Manhunt (video game)

Manhunt is a stealth game from 2003, created by Rockstar North and released by Rockstar Games. It first came out on the PlayStation 2 in November 2003, with versions for Microsoft Windows and the Xbox following in April 2004. The story takes place in the fictional Carcer City, where players take on the role of James Earl Cash, a death row inmate forced to appear in snuff films by killing gang members who are sent to hunt him while being recorded.

Critics gave the game positive reviews, highlighting its grim atmosphere and violent action, though some found fault with the combat and level design. Its extreme violence sparked major controversy, leading to bans in multiple countries. British media also linked the game to a murder, but police and courts later dismissed that claim. While it wasn't a huge commercial success, Manhunt built a strong cult following. A standalone sequel, Manhunt 2, came out in 2007. The PlayStation 2 version was re-released on the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 in 2013 and the PlayStation 4 in 2016, while the Xbox version was made available again through the Xbox Backwards Compatibility program in 2021.

**Gameplay**

Manhunt is a third-person stealth game with twenty main levels, called "scenes," plus four unlockable bonus scenes. Players get through scenes by taking out enemy gang members, sometimes with guns but mostly through stealthy executions. After each scene, players receive a rating of one to five stars based on performance. Unlockable content appears when players earn three or more stars on enough levels. On normal difficulty, called "Fetish," players can only get four stars: one for finishing the scene within a time limit, and one to three for how brutal the executions are. On hard difficulty, "Hardcore," the rating goes up to five stars—one for speed, one to three for brutality, and one for completing the scene. To earn the maximum stars, players must perform a set number of brutal executions per scene; face-to-face fighting doesn't count toward stars.

To execute enemies, players must sneak up behind them without being spotted. Each scene has "dark spots"—shadows where players can hide, and enemies can't see into them unless they watch the player enter. A common tactic is to hide in shadows and tap a wall to lure a nearby hunter. When the hunter checks the area and turns away, players can ambush and kill them.