early 2000s was hands down the best time for gaming. There was still room to grow for new things and concepts, Games weren't so expensive to develop that it wasnt as risky to develop for new ideas, and they didn't rely on safe formulas for a successful game for max profit. You could have variety. but now everything seems kind of derivative. Like sure you'll get new things now and then and the technology is greater than ever, but often it feels like there's nothing that has that "Wow this is completely different from most things on the market right now."
The atmosphere, the sound design for the executions, and just how brutally grounded everything feels compared to other horror games is what makes Manhunt stand out so much. That and the fact that comes from Rockstar, a developer that you wouldn't even dream of having released such an obscure game.
Manhunt is genuinely one of my favorite games ever. The dark and gritty story and the presentation makes it unlike any other game I've played. It's such a shame that the series has been killed off like almost every other Rockstar game series.
I kinda understand why Rockstar doesn't want to do anything with this IP in the environment of nowadays, but I don't understand why they can't create anything else, other milking the same fucking game for over 10 years.
The soundtrack and atmosphere is one of the best of all time , few games have an atmosphere as immersive as this . Great work on the video man , instantly liked it .
I remember hearing about the amount of snuff films the devs had to watch to make this. A lot of staff had to take time off due to mental health issues etc
It’s so ironic how much controversy there was surrounding manhunt at the time. I heard that the same thing happened to some animators of Mortal Kombat 10, they had to take time off or quit due to the lasting trauma from the research they had to do to achieve the animations, though now mortal kombat is widely available in stores and universally recognized as an influential and well made franchise.
This is the peak pinnacle example of suffering for artistic sake, I know that I couldn't handle that kind of thing. I've unwillingly seen gruesome content from abandoned discord servers because my curiosity got the best of me, I seen things that wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the Manhunt games although it did influence some art I made as a way to cope from it.
To answer your question at the end of the video: I would love to see you also cover the sequel. Watched this and your suffering video. As bad as it sounds, these are games of my childhood (i know, fucked up but it is what it is) and I love to see someone go deep into what makes them great stories/games of the past. Keep up the good work man. Appreciate you.
same. I remember I convinced my uncle to get me Manhunt for christmas and it was AWESOME. The Suffering was a game I brought the walkthrough to middle school with me every day to show my friends and read over what I'd have to do next once I got back home.
Man I tried so hard to rent Manhunt but it was the ONLY game my dad wouldn't let me rent when it came out. I think I was like 12 at the time. Actually, it was the same year Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses came out and I saw that shit IN THEATERS (with my biological father... not the most responsible fella). I turned out fucked up, but it had nothing to do with that movie or these games. It was because of abuse. If only they would blame the parents rather than the video games.
You think you were the only kid who played these games? lol Mate you're not special, I played manhunt and The suffering since I was 12. It's what kids did back then and still do to this day.
I appreciate how this game is still being talked about despite being 19 years old by now. Legendary yet brutal game that no other franchise dared to create.
Nice job. This game could stir up a legendary amount of controversy with a remaster or a reboot. Personally I think it’d be really cool, but the controversy would probably be too much PR crap for Rockstar to deal with. I’d love to see a video on the sequel!
I remember my twenty page essay I wrote in middle school about how video games don't cause violence but can be an inspiration to violence if the person has some sort of mental illness or had experienced some sort of abuse. Manhunt was one of my examples that though it's violent, people without a severe mental illness like most people, whom played Manhunt, didn't grow up to be violent. I for one didn't become violent.
Playing _Crackdown_ where skull-stomping is a mechanic, I found the gruesome violence cheap and distasteful, and preferred the challenge and dignity of precise sniping, bullet control, and minimal engagement to get the job done efficiently. And when I want fighting baddies, I'd spend most of my time in that game just climbing buildings and exploring. By having the option to go full Hulk-smash and wreak maximum wanton damage, I was able to find that I didn't need it.
In the UK there was a teenager who played manhunt he killed a friend with a knife, he was trying to copy the yellow or red execution f****d up by a game.
@@samwallaceart288 same thing for me with Prototype. edit: In GTA, I usually try not to run over pedestrians (I still like to pick fights with them and make them fight eachother).
Reason for no ladders is it's incredibly easy to cheese fights in older games by baiting enemies to follow you up/down a ladder and then proceed to stab or melee once your on ground and their still on the ladder
Who knows, maybe one day we will see it become reality. I do realize times are different now, but all it takes is to make a certain game allowed from specific age. There is also always a possibility that some IP could be bought up by other companies who might have people, who specialize in creating games like this.
@NaturalHeroic I wish it was that easy haha. I never understood the policy behind that censorship... Age rating is there for a reason. Luckily it's possible to get games with different ratings via Amazon for example
I really hope i can play it, i only played tbe 2nd game on my phone (ppsspp emu) still waiting for more developement of aethersx2 (ps2 emu) on mobile or have sum money to buy sum pc or ps2
You know, with the first boss battle I realized that the director was getting the other guy ready to fight cash "he fights dirty" which describes cash better than slabhead
You're one of the few content creators on RUclips I genuinely get excited when I see a new video uploaded! Keep up the good work man, your videos are always super interesting and entertaining!
18:43 those old character models really do the game a favor here, Cash's face doesn't change at all when he watches a family member get murdered in cold blood I would love to see a manhunt 2 video as well
This is the greatest stealth action game I’ve ever played. I wish Rockstar would bring it back for the current console generation. To lose this game over time would be a real loss.
@@Bigblackballs335 honestly i doubt it. Violence in video games was a big concern back then, now however this isnt anything special in terms of violence. Would still love for a remake tho.
@@christophergarcia9022 i hate to break it to ya but deatomen us right modern day world sucks cause drama happens alot and sensitivity it would get banned before it would be released
I had completely forgotten about this game until this video, but now vividly remembered the nightmare I had after the 1st night of playing (not that it was too terrifying or anything, just young teen with active imagination, was playing it at night just before going to bed) , it was one of the few games I found to actually be frightening at the time. As always awesome video, you've done a fantastic job and thanks for the walk down memory lane! P.s. sorry to hear about the shit with the other videos, hope u'll have better luck from here on out
I played Manhunt and Manhunt 2 and I must confess, I have swatted numerous flies since. I do remember enjoying Manhunt at the time of playing, super atmospheric and pretty shocking in it's content for the time. At least It was for me.
As a RUclips Creator, I completely understand needing to keep the video slightly shorter to better use your time. I do hope you do a Manhunt 2 video, as well as other horror games (Sanitarium, Silent Hill 4, Soma). Loved this video.
I find the Rockstar employee saying "There was no way to rationalize it." Hilarious. Here is your rationalization: It's a game, it's fun. Movies have realistic and gory violence all the time, what makes it different if it's a video game?
i would guess that they maybe got burnout from working on it. painstakingly animating brutal violence could take a toll on a person if they are not actually into that kind of thing
Manhunt 1 was banned here in Australia. I went into Kmart the day it was released and they had some, they were taken off the shelf about 8 hours later. I still have that disc in my cupboard.
@Northern_Glory they banned a lot of stuff here. Our slimy government had a secret list of internet sites they banned until someone got hold of it and leaked it. We have a woman in charge of a thing called the e-safety commision, its a lot like the American Ministry of Truth. They can fine you for wrong think on the net.
@Northern_Glory Yup, thats our Esafety board. When I say board I mean its one insane angry lefty feminist liar. Liar as in they keep saying its to keep kids safe but we all know what it really is. Also look into our "safe schools" programme they keep trying to bring back to life in Victoria, all to keep the kids safe ( by safe I mean groom and indoctrinate into hating white men)
This was one of those games that if you played it you never forgot it. The kind of violence in it was something that almost no one would consider putting into a game and the appearance and settings of the environments made it really creepy and bizarre. Plus some of the stuff that happened in the plot made it even darker. In some ways it seems like something that should have been from a nightmare. This was one of the very few games that actually shocked me a little bit. Edit: After I played through this game I do remember hearing something on the news about this game. I can't remember what they said but I clearly remember that they said something that wasn't true about it and I remember talking to a friend who played the game also and we both knew that they were lying. It made me mad at the time because I figured that it was the media trying to go on the warpath against video games again.
I genuinely hope you do manhunt 2 as well. I know it must be quite demotivating to do all this work and not get compensated for it but I love your stuff, bro! Also, maybe consider a patreon? It's ridiculous that you don't get paid for doing this level of videos, because they're great and thoroughly entertaining. I'd comfortably say that I'm sure a lot of people, including myself, would love to help you out to keep bringing the goods!
Manhunt 1 is one of my favorite games of all time. Its gruesome, Gritty, has an amazing dilapidated city, old VHS style which I don't know anyone who doesn't love that, AMAZING OST and its just a plain old school badass all around game. The PS2 version is absolutely awesome! The PC version is another story. I love the "666" bat too.
Actually the 1st ladder was waaay back in the junkyard giving access to the top of a junk pile, leads me to believe at one point they had the jumping executions from MH2 implemented
I thought that was Brian Cox voicing the Director. He's such an underrated actor. He's my personal favorite Hannibal Lector in Michael Mann's Manhunter. "Can I have your home phone number?"
I remember playing through Manhunt 1. It was clever that it somehow taught you to do the most violent executions, even though it was more risky and gave you no actual reward. The atmosphere and tensions was unmatched.
brother i love rewatching your videos and i swear since i’ve seen this like 20 other people have mad a review about it, thank you for bringing this game back to our forefront we can never forget the classics!
Honestly i love the ending of Manhunt, because the reporter doesnt mention you as hero or saver but as the crazy murderer you are. And also the fact that we dont know what happened to Cash or if he is going to be as insane as Starkweather after that bloodfest is perfect, because after all even Cash himself knows what he just did could only be done by a psychopath and not a normal human being.
James earl Cash isn't a psychopath he's a criminal I've 3 predictions about what happened to him 1- Escape without being heared or seen 2- A random gang killed him 3- He was arrested by new police forces that aren't corrupt No one knows which one is the true
He is not crazy , he was forced to kill , because of some prick movie producer , and the people he kills , is scumbags that world needed to be taken out , James probably did a favor for police and other as you call "normal people"
I would LOVE to see a video on the sequel at some point, as it is genuinely more fun (and more gruesome) than the first. The only issue I have with it is the story (even if it fits).
Manhunt is a great franchise and I think It should come back in the future because if mortal kombat and postal are still being made today why can manhunt they have the same amount of violence in mortal kombat and postal as in manhunt
unfortunately Rockstar doesn't give a shit anymore but mainly their publisher doesn't give 2 **** about it i miss the old Rockstar when they had just 400 people they were spitting out 3 to 5 game in 4 yrs now at 2000 to 2.5k they giving us half ass remaster and gta 5 over and over and over and getting a game every 7 to 10 yrs instead
i agree 1 billion percent, i mean look at games like the saw ones, you mean to tell me those are somehow less graphic and violent than manhunt? cmon... but you can forget it about it coming back as much as id love it, this is not the same rockstar as in the mid 2000s, they answer to alot more people who would never allow this to happen
While I agree on Manhunt being great, those other two franchises are very different. Postal (beside the first) and Mortal Kombat are over the top and way too far fetched. While Manhunt goes for a gritty, oppressive atmosphere. And the executions feel way more grounded and realistic. Like. I can't take Mk's fatalities seriously. It can get gross but at the same time it's so stupid. Manhunt makes me feel queasy and I'd rather go for quicker, cleaner executions to not hear the nasty gurglings, suffocating, or bones cracking...
@@sacha9957 bullshit, there are far more graphic games out there, look at saw for example, you mean to tell me thats less graphic or violent than manhunt? hiperbole at its finest,theres no excuse, its rly just that gaming violence hating trend that the media had on games in the mid 2000s, parents bought any crap that they fed them.
@@amanchoosesaslaveobeys6510 Its mainly Maxpayne 3, it was an amazing TPS but did not sale enough to cover cost. So Take two was disappointed in it. Not sure how well LA Noire did.
I miss these games. The websites for both games were disturbing as hell too. I think you can still find 'em... For Manhunt 1, there was a fake snuff film forum, if I remember correctly, with people talking about the fictional director's other movies. EDIT: you covered it halfway through this video. Forgot it also had a fake store to it. For Manhunt 2, there was a series of "files" on the patients with extremely horrific and gruesome horror stories about what basically amounts to the real stories of Unit-731 (which really happened).
Thanks for your hard work and information gathering for the compelling free videos you give us. I appreciated the playthrough and breakdown. Sorry there wasn't much monetary value to it, but this games banned in New Zealand (where I live) so I extra appreciate your efforts for something I'll never get to experience myself. Cheers.
I love this game. I have every level layout in my head memorized from when I played it as a kid and in my early 20s. It deserves a proper remake, or at least a remaster.
Rockstar has always had a knack for creating such dingy, surreal environments that feel as much apart of the game as the characters themselves. Although it’s old and outdated, Max Payne was a perfect example of this.
I have played the game, big fan of it actually. Played through it many times to get the perfect score, which in the hardests difficulty is actually pretty hard especially at the endgame. I can speak for myself and say that it did not make me more violent, in fact the complete opposite. It gave me an appreciation for the psychology behind violence and an appreciation for game development. This was one of the good ones oddly enough.
this is the first time im hearing about this game, and even without having any prior knowledge to how influential it is, i can clearly see why it left such a big impression on both gaming and non-gaming worlds
I had this on PS2 when it came out. For some reason whenever I think of this game I think of running around in the apartment building killing the wardogs. Also, the suffering was an awesome game. Very underated.
I loved the Manhunt series. I would play Manhunt2 on my PSP when travelling on the London underground, only to notice people watching over my shoulder with widened eyes. Good times.
either itd be treated the same or worse bc of todays pc culture, or itd be consider bland and normal bc gamers are use to much worse gore now. This game is kinda tame
I made this comment before finishing the video.. but I love it when the media takes video games and make the content sound worse than it actually is. Yall are just making the game more popular than it would if the media didn't write about it. Honestly it's amazing and it's how I found out about Rule of Rose (which is one of my favorite games)
Punisher could have been as infamous, as that game was almost banned as well, for very similar reasons, but isn't as well known as this franchise was, and still is.
I remember the Punisher. I loved finding all the environmental skills, and especially how you took out the Gnuccis at the funeral. Just *chefs kiss*. Whiever came up with that idea deserved a bonus
I loved this game back in the day. Was a masterpiece. Truly scary when you were seen and chased. Heart pumping action. Loved the progressively better more violent weapons and enemies. I never finished the game though. I'll have to try again now it's on Xbox one
A fun fact about the bugs The bugs are actually anti-pirate settings. Something about PC's sets off the settings. I guess Rockstar was too lazy to fix it when they ported it.
Underrated games, too (especially since most of the attention it received back then was around the violence and gore, not so much the quality of the game). Manhunt was one of the first horror games I played when I was younger, so I do have a big nostalgia bias towards it to be fair. I always look back with fondness when I used to stay up after my parents went to sleep and have my heart race when the gang members spotted and chased me. I think it's stealth mechanics, atmosphere, music, gore, horror, etc. Are still solid regardless of bias or not imo. I would love to see more sequels (which is unlikely considering how much things are censored anymore and also because Rockstar only really cares about GTA after V's huge success). Also, props to you for giving the games some much deserved attention!
When I was in high-school my local video store went out of business and I was able to get 10 games for 30 bucks and Manhunt 2 was one of them. When I played it I thought it was unbelievable, I loved every second of it.
if a game gives you killing urges you probably were born like that allready. Murderers can get inspirations everywhere: serial killers, movies etc. and a normal person other then maybe getting mad at the game won't just kill someone
Manhunt is such a brutal and visceral game at least for all the young kids that played it on the PS2 back when it came out. The music is also so unique as it goes so well with all the brutal scenes shown. The best track in the game is the Credits song part 2. You have just been through hell and then you get thing sing playing in the credits, it is so calming and soothing. Amazing. We will never get another game like Manhunt 1 and Rockstar will never be allowed to make another Manhunt because it will never sell GTA numbers plus the people that try to cancel games are stronger than ever today. We all laughed at Jack Thompson, he had nothing on the people who use twitter to create drama and try to cancel games today. Maybe if Twitter was a thing back when Thompson was attacking games he would have actually gained some traction.
manhunt is perfect as a stealth game. as a shooter however, it is so damn frustrating. Everything else is amazing up until the stealth is broken up by shootouts.
Same. I played it for the first time last year after hearing much about it in my childhood/youth (I'm from Germany) I was so hyped and immersed in the Game, really took my time and everything. Then about halfway through the game I realized where it was going. There are just so many frustrating shootouts (playing in ps4) and I never continued the game since I got too frustrated in chapter 17 or so. Almost at the end of the Game. It's sad, really
The shooting becomes great when you get used to it though. I learned that if your close enough to an enemy, you can instantly get a headshot. So what I'm saying is if you run up on a enemy and quick tap it's an automatic kill. If you do end up in a shootout, enemies will eventually run up on you and when they get close you can one shot them so if anything guns are just regular weapons without the unique kill animations. Sure the guns are loud but you could kill a whole room of enemies if you follow the close rule but I do agree with you, it's not as fun as the stealth.
@@EvilIceCream333 If the game that's supposed to be fun stops being fun, then what do you want him to do? "play the game because I like it and you also must like it and finish it even if you don't have fun doing it"? People could finish Balan WonderWorld if they "adjusted" to the terrible experience.
@@christophergarcia9022 the shooting isn't even bad. You aim.... and then shoot.... wow.. so complicated. You auto lock on to their body if your some distance away, and if you're close, you auto lock on to their head... FREE HEADSHOT. Then you can also take cover... pop out with the aim button.... then shoot. Cover, aim, shoot. It's the most BASIC gunplay i've ever seen. HOW am i seeing people have a problem with it? The first level that has guns is basically a cover shooting gallery. Other levels, you can go rambo-stealth mode, and keep relocating on your enemies and have them running around scared.
Blows my mind parents complained about Manhunt. If your kid goes out and kills somebody because of it, that’s not the games fault. It’s the kid playing the game replicating the actions. Manhunt was a masterpiece.
Totally understand your reasoning and I would love to see your take in the sequal. This was the first video game I ever played and looking back that is pretty insane lol.
if they were to bring this back for a remake or a remaster, they should let the audience know that you're going up against other criminal scum and not innocent civilians.
Yeah, GTA was known for notorious acts, but Manhunt puts it to a different level that literally almost destroyed Rockstar. The difference is you're forced to kill and the atmosphere is DARK as hell. I love the story - a warrior death row inmate vs. everything bad in real life, at freaking nighttime. It's a nightmare. Manhunt in my opinion is the greatest horror game ever made. I still own my PS2 copy and beaten it 100%. It's hard and requires patience, but it's worth it. It is pretty interesting it does share the same universe as the GTA games so it's no wonder why you hear the GTA III item sound when picking up stuff. Piggsy was a FUN experience. Never afraid of him. There's a reason why this is my all-time favorite M-rated game.
I've seen better horror games with better combat like F.E.A.R. And far creepier ones like Cry of Fear. Not to drag Manhunt down, but i can understand why it caused a huge controversy back then. Because not many games had this level of detail on the kills, as TotallyPointlessTV said, it has great sound design but overall it falls apart from underdevelopment, leaving a not so great horror game. Let's see how his sequel review goes, i hope he won't get any problem with YT.
It’s very strange searching a criminals house and being like “he might have been inspired by this”.
The police searched the killers house and found a copy of the Cat in the Hat and say this might have been the inspiration behind his murder spree. How do you even determine “inspiration” in this case?
“This guy shot someone because they have nerf guns”
It's absolutely retarded, but what do you expect?
@@thesavagegummybear7341 his mom cuts meat with a knife! She's the reason he stabbed her 37 times!
@\f_a/ Thats why he went on a killing spree in Taco Bell HQ, he was pissed off at the diarrhea it caused him
This is exactly like the stupid death note incident on the news
My take away, is that blaming video games for violence is much easier for people than admitting personal fault or flaw. It's much easier to shed your blame onto something edgy or unsettling.
You think too difficult on that topic, bro. The simple fact is that the most of people still so dumb that they can not even understand the concept of "conditional probability", regardless of higher education. So rational rebuttal doesn't change anything...It's too much to ask the people living in this sorry-ass planet :P
Exactly. There is no way a violent/shootings game like Call of Duty be any different than old action movies like Commando and Rambo II.
"oH bUt yOu'rE tHe oNe CoNtRoLliNg tHe cHaRaChTeR" Nah, there is still violence shown on screen regardless. That's hipocrisy at it's finest.
It also doesn't make sense?!
If you're playing a violent video game killing people
Aren't you taking your frustration there?
If you're having a bad day I think a good stress reliver is going onto a game like this and releasing all your anger out on fictional beings
Like that lady who sued McDonald's because her kid got fat....because she was taking him to eat there 2-3 times every single day.
@@Michael-bn1oi is that real?
I remember my dad screaming at me when he found out I was playing this game on his computer when I was told not to. He said he started playing it but couldn't continue because of how violent it was. So he was legit mad when he found out I actually enjoyed it lol
I'm so glad I grew up playing GTA 3 and Resident Evil 2 and 3 with my dad.
Bruh why do you guys actually have cool dads, gimme a gamer dad.
@@shoobzy3431 i had one he played assassins creed before he was arrested a year ago
@@shoobzy3431 I played Mario Bros. 3 and the first Zelda game ever with my dad. We played super Metroid too, but that was mostly me.
@@shoobzy3431 I have a dad that lets me do what I want and accepts me for who I am.
I was always told that you killed innocent and helpless people in this game by the media. Not Nazi psychos. I feel like that's a huge thing to leave out.
Kinda like how for the original postal, there were articles written about how you could murder children in the game, which is entirely false. These false claims wouldn’t even be withdrawn after being asked by the developers.
Sensationalism at it's finest
Unless the people around you are nazi psychos😳😳😳
@ManBearPig That’s the part that is included in the final version. They didn’t cut that
I found it strange actually that the killing and sound design is the opposite of subtle but the very cut and dry white supremacist prison gang wasn’t just called that outright. That’s R* for you though . Sometimes their choices aren’t always 100% rational but they do it well. Which isn’t to say I have a problem with it. It was super cool of them to let ppl kill them lol
I always find it ridiculous when parents get upset about games "corrupting the youth" like bitch just don't buy the game for your kid. There's a rating system for a reason and they can't buy it themselves, legally at least.
The average person is too self absorbed, drunk or stupid to actually notice something like a rating system.
That is what I always say. People need to understand that not everything is made for children. On top of that parents need to teach their kids right from wrong and that actions have consequences.
I do agree but the internet makes it very hard to be a good parent. Every parent that has rules is immediately blasted and such
@@tiffanywyatt5137 simplest solution is that the internet is not for kids and dont let them on it unless under supervision
@@Joaquin__ I agree with that but let's be real if they enforced that rule 90% of all the content creators would fail lol
The original Xbox version had headset features. If you connected it, the director's instructions would only play into your ear and if you spoke, whistled or whispered into the microphone the enemies could hear you. Creating opportunities to lure them into the darkness with your voice. This also worked when playing the Xbox version using backwards compatibility on the Xbox 360.
I was in the bathroom and just dropped a stinky pickle
so you could just
insult them and lure them to their dooms!?!?!?! E P I C O
Love this idea
So that’s why I don’t hear the director when playing it on Xbox 360. Though I assume they got rid of this feature on the Xbox One since playing the game with headphones plugged in and saying anything on the mic doesn’t do anything, and you can still hear the director on tv (unless this feature is still in if you have them plugged in on that port next to the headphone jack).
Damn that’s sick
the reason people get violent after playing manhunt is not bc it's a gruеsome game, but bc of that fuсking crane level
The name for it is perfect
"Fuelled By Hate"
I also hated the level in the maze
My favorite level was in that abandoned zoo.
yes trying to control the crane,facing police,and cerberus is more violent than facing piggsy bcuz of how difficult it is to complete it with 5 stars 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Thats a lie, I never wanted to get violent after playing manhunt
One reason he might be reacting more to watching his family members die on the tape is that in the first scenario, they're only killed if he gets seen, making it his own fault in a way. But it also means he has some kind of control over the situation, he can save the others if he does it right. It's some of the only power he has the entire game. But when they're killed on the tape, not only does it show that the director is a liar, it drives home just how powerless Cash is in the situation. He's been hunted all night long and the single good thing he managed to do, his one tiny win apart from just surviving, is shown to have been a trick.
Manhunt 1 is legitimately a great game. it had a great gritty atmosphere and a phenomenal ost.
The OST is among the best in gaming
Facts. I wasted hundreds of hours playing through that over and over
Manhunt 2 had an interesting premise though.
Agreed. The soundtrack and the atmosphere was and still is unique
Absolutely! I would love to get a new one built in their current engine! At least I can play it on PS Plus.
I have seen fistfights break out over Mario Party, and you're telling me this is a game that makes people violent?
And I've almost ended Marriages playing UNO and Monopoly, yeah, violent games sure are the reason kids do this.
Fr ive literally seen my nephews beat the shit out of eachother over monopoly
I’ve seen mfs beat each other up over among us LMFAOOO
@@A.Z.296 HAHAHAHA
@@mrpenguin8731 Seems funny now, but just wait until you play a game of blood uno
What these parents don't understand is that Violent Video Games doesn't create Violent Children. Parental Neglect and Abuse does
WRONG neither of those do. Well maybe severe neglect and abuse but the main thing that causes it is parents not teaching their kids to have morals and values and how to act around people and in a society! And a lot of this comes from those parents not acting properly themselves, as the biggest way that young children learn is by copying their elders!
That and some people are just assholes. And love making others miserable/torturing others.
@@GladDestrongerSadly true.
The world then: "Manhunt is gruesome and disturbing"
The world now: "When does Mortal Kombat 12 come out"
Edit: holy crap. RUclips didn't even alert me for any comments or likes on this. I didn't know it had the many likes. Damn
today would be the great time to make Manhunt 3 tbh. Or a same concept
@@AggressiveSpaghetti In this woke shitty decade we live in...good luck with that.
imagine manhunt 3 with mk11 graph💀
Mortal Kombat has had its own fair share of similar controvert over the years.
And let’s not forget the slasher films!
I love how this game is seen as a travesty, an overly violent video game. Yet recent games like The Last of Us 2, with far more realistic and vomit-worthy violence is hailed as a masterpiece. Manhunt is a fantastic game, and a wonderful treatise on the world's love of spectacle violence.
Nobody dares to talk bad about tlou 2 because it has lesbians
@@fartass8299 also because it's a masterpiece
@@Joseph-vu7mg You know, I never liked that word. It's an adjective that's as pretentious as the word "perfection".
That guys jaw getting sliced in half was absolutely disgusting
I’ll spare the boring anti-SJW or whatever outrage like the other comment and just chalk it up to Manhunt not having so much as a fifth of the narrative, story telling, or gameplay of TLOU. The more gratuitous forms of violence are totally optional. Though gratuitous is a fairly subjective term here but there’s levels to it. Snuffing a guy out by restricting his air flow is definitely not as bad as swing a man’s head off.
This was the biggest debate we had in debate class and I mentioned that I played this game and then my opponent mentioned how I could hurt everyone if I wanted to because what is learned through violent video games. I laughed and lost the debate
😭 L opponent bruh people jus blame video games
@@edwck- fr fr on god no cap
If that's his reasoning I'd laugh. If someone claimed I lost the argument, I'd laugh even more.
@@roachdoggjr155 can’t believe I’m still seein lil roachies out in the wild for years now
how the hell do you lose a debate for laughing at someone's dumbass take
Whilst Cash isn't exactly a relatable protagonist, I can't help but be on his side all the way through. I mean, he himself is literally being hunted down by every gang in Carcer city, alongside the corrupt police and mercenaries payed off by the director. I can't help but hope some respect for the guy
See, that's the thing! We don't want relatable protagonist, we want compelling protagonist!
Yeah, and Cash may be fucked up, but compared to the people he kills he's like a saint. Media and people against this game acts like you play as a serial killer killing innocent people. You play as a guy forced to do something and is killing fucked up people to survive or they'll kill him.
Hey, in situations like this where it's most certainly kill or be killed, you better kill.
Literally?
James really feels like a "Well, this is my life now" guy
I think what the media failed to mention was how you don’t kill “innocent people” in Manhunt. You play a criminal killing other criminals and fucked up people
Also there is an 18 rating for a reason, you know maybe don’t buy your 5 year old son a game that plays like a snuff film
This is 100% true. Just listen to the dialog from some of the scumbags you stalk. There's a guy in the innocentz gang that boast about how he raped his young son.
Another guy in the smiley gang is wearing a pink dress. You'll notice he talks in a forced lighter voice like a woman. He's actually role playing as his dead wife that he killed.
The background Oblivion music just made this game feel magical
Unless you count the corrupt police officers working on starkweather's payroll as "innocent"
Yeah exactly Im very surprised no one else is talking about this
The hit new game, Criminal Scum: Violating the Law. Coming to a Cyrodilic store near you!
I love these games but what makes me personally feel especially icky about the violence in this game compared to other games: It's done completely without humour or thrills. All the violence is cold, realistic and drawn out. There are no rewards, no heroes and no conclusion. Just violence, filth and depravity.
Does not justify, does not downplay, sorta reality check. You are not the chosen one, don't have a badge, aren't saving the world... It changes once Cash goes on his payback quest half way in the game, guess devs had to put some meaning behind it after all at a point.
@@demoncore5342 even then Cash wasn't an innocent guy, While he was forced to kill THIS time, he was already on death row.
@@destroyerofeps2714 Yes, not innocent, not a hero and definitely not a good guy. In the end Cash is a degenerate killing other degenerates. First forced to, driven by vengeance later on.
There might not be any heroes or rewards, but there's damn sure a conclusion...
If they ever make a Manhunt 3 (most likely not gonna happen) I would love the main premise to revolve around the dark web
@@emulation2369 It's sad, but true. People who keep whining about GTA 6 not being made haven't got a clue. It's the same with the Battlefield series. All the veterans have left and the big development companies are nothing but an empty shell of their former glory.
Yes! I love it. Unfortunately most likely won't ever happen. Just like BULLY 2, however yes a dark web themed style Manhunt 3 would be the best. A 21st century 2025/2030 dark web ManHunt 3.
@@emulation2369 gta remasters were rushed because everyone wanted it that mouth or day if they even if they remastered manhunt 1 and 2 the first one would get censored thats thing now with every game everybody wants it that day and when they get they want to complain cause the game is broken
@@buddymckay3486 I personally think GTA6 is finished already, or mostly finished, but they won't release it until GTA5 stops making as much money as it does. That game makes like over a billion dollars a year. A YEAR.
Dammit and it was be great, but i think we need female protagonist with twisted past or a whore who has been capture because she tend kill their costumers who have criminal record for pedopile, child and woman abuse ect... Ect.. (aka anti-hero) and have director and audience (squid game style). Audience can bet and the higest bet can throw the protagonist in their (audience) own lair.
When playing the game you realize this game is nowhere more brutal than other stealth Action games, it's just the framing is a lot darker with it being a snuff film that you're forced into. Honestly I've played games from the time of Manhunt that are more violent than Manhunt but didn't get the same reaction.
Is it sad the mk on the sega genesis left more of a sting?
Exactly this, I remember blowing limbs off in Soldier of Fortune and things like that.
@@bencastor9207 omg! soldier of fortune 1! I loved it so much back in 2001! My childhood! Yes indeed that was neat in terms of violence...Manhunt dint felt so violent or at least even a super great game...
It’s the fact it’s based in the real world and has really realistic deaths. Mortal kombat is 100x more gruesome but the deaths are over the top, these are slow and make you take in what your doing.
@@onesaucynougat7471 IDK maybe its because the people I'm assassinating are evil i never really got the outrage. I always saw this game as a more violent Hitman but not "the most violent game".
In high-school I passed my gr 11 English class final exam about video violence, I used Manhunt as an example and played a bit of it in class. Got a very good mark on it!
My opinion comes down to parents knowing what their children are playing and watching. They have advisory ratings for a reason.
You played manhunt for your english class about media violence? Thats actually a good idea!
I played it recently. I can see why it was considered so controversial and violent. Hell I still don’t think there is a game that lets you suffocate someone with a plastic bag or zooms up on so many kills. That being said, the game controls like total ass and I just couldn’t get far into it. Would love an upgrade with better controls/movement.
If you let me make it you can have more cheese with your Mac
Yet plenty of parents aren't paying attention to the ratings.
It honestly really fits how unpolished and unexplained the game sometimes is. It fits to the snuff film Asthetic. Makes you feel like your in it
you’re*
@@2muchFun4yourBuns Yo'uor*
@@poopyhead7759 *yuorse
@@krakennvlyat *yu'o'res
Sounds like a lame excuse for underdevelopment.
"Back in the golden age of Rockstar"
I felt that
Now we got fool's gold age of rockstar
@@KyleGD Sadly yeah.
@@KyleGD i would agree, but they won me over with RDR2
@@onlinegac2891 pretty detailed game ngl, only if story was great but nonetheless still a good ass game
@@onlinegac2891 RDR2 was phenomenal
But since then the Director and other key members left rockstar so who were spearheading since the begining. Meaning GTA6 will likely suck
My friend had the PS2 headset with this game, and walked up to the first guy and shouted "I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU" and then guy turned around and started beating the hell out of him and he said "OH SHIT." It was hilarious.
I'll never forget the first time I wrapped a chaps head in a blue carrier bag and then stabbed his face with a broken chard of glass, oh the memories. Childhood innocence practically soaked in an acid bath playing this.
All of our young minds was blown when this game came out lmao.
You can't use both of those at the same time, your nostalgia made that up.
@@s3dchr I think one of the tier 2 or tier 3 bag kills actually has him use a glass shard but I could be misremembering.
@@VainSick Bag tier 1: suffocation, t2: punch and knee strikes, t3: punches and neck break. Glass shard t3: face stabs. No combos. Would be pretty good though.
One of my all time favorite games. It's brutal, gritty, dark and pulls no punches. I miss when games didn't play it so safe, we need more games like Manhunt
Word
if they did bring it back they'll just ruin it with woke ideology
Agony maybe? 😋
@@shawklan27 yeah...
game making is a business after all. They'll sell things that more people would buy than sell for a smaller group that would actually appreciate it
Just as labelled on Postal2 : 'This game is just as violent as you are.' You can't blame a game on the violent acts you do, it's you who are violent, not the game.
I feel like games such as this as Postal 2 helped inspired the moral mechanics of Undertale, in that game it's exactly the same case; it's only as violent as you are.
I mean not really. You can't do a pacifist run on Manhunt now can you? You got scripted kills in order to progress.
In Postal 2 on the other hand allows you to beat the game entirely without killing anyone if i recall correctly (unless it also has mandatory scripted kills, but i don't remember any).
Undertale is a good example too aside from Postal 2, thanks to the pacifist run.
Not a good comparison. Yes, you can finish the Postal^2 without choosing violence, in every situation you can just run instead. Manhunt tho, you can't even progress the game without kills.
Exactly video games doesn’t make anyone violent I played violent videos games growing up and I’m still not violent so
can't really put that into manhunt brother
Aaah early 2000s was such a beautiful time. Minds of creators infused with 90s grungy aesthetic with things like Doom, Seven, NIN's music, The Matrix. It was the time when industry came to realization that there are infinite areas of creativity where they could go. Games like this prove that there were people eager to develop highly interesing concepts and stories, not afraid to go where the darkest constructs of human mind dwell in. I admire that golden era, and am afraid that it could never come back to us.
I feel the same way about the horror movies of the time haha, any reboots were completely unique to their predecessor (House of Wax) and new concepts were absolutely insane (Saw, Final Destination (though you could say that's a reboot))
it will
That's why I personally think the early 2000s was hands down the best time for gaming. There was still room to grow for new things and concepts, Games weren't so expensive to develop that it wasnt as risky to develop for new ideas, and they didn't rely on safe formulas for a successful game for max profit. You could have variety. but now everything seems kind of derivative. Like sure you'll get new things now and then and the technology is greater than ever, but often it feels like there's nothing that has that "Wow this is completely different from most things on the market right now."
Don't forget SAW
Games with interesting stories and concepts are still a thing, just not as often, but they're still made.
The atmosphere, the sound design for the executions, and just how brutally grounded everything feels compared to other horror games is what makes Manhunt stand out so much. That and the fact that comes from Rockstar, a developer that you wouldn't even dream of having released such an obscure game.
The only game series that's ever made me actively violent was the Dark Souls franchise. You may be able to imagine why.
for me it was Devil May Cry and Parasite Eve. rip controllers.
Git gud
@@emanuelperez3595 I beat Darkeater Midir first try on NG+, I think I'm past struggling on O&S
because dark souls
Sounds like a skill issue on your end
Manhunt is genuinely one of my favorite games ever. The dark and gritty story and the presentation makes it unlike any other game I've played. It's such a shame that the series has been killed off like almost every other Rockstar game series.
I still remember Midnight Club
I kinda understand why Rockstar doesn't want to do anything with this IP in the environment of nowadays, but I don't understand why they can't create anything else, other milking the same fucking game for over 10 years.
@@kankeydong2500 Creatively bankrupt
@@kankeydong2500, Almost all their seasoned developers and creative minds have left the company. That's why.
@@Mr_Mistah Midnight Club 2 was the pinnacle for me. 3 wasn't that great imo
The soundtrack and atmosphere is one of the best of all time , few games have an atmosphere as immersive as this . Great work on the video man , instantly liked it .
My fave song from manhunt 1 is "white trash" , but overall these 2 games are in my all time classics/favourite
@@labousi1684 mine is deliverance and fueled by hate, those two are just outstanding
@@FlechFisher true , I really like fuelled by hate as well ^
@@labousi1684 yes, deliverance is epic as well. as even referenced in this video. idk which i like more, guess its a tie.
Huge 80’s John Carpenter influence on the soundtrack.
I remember hearing about the amount of snuff films the devs had to watch to make this. A lot of staff had to take time off due to mental health issues etc
It’s so ironic how much controversy there was surrounding manhunt at the time. I heard that the same thing happened to some animators of Mortal Kombat 10, they had to take time off or quit due to the lasting trauma from the research they had to do to achieve the animations, though now mortal kombat is widely available in stores and universally recognized as an influential and well made franchise.
Dang, why am I not surprised. After all, this game caused a mutiny in Rockstar, anyway.
holy shit that's crazy
This is the peak pinnacle example of suffering for artistic sake, I know that I couldn't handle that kind of thing.
I've unwillingly seen gruesome content from abandoned discord servers because my curiosity got the best of me, I seen things that wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the Manhunt games although it did influence some art I made as a way to cope from it.
The deadspace dev had to watch pictures of people that died in car accidents to make the necromorphs
To answer your question at the end of the video: I would love to see you also cover the sequel. Watched this and your suffering video. As bad as it sounds, these are games of my childhood (i know, fucked up but it is what it is) and I love to see someone go deep into what makes them great stories/games of the past. Keep up the good work man. Appreciate you.
I was just about to say this too crazy
same. I remember I convinced my uncle to get me Manhunt for christmas and it was AWESOME. The Suffering was a game I brought the walkthrough to middle school with me every day to show my friends and read over what I'd have to do next once I got back home.
Man I tried so hard to rent Manhunt but it was the ONLY game my dad wouldn't let me rent when it came out. I think I was like 12 at the time. Actually, it was the same year Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses came out and I saw that shit IN THEATERS (with my biological father... not the most responsible fella).
I turned out fucked up, but it had nothing to do with that movie or these games. It was because of abuse. If only they would blame the parents rather than the video games.
You think you were the only kid who played these games? lol Mate you're not special, I played manhunt and The suffering since I was 12. It's what kids did back then and still do to this day.
Man I miss The Suffering from my childhood, scary I remembered things so different xD
I appreciate how this game is still being talked about despite being 19 years old by now.
Legendary yet brutal game that no other franchise dared to create.
Nice job. This game could stir up a legendary amount of controversy with a remaster or a reboot. Personally I think it’d be really cool, but the controversy would probably be too much PR crap for Rockstar to deal with. I’d love to see a video on the sequel!
I remember my twenty page essay I wrote in middle school about how video games don't cause violence but can be an inspiration to violence if the person has some sort of mental illness or had experienced some sort of abuse. Manhunt was one of my examples that though it's violent, people without a severe mental illness like most people, whom played Manhunt, didn't grow up to be violent. I for one didn't become violent.
Playing _Crackdown_ where skull-stomping is a mechanic, I found the gruesome violence cheap and distasteful, and preferred the challenge and dignity of precise sniping, bullet control, and minimal engagement to get the job done efficiently. And when I want fighting baddies, I'd spend most of my time in that game just climbing buildings and exploring.
By having the option to go full Hulk-smash and wreak maximum wanton damage, I was able to find that I didn't need it.
In the UK there was a teenager who played manhunt he killed a friend with a knife, he was trying to copy the yellow or red execution f****d up by a game.
@@eivindgj3761 He's mental
@@eivindgj3761 proof or it didn't happen
@@samwallaceart288 same thing for me with Prototype.
edit: In GTA, I usually try not to run over pedestrians (I still like to pick fights with them and make them fight eachother).
Reason for no ladders is it's incredibly easy to cheese fights in older games by baiting enemies to follow you up/down a ladder and then proceed to stab or melee once your on ground and their still on the ladder
Imagine a Manhunt 3 game with Red Dead 2 graphics. The brutality of executions would be insane! 💚
Who knows, maybe one day we will see it become reality. I do realize times are different now, but all it takes is to make a certain game allowed from specific age. There is also always a possibility that some IP could be bought up by other companies who might have people, who specialize in creating games like this.
I just hope it's strictly adult rated. 👍
@@kino9356 Definitely with you on that! 👍
@NaturalHeroic can't say about the country I currently live in, sadly
@NaturalHeroic I wish it was that easy haha. I never understood the policy behind that censorship... Age rating is there for a reason. Luckily it's possible to get games with different ratings via Amazon for example
I beat this game twice, second time on hardest difficulty. One of the most creepy games I've played, the atmosphere and music were 10/10
@Adrian Shephard you should
adrian shephard
I really hope i can play it, i only played tbe 2nd game on my phone (ppsspp emu) still waiting for more developement of aethersx2 (ps2 emu) on mobile or have sum money to buy sum pc or ps2
You know, with the first boss battle I realized that the director was getting the other guy ready to fight cash "he fights dirty" which describes cash better than slabhead
You're one of the few content creators on RUclips I genuinely get excited when I see a new video uploaded! Keep up the good work man, your videos are always super interesting and entertaining!
Is that a stylised Welsh Flag I see
I think it is champ i think it is
18:43 those old character models really do the game a favor here, Cash's face doesn't change at all when he watches a family member get murdered in cold blood
I would love to see a manhunt 2 video as well
Would love to see you make a video on the sequel and explaining the story more in depth. Great video!
This is the greatest stealth action game I’ve ever played. I wish Rockstar would bring it back for the current console generation. To lose this game over time would be a real loss.
i mean imagine if this game got released today or they made a remake i have a feeling it will get banned but that would be cool
@@Bigblackballs335 honestly i doubt it. Violence in video games was a big concern back then, now however this isnt anything special in terms of violence. Would still love for a remake tho.
@@Death0men hey be grateful that you can always make a new game of rdr2 thats the only good games Rockstar has ever made in modern day
@@Bigblackballs335 If this game got released today it would actually not be banned, probably not even cause a controversy even.
@@christophergarcia9022 i hate to break it to ya but deatomen us right modern day world sucks cause drama happens alot and sensitivity it would get banned before it would be released
I really love these deepdive reviews, please make more of them.. if you'd like even about less violent games.
I had completely forgotten about this game until this video, but now vividly remembered the nightmare I had after the 1st night of playing (not that it was too terrifying or anything, just young teen with active imagination, was playing it at night just before going to bed) , it was one of the few games I found to actually be frightening at the time. As always awesome video, you've done a fantastic job and thanks for the walk down memory lane! P.s. sorry to hear about the shit with the other videos, hope u'll have better luck from here on out
I played Manhunt and Manhunt 2 and I must confess, I have swatted numerous flies since. I do remember enjoying Manhunt at the time of playing, super atmospheric and pretty shocking in it's content for the time. At least It was for me.
As a RUclips Creator, I completely understand needing to keep the video slightly shorter to better use your time. I do hope you do a Manhunt 2 video, as well as other horror games (Sanitarium, Silent Hill 4, Soma). Loved this video.
I find the Rockstar employee saying "There was no way to rationalize it." Hilarious. Here is your rationalization: It's a game, it's fun. Movies have realistic and gory violence all the time, what makes it different if it's a video game?
i would guess that they maybe got burnout from working on it. painstakingly animating brutal violence could take a toll on a person if they are not actually into that kind of thing
I agree. It's easy to rationalize it.
It's a horror experience made for adults.
Games can be fun without mentally scarring their creators
@@CErra310 games can also be fun with mentally scarring their creators
Exactly!!!
Manhunt 1 was banned here in Australia. I went into Kmart the day it was released and they had some, they were taken off the shelf about 8 hours later. I still have that disc in my cupboard.
@Northern_Glory they banned a lot of stuff here. Our slimy government had a secret list of internet sites they banned until someone got hold of it and leaked it. We have a woman in charge of a thing called the e-safety commision, its a lot like the American Ministry of Truth. They can fine you for wrong think on the net.
@Northern_Glory Yup, thats our Esafety board. When I say board I mean its one insane angry lefty feminist liar. Liar as in they keep saying its to keep kids safe but we all know what it really is. Also look into our "safe schools" programme they keep trying to bring back to life in Victoria, all to keep the kids safe ( by safe I mean groom and indoctrinate into hating white men)
This was one of those games that if you played it you never forgot it. The kind of violence in it was something that almost no one would consider putting into a game and the appearance and settings of the environments made it really creepy and bizarre. Plus some of the stuff that happened in the plot made it even darker. In some ways it seems like something that should have been from a nightmare. This was one of the very few games that actually shocked me a little bit.
Edit: After I played through this game I do remember hearing something on the news about this game. I can't remember what they said but I clearly remember that they said something that wasn't true about it and I remember talking to a friend who played the game also and we both knew that they were lying. It made me mad at the time because I figured that it was the media trying to go on the warpath against video games again.
I genuinely hope you do manhunt 2 as well. I know it must be quite demotivating to do all this work and not get compensated for it but I love your stuff, bro!
Also, maybe consider a patreon? It's ridiculous that you don't get paid for doing this level of videos, because they're great and thoroughly entertaining. I'd comfortably say that I'm sure a lot of people, including myself, would love to help you out to keep bringing the goods!
Manhunt 1 is one of my favorite games of all time. Its gruesome, Gritty, has an amazing dilapidated city, old VHS style which I don't know anyone who doesn't love that, AMAZING OST and its just a plain old school badass all around game. The PS2 version is absolutely awesome! The PC version is another story. I love the "666" bat too.
Actually the 1st ladder was waaay back in the junkyard giving access to the top of a junk pile, leads me to believe at one point they had the jumping executions from MH2 implemented
I thought that was Brian Cox voicing the Director. He's such an underrated actor. He's my personal favorite Hannibal Lector in Michael Mann's Manhunter.
"Can I have your home phone number?"
I remember playing through Manhunt 1. It was clever that it somehow taught you to do the most violent executions, even though it was more risky and gave you no actual reward. The atmosphere and tensions was unmatched.
brother i love rewatching your videos and i swear since i’ve seen this like 20 other people have mad a review about it, thank you for bringing this game back to our forefront we can never forget the classics!
Honestly i love the ending of Manhunt, because the reporter doesnt mention you as hero or saver but as the crazy murderer you are.
And also the fact that we dont know what happened to Cash or if he is going to be as insane as Starkweather after that bloodfest is perfect, because after all even Cash himself knows what he just did could only be done by a psychopath and not a normal human being.
To be honest
Given how trash he is. And the crap he goes through. At first he kills for survival. But soon kills for spot after losing his own way.
James earl Cash isn't a psychopath he's a criminal I've 3 predictions about what happened to him
1- Escape without being heared or seen
2- A random gang killed him
3- He was arrested by new police forces that aren't corrupt
No one knows which one is the true
He is not crazy , he was forced to kill , because of some prick movie producer , and the people he kills , is scumbags that world needed to be taken out , James probably did a favor for police and other as you call "normal people"
I actually love to see what a Manhunt game now a days would look like with how graphics are and everything
I would LOVE to see a video on the sequel at some point, as it is genuinely more fun (and more gruesome) than the first. The only issue I have with it is the story (even if it fits).
Literally saw your your postal video today and subbed. Now you drop this masterpiece. Brilliant work !
Manhunt is a great franchise and I think It should come back in the future because if mortal kombat and postal are still being made today why can manhunt they have the same amount of violence in mortal kombat and postal as in manhunt
unfortunately Rockstar doesn't give a shit anymore but mainly their publisher doesn't give 2 **** about it i miss the old Rockstar when they had just 400 people they were spitting out 3 to 5 game in 4 yrs now at 2000 to 2.5k they giving us half ass remaster and gta 5 over and over and over and getting a game every 7 to 10 yrs instead
i agree 1 billion percent, i mean look at games like the saw ones, you mean to tell me those are somehow less graphic and violent than manhunt? cmon... but you can forget it about it coming back as much as id love it, this is not the same rockstar as in the mid 2000s, they answer to alot more people who would never allow this to happen
While I agree on Manhunt being great, those other two franchises are very different.
Postal (beside the first) and Mortal Kombat are over the top and way too far fetched. While Manhunt goes for a gritty, oppressive atmosphere. And the executions feel way more grounded and realistic.
Like. I can't take Mk's fatalities seriously. It can get gross but at the same time it's so stupid.
Manhunt makes me feel queasy and I'd rather go for quicker, cleaner executions to not hear the nasty gurglings, suffocating, or bones cracking...
@@sacha9957 bullshit, there are far more graphic games out there, look at saw for example, you mean to tell me thats less graphic or violent than manhunt? hiperbole at its finest,theres no excuse, its rly just that gaming violence hating trend that the media had on games in the mid 2000s, parents bought any crap that they fed them.
@@amanchoosesaslaveobeys6510 Its mainly Maxpayne 3, it was an amazing TPS but did not sale enough to cover cost. So Take two was disappointed in it. Not sure how well LA Noire did.
I miss these games. The websites for both games were disturbing as hell too. I think you can still find 'em...
For Manhunt 1, there was a fake snuff film forum, if I remember correctly, with people talking about the fictional director's other movies. EDIT: you covered it halfway through this video. Forgot it also had a fake store to it.
For Manhunt 2, there was a series of "files" on the patients with extremely horrific and gruesome horror stories about what basically amounts to the real stories of Unit-731 (which really happened).
I played this game. Funnily enough, it didn’t make me want to kill people…. 🤔
Thanks for your hard work and information gathering for the compelling free videos you give us. I appreciated the playthrough and breakdown.
Sorry there wasn't much monetary value to it, but this games banned in New Zealand (where I live) so I extra appreciate your efforts for something I'll never get to experience myself. Cheers.
I love this game. I have every level layout in my head memorized from when I played it as a kid and in my early 20s. It deserves a proper remake, or at least a remaster.
I WAS EXPECTING THIS AFTER THE POSTAL ONE. You need to do a second part about Manhunt 2. Great video
Rockstar has always had a knack for creating such dingy, surreal environments that feel as much apart of the game as the characters themselves. Although it’s old and outdated, Max Payne was a perfect example of this.
Blaming video games is such a lazy excuse for bad parenting and/or bad genetics
Manhunt is exactly what i imagined violence, crime and ganglife to look like! Loved this game literally made me stay in school.
watching these executions genuinely made me feel sick to the point I had to pause to take a short break after every single one
Especially the yellow execution with the meat cleaver and the machete chops him in the chest and the throat
I have played the game, big fan of it actually. Played through it many times to get the perfect score, which in the hardests difficulty is actually pretty hard especially at the endgame. I can speak for myself and say that it did not make me more violent, in fact the complete opposite. It gave me an appreciation for the psychology behind violence and an appreciation for game development. This was one of the good ones oddly enough.
this is the first time im hearing about this game, and even without having any prior knowledge to how influential it is, i can clearly see why it left such a big impression on both gaming and non-gaming worlds
I had this on PS2 when it came out. For some reason whenever I think of this game I think of running around in the apartment building killing the wardogs.
Also, the suffering was an awesome game. Very underated.
I loved the Manhunt series.
I would play Manhunt2 on my PSP when travelling on the London underground, only to notice people watching over my shoulder with widened eyes. Good times.
a remake of the manhunt franchise would be very interesting in today's climate
either itd be treated the same or worse bc of todays pc culture, or itd be consider bland and normal bc gamers are use to much worse gore now. This game is kinda tame
Would be but I feel like they would just ban it again
@@joepizzichemi4748 Definitely not. Have you seen MK11? Lmao Manhunt would do just fine.
@@Kal-El207 well it would have to be a gorefest then lol
@@joepizzichemi4748 exactly.. like i said, this would be tame by todays standards so theyd have to really try to make it pop like it did then
I made this comment before finishing the video.. but I love it when the media takes video games and make the content sound worse than it actually is. Yall are just making the game more popular than it would if the media didn't write about it. Honestly it's amazing and it's how I found out about Rule of Rose (which is one of my favorite games)
You've got some of the best paced video game reviews I've seen in a long while. I really hope you can continue to makes these videos
I would love to see a video on manhunt 2, your insight is very interesting
same, manhunt 2 is great also
you somehow manage to fill the gaps in my rotation of content creators i watch game reviews from, now my validation puzzle is complete.
Punisher could have been as infamous, as that game was almost banned as well, for very similar reasons, but isn't as well known as this franchise was, and still is.
I remember the Punisher. I loved finding all the environmental skills, and especially how you took out the Gnuccis at the funeral. Just *chefs kiss*. Whiever came up with that idea deserved a bonus
Such an awesome game, the zoo level was great 😁.
Please keep doing these types of videos. I haven't watched this one yet but I'm already waiting for the new one!
Edit: watched it, liked it, loved it
It's crazy how Michael's(from GTA5) first heist was in the outskirts of Carcer City, he has been through hell.
I loved this game back in the day. Was a masterpiece. Truly scary when you were seen and chased. Heart pumping action. Loved the progressively better more violent weapons and enemies. I never finished the game though. I'll have to try again now it's on Xbox one
A fun fact about the bugs
The bugs are actually anti-pirate settings.
Something about PC's sets off the settings.
I guess Rockstar was too lazy to fix it when they ported it.
Underrated games, too (especially since most of the attention it received back then was around the violence and gore, not so much the quality of the game). Manhunt was one of the first horror games I played when I was younger, so I do have a big nostalgia bias towards it to be fair. I always look back with fondness when I used to stay up after my parents went to sleep and have my heart race when the gang members spotted and chased me. I think it's stealth mechanics, atmosphere, music, gore, horror, etc. Are still solid regardless of bias or not imo. I would love to see more sequels (which is unlikely considering how much things are censored anymore and also because Rockstar only really cares about GTA after V's huge success). Also, props to you for giving the games some much deserved attention!
When I was in high-school my local video store went out of business and I was able to get 10 games for 30 bucks and Manhunt 2 was one of them. When I played it I thought it was unbelievable, I loved every second of it.
Definitely would love to see you cover 2. Great video dude. I really enjoy your commentary.
if a game gives you killing urges you probably were born like that allready. Murderers can get inspirations everywhere: serial killers, movies etc. and a normal person other then maybe getting mad at the game won't just kill someone
Manhunt is such a brutal and visceral game at least for all the young kids that played it on the PS2 back when it came out. The music is also so unique as it goes so well with all the brutal scenes shown. The best track in the game is the Credits song part 2. You have just been through hell and then you get thing sing playing in the credits, it is so calming and soothing. Amazing. We will never get another game like Manhunt 1 and Rockstar will never be allowed to make another Manhunt because it will never sell GTA numbers plus the people that try to cancel games are stronger than ever today. We all laughed at Jack Thompson, he had nothing on the people who use twitter to create drama and try to cancel games today. Maybe if Twitter was a thing back when Thompson was attacking games he would have actually gained some traction.
manhunt is perfect as a stealth game. as a shooter however, it is so damn frustrating. Everything else is amazing up until the stealth is broken up by shootouts.
Same. I played it for the first time last year after hearing much about it in my childhood/youth (I'm from Germany)
I was so hyped and immersed in the Game, really took my time and everything. Then about halfway through the game I realized where it was going. There are just so many frustrating shootouts (playing in ps4) and I never continued the game since I got too frustrated in chapter 17 or so. Almost at the end of the Game. It's sad, really
The shooting becomes great when you get used to it though. I learned that if your close enough to an enemy, you can instantly get a headshot. So what I'm saying is if you run up on a enemy and quick tap it's an automatic kill. If you do end up in a shootout, enemies will eventually run up on you and when they get close you can one shot them so if anything guns are just regular weapons without the unique kill animations. Sure the guns are loud but you could kill a whole room of enemies if you follow the close rule but I do agree with you, it's not as fun as the stealth.
@@DomeLP09 oh my god.. hearing people drop a game just because they can't fucking adjust to how something works pisses me off. It's not unplayable.
@@EvilIceCream333 If the game that's supposed to be fun stops being fun, then what do you want him to do? "play the game because I like it and you also must like it and finish it even if you don't have fun doing it"? People could finish Balan WonderWorld if they "adjusted" to the terrible experience.
@@christophergarcia9022 the shooting isn't even bad. You aim.... and then shoot.... wow.. so complicated. You auto lock on to their body if your some distance away, and if you're close, you auto lock on to their head... FREE HEADSHOT. Then you can also take cover... pop out with the aim button.... then shoot. Cover, aim, shoot. It's the most BASIC gunplay i've ever seen. HOW am i seeing people have a problem with it? The first level that has guns is basically a cover shooting gallery. Other levels, you can go rambo-stealth mode, and keep relocating on your enemies and have them running around scared.
Blows my mind parents complained about Manhunt. If your kid goes out and kills somebody because of it, that’s not the games fault. It’s the kid playing the game replicating the actions. Manhunt was a masterpiece.
Totally understand your reasoning and I would love to see your take in the sequal. This was the first video game I ever played and looking back that is pretty insane lol.
Manhunt is one of those games that have that deep 2000's vibes and I love that!
Manhunt 1 was amazing. I used to love it. And I'm proud to say it still hasn't turned me into a psychopathic murderer.
if they were to bring this back for a remake or a remaster, they should let the audience know that you're going up against other criminal scum and not innocent civilians.
One of my favorite games of all time. The music, the ambiance! Incredible. Please Rockstar, remaster or remake this masterpiece!
I would like this to get a sequel this is a franchise that deserves to be covered and there's not enough video essays on it already
You make such quality content. I remember this game being released and talked about on the news. It was kind of a bit disturbing.
Yeah, GTA was known for notorious acts, but Manhunt puts it to a different level that literally almost destroyed Rockstar. The difference is you're forced to kill and the atmosphere is DARK as hell. I love the story - a warrior death row inmate vs. everything bad in real life, at freaking nighttime. It's a nightmare. Manhunt in my opinion is the greatest horror game ever made. I still own my PS2 copy and beaten it 100%. It's hard and requires patience, but it's worth it. It is pretty interesting it does share the same universe as the GTA games so it's no wonder why you hear the GTA III item sound when picking up stuff. Piggsy was a FUN experience. Never afraid of him. There's a reason why this is my all-time favorite M-rated game.
I've seen better horror games with better combat like F.E.A.R. And far creepier ones like Cry of Fear.
Not to drag Manhunt down, but i can understand why it caused a huge controversy back then.
Because not many games had this level of detail on the kills, as TotallyPointlessTV said, it has great sound design but overall it falls apart from underdevelopment, leaving a not so great horror game. Let's see how his sequel review goes, i hope he won't get any problem with YT.