Review: Manhunt 2 (Wii)
There has been a lot of "bad" press revolving around this game Manhunt 2 lately. Rockstar is known for producing quality titles with questionable moral fiber. Having been released just last week, it is finally a chance for us all to see if the game really lives up to the hype. I warmed up my Wii, dusted off my nunchuck and forced it into the slot. Was it all that it was cracked up to be? Full review after the jump.
Story
The story follows two inmates of hospital for the criminally insane. You play as Danial Lamb, an apparent psychopath who has misgivings about taking the lives of others. After a blackout, you and several of your fellow inmates managed to escape from their cells and attempt to find an exit from their hell. Oh, and there is something about an experiment called The Pickmen Project.
This setup is just a subtext for killing people. As the title states, it is all about being a manhunt. I hate to say it, but Manhunt 2 is violent for the sake of being violent. The story is there, and I'm not going to say it's a bad one. Midway has produced titles with less substance, but the story is certainly not the driving force in the game. The occasional flashbacks are there, and you do get a sense that the character is kinda batty but the story elements are pretty few and far between.
Ultimately, the story is not what drives the game. If this were an adventure title I would be upset - but here, story really only gets in the way of what the target audience wants. This is not a murder simulator: your character seems to feel remorse for what he's doing (even if he is doing it in a painfully graphic manner). I would say that the story is passable, but hardly riveting.
Audio
The audio for Manhunt 2 is actually quite good. I'm somewhat of a horror film buff, and I've been conditioned to expect certain noises when bad things happen to people. There is a full gambit of meaty thunks, slaps and squishes, each appropriately associated with attacks and what-have-you. The ambient noise is effective without being invasive.
The voice-over is fantastic, for videogame standards. I'm not going to say that the voice actors deserve a Tony, but they are definitely worth the money that Rockstar paid them.
Graphics
I'm not going to fall into the trap that this game is a last-gen title. Manhunt 2 graphics are adequate. Nothing really special about them. The environments have some pretty stale textures, even occasionally blurry. Considering the genre, you expect lots of gray, but the game almost feels like you're playing in a warehouse with tiled floors at times.
One of my biggest pet peeves is mouth modeling and lip syncing. This game doesn't really meet the standard I expect from a title. The number of points of articulation in the mouth is painfully low, making the characters look like old animatronic characters from old Disney rides.
Of course, there is the censor filter. It is so painfully thick you can't really even tell what is going on. The first death sequence I was permitted to see was something involving a syringe. I say something because I have no idea what happened. The screen went all white and red and there was something that resembled the outline of two people. I think it went somewhere near the face. It was extremely unrewarding.
Gameplay
I love the wiimote. I love motion controls. I don't think, however, that motion control works for everything. Manhunt 2 revolves around using the standard run-of-the-mill movements: to use your weapon or punch, you make a "punch" gesture with the effective arm, blocking involves tilting the nunchuck and wiimote up. Essentially, it's like boxing in WiiSport, something I'm very comfortable with.
The problem is that your target is not stationary. I found myself more aggravated with trying to keep myself in a position where I could give someone a beat down than anything else in the game. Using an analog stick while your arms are flailing is simply not an option. My advise is if you're going to kill someone, do it without being seen. This part alone kinda reinforces a need to be stealthy.
Final Thoughts
If you liked the first one, Manhunt 2 is definitely up your alley. It still caters to its target audience, so if you like that sorta thing - go for it. The game would be a lot more entertaining for me if the censor filter was not there and the play controls were a little more standard.
The Wii version is great if you like motion controls, but be prepared to get annoyed when you get into an active altercation with someone. Simply put: if you're going to go for this version, rent first. You'll thank me. And please, respect the 17+ rating.
Asterick
Posted to Hot Stuff, Reviews, Video Games on 5 November 2007
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: manhunt 2, nintendo wii, review, rockstar games
I'm really looking forward to a review on Lego Star Wars for Wii (and Simpsons for Wii if it's worth the time and effort). I hope that's in the works...
Pickmen? I loved Pickmen! Pickmen 2 was better, though, with the new white and purple little guys and no time limits in the dungeons.
ahhh Pickmen, nothing beats Pickmen ... going out with friends to a bar or a club, maybe the park and just picking out the menz. le sigh ... Oh and Pikmin and Pikmin 2 are great games too. ;P