Manhunt

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

“You do not hunt a man!” - Frank Reynolds.

Manhunt for the PS2 came out a few years before Danny DeVito’s character said this in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, so it’s forgivable.

Released in 2003, this is the game that nearly caused a mutiny at Rockstar studios, faced bans across several countries, and sparked widespread parental outrage.

My memories of this game are fairly positive. It had a rough start, but eventually something just clicks and I remember really enjoying the last 3rd of the game. It’s been a good 20 years since I’ve played it, so I was really looking forward to going back to this one.

It’s not a game for everyone. The story, premise, and world will turn a lot of people off. But beneath the chaos and controversy lies a genuinely fascinating stealth experience… if you can figure out the camera.

Grab some tots, a cold root beer and pick up that PS2 controller for some M-rated mayhem.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

Imagine being a death row inmate who mysteriously wakes up after your execution. A disembodied voice speaks through an earpiece, offering you freedom in exchange for one night of survival and murder.

That's the premise of Manhunt, a game that feels like the polar opposite of the cheerful platformers that raised me, where the biggest moral dilemma was whether to jump on Goombas or steal an enemy's gold rings. 

You play as James Earl Cash, forced to navigate Carcer City while being hunted by violent gangs, all for the entertainment of a mysterious filmmaker known only as The Director, voiced by the amazing Brian Cox. Your family is being held hostage, refuse and they die.

Pretty dark premise, right?

The entire experience is framed as a snuff film production. Manhunt is a third-person stealth action game that draws inspiration from titles like Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid. The primary objective in each of the twenty-four scenes is to eliminate enemy gang members using stealth and improvised weapons.

Rather than encouraging gunplay or direct combat, the game rewards careful positioning and patient observation. You move slowly through environments, using shadows and cover to remain undetected.

When you successfully approach an enemy unaware, you initiate an execution. Holding down the attack button charges a color-coded meter: white for quick kills, yellow for violent takedowns, and red for gruesome finales.

Each weapon has unique execution animations, creating a disturbing variety in how you can dispatch targets. Longer executions earn higher scores but risk being interrupted if another enemy spots you during the animation.

The graphics display their PS2 age with washed-out colors and grainy textures, but this aesthetic serves the game well. The dingy, claustrophobic environments feel appropriately oppressive.

The sound design is exceptional, featuring a synthesizer-heavy soundtrack that echoes John Carpenter's work, creating sustained tension throughout. Gunshots carry significant impact, and the audio during executions makes every kill feel uncomfortably real.

Brian Cox's voice performance as The Director elevates the entire experience, his commanding presence reminding you that you're being watched and judged.

During the development of Manhunt, former Rockstar Games producer Jeff Williams revealed that the project nearly caused a full-blown mutiny inside the studio.

Many employees were deeply uncomfortable with how far the game pushed realistic, sadistic violence, far beyond the stylized mayhem of Grand Theft Auto. Unlike GTA, where chaos was a player choice or wrapped in satire, Manhunt demanded players carry out brutal, up-close executions as its core mechanic.

Williams recalled that much of the team “wanted no part of it,” feeling the game crossed a moral line and couldn’t be justified creatively or ethically. The internal tension became so strong that it almost fractured the company, as developers questioned not only the game’s purpose but also whether Rockstar had gone too far in its pursuit of shock value.

Email Was Only the Beginning

Four years in the making. One event that will change everything.

On November 13, beehiiv is redefining what it means to create online with their first-ever virtual Winter Release Event.

This isn’t just an update or a new feature. It’s a revolution in how content is built, shared, and owned. You don’t want to miss this.

Save your spot

WHERE TO PLAY

• The original copy or emulation will be your best bet for tracking this down.

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $25

  • Complete: $47

  • New/Sealed: $200

GAME INFORMATION

Cover Art

RETRO NEWS

Here’s a quick roundup of the latest retro gaming news we’ve dug up.

• Lost Japanese Resident Evil Mobile Game Preserved After Years in Limbo
  A rare mobile spin-off once thought gone forever has been recovered and archived for fans.
  Read more at Time Extension

• Intellivision Sprint Revives Classic Racing for a New Generation
  A fan-made revival brings Intellivision’s spirit back with sleek cars, tight tracks, and nostalgia.
  Read more at Retro News

• Simpsons: Hit & Run Modders Create Hilarious Futurama Crossover
  A new fan project transforms Springfield into New New York with Fry, Bender, and chaos galore.
  Read more at Time Extension

PREVIOUS POLL RESULTS

What's your favorite console from the 4th generation, aka the 16-bit era?

• TurboGrafx-16 - 0%

• Sega Genesis - 28.57%

• Super Nintendo - 42.86%

• Philips CD-i - 0%

• Neo Geo - 0%

• Sega CD - 28.57%

• 32x - 0%

Reader comments from the poll:

GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

If you enjoy psychological horror games that emphasize stealth and atmosphere, Manhunt is still worth your attention today. The controls and camera angles, however, feel dated by modern standards.

The right analog stick, used for camera control in most modern games, switches to a first-person view with inverted controls, while the main camera remains tied to the left stick, which also moves Cash. I found myself constantly fighting against this setup throughout my playthrough and it might be a dealbreaker for a lot of players.

The stealth mechanics hold up well enough to stay engaging throughout the experience. The AI may seem inconsistent at times, but this generally works in your favor, keeping the game challenging without becoming frustrating. The challenge ramps significantly as you progress, and later scenes demand careful planning and precise execution.

What makes Manhunt endure is its commitment to tone. The presentation throughout remains pristine. Whether through its soundtrack, Cox's voice, or the unsettling framing of each scene, Manhunt creates an atmosphere that few games have matched and is great for the Halloween season. If you're hunting for a stealth game with genuine substance, Manhunt is absolutely worth revisiting or discovering for the first time.

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