Manhunt 2

Manhunt 2
Developer(s)	Rockstar London Rockstar North Rockstar Toronto (Wii) Rockstar Leeds (PSP) Rockstar Vienna (Former developer)
Publisher(s)	Rockstar Games
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Release	July 10, 2007 US July 6 Europe
Genre(s)	Action, Survival horror, Psych. Horror
Mode(s)	Single player

Manhunt 2 is a video game by Rockstar Games and is a sequel to Manhunt. Game development began in 2004 at Rockstar Game's Vienna branch. The game is to be released for the Wii, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in July, 2007.

Development

Five voice actors have confirmed to have recorded dialogue for the game. Even though two of them chose to remain anonymous, the third voice actor James Urbaniak publicly announced it on his blog on March 16, 2006, only to remove it days later. Of the other two voice actors said to have recorded dialogue for the game, one of which also recorded dialogue for the original Manhunt, like Urbaniak.

Plot synopsis

Gamestop's product information page shed a little light on the story, and gives a little synopsis of the plot[1]. The trailer was released on April 13 2007 [2].

"An experiment at a secret research facility has gone catastrophically wrong. Daniel is sent to the Dixmor Asylum, where six years later a freakish storm of lightning hits the power. Leaving it dark and haunting. Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper are the only surviving subjects. The Pickman Project will stop at nothing to hunt them down and stop the truth from getting out.

Demented screams echo around the dank asylum that has caged you for the last six years. You open your eyes. A white-coated body slumps to the floor through your shaking hands. A bloody syringe slips from your arm. Waves of confusion and paranoia crash over you. You have no idea who you are or how you got here.

The door to your cell is open. One choice. One chance. They took your life. Time to take it back."

Gameplay

From the Manhunt 2 website:

• "With Manhunt 2 we have tried to create a game that stays close to the original concept of chilling suspense and stealth, whilst pushing the game design and story telling forward," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive producer of Rockstar Games.

The UK's Official Playstation Magazine #84 (April 2007) revealed that:

• Bag, glass shard, 'heavy handgun', nightstick and double barrel shotgun return, and are joined by the syringe and a pen.
• The Director, CCTV cameras and the protagonist James Earl Cash from the first Manhunt won't play a part.
• Manhunt 2's main character, scientist Dr Daniel Lamb, is locked in a private asylum by The Project - shady backers of a top secret drugs-based weapons program that Lamb was working on.
• After breaking out of the asylum, Daniel Lamb goes on the run with psychotic inmate Leo Kasper, who is happy to coach Lamb in the brutal art of violence.
• Like the first Manhunt, kills are executed in three deadly shades - Hasty, Violent and Gruesome.
• Environmental kills have been introduced (push an enemy face-first into a live fuse box, use telephone cords to strangle an enemy or you can drown an enemy in a toilet).
• Loud ambient noises can be exploited by Lamb to drown out his own crashing about.
• When hiding in shadows, if an enemy comes close the player will sometimes have to copy a button combo to regulate Lamb's breathing and ensure he remains undetected.
• Lamb can climb and crawl, two things James Earl Cash could not do in the original.
• Guns can be used for executions.
• Lamb can smash lights to create pockets of shadow.

An IGN hands on Revealed:

• The Wii version will get 3 exclusive weapons, a Straight razor, Mace and a Broken Bottle.
• The ability to decapitate enemies and wear their severed heads on your belt, which can be used as both a weapon or a distraction.
• Rockstar has used the Wii's horsepower to "Up the Gore", such as realistic blood effects, bruising, gunshot wounds, gashes and head wounds. In addition, blood will also spray the screen during combat and executions.

Characters

• Daniel Lamb - The playable protagonist. He was a former scientist with "The Pickman Project" but ended up locked away in the Dixmor Institute for the Criminally Insane for six years. He seems to have amnesia and has no memory of his past.

• Leo Kasper - Psychotic inmate who was also put in the asylum from the Project. He helps Lamb escape and teaches him how to stealth kill.

• Dr. Whyte - Head of "The Pickman Project."

• Dr. Pickman - High ranking medical practitioner within "The Pickman Project." The project seems to be named after him.

• Judy - Works at a brothel (Honey Pot) and holds information valuable to Lamb.

Controversy

After Rockstar's announcement of a sequel to Manhunt, anti-violence video game activist Jack Thompson is suing Take Two to stop them from selling Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. Mr. Thompson plans to file the suit from March 19th and in his words he wants to:

"Prevent the sale of two hyperviolent video games set to be released this year and sold to anyone under 17 years of age."

In retaliation to Mr.Thompson's efforts, Take Two are now filing legal proceedings against Jack Thompson by petitioning to the 'United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida' in which they seek to stop the game being declared a 'public nuisance' under Florida law. The claim states:

"Thompson has a history of making multiple threats of legal action, whether substantiated or not, both against (Take Two) as well as the retailers who purchase the video games and offer them for sale to the public. Thompson has made such threats again in connection with Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto 4…"

In the UK, both parents of murder victim Stefan Pakeerah lashed out at Rockstar for confirming the release of a sequel. Stefan Pakeerah was murdered by Warren Leblanc, who was reportedly inspired by Manhunt (though it was later determined by police that robbery was the motive) and is now serving a life sentence for murder.

Patrick and Giselle Pakeerah insist that Warren Leblanc was influenced by Manhunt before assaulting their son, Stefan – despite the judge in Leblanc’s court case dismissing the game of any blame.

Mr. Pakeerah, who has campaigned for tighter restrictions on violent games since his son’s death back in 2004, stated: "I'm very disappointed. This is rubbing salt into the wounds in the month we will be marking the anniversary of Stefan's death."

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz has backed both parents, and in his words was "astonished" that producer Rockstar had made a sequel.

Mr. Vaz added: "It is contempt for those who are trying very hard to ensure something is done to control the violent nature of these games."

A spokesman for Rockstar told MCV: "The transcript of the Leblanc court case makes it quite clear that the Judge, defence, prosecution and Leicester police all emphasized that Manhunt played no part in the case." It has also become clear that Warren Leblanc was not in possession of the game and ironically, Stefan Pakeerah, aged 14, owned a copy, despite it being legally restricted to 18+ in the UK.

Jack Thompson wanted to stop a Wendy's Kids Meal toys promotion that offers toys based on Wii titles because Manhunt 2 will be released on the Wii. The promotion is based on both the Mario and Excite Truck titles and is devoid of any Manhunt 2 reference. Thompson labels the Wii console as a 'kid-friendly' platform, although Scarface: The World is Yours, Resident Evil 4 and The Godfather: The Game are also marketed for the console.

External links

Official sites

• Official Site
• Rockstar Games

Supporting links

• Manhunt 2 Publicity Mailing

• Project Manhunt