Manhunt Review | Gruesome Violence, Shadow-lurking, Brian Cox

Rockstar North was on a real high. They were coming off of the both the biggest game of 2001, Grand Theft Auto 3, AND the biggest game of 2002, Grand That Auto: Vice City. The series that saw you stealing cars and driving dangerously through pedestrian-filled streets had propelled them into video game superstardom. Then they decided to do something quite different. We're going back to 2003 to take a look at one of the most controversial video games of all time. We're talking about Manhunt.

On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how DMA Design became the biggest developer in the world (while also swearing loads in interviews like absolute mad lads). We also discuss New Zealand's history with the game, as well as how Manhunt was briefly connected to a murder story.

In our review, you'll hear some chat on how the stealth is dependable to some and boring to others, James Earl Cash and his Splinter Cell love of shadows, battering walls with your fists to attract the attention of guards, the SOCOM PS2 headset, the comfort of the stealth loop, urban horror, the gruesome kill animations and their effect 20 years on, John Wick pencils, Red Dead Redemption 2 train tracks, swinging baseball bats like swords in Skyrim, a weightless protagonist, the power guns have when they're introduced, the bullet-fuelled carnage of the second half, David Fincher's bipigal Piggsy, an attempt at deconstructing violent video games, Brian Cox delivering dialogue with gusto, the shared GTA universe, Detroit, 00s edginess, The Warriors, John Carpenter, "hide you shit," and an ever-present beating heart.

After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Manhunt is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.

For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting XIII on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.

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