Manhunt 2

Game Informer Magazine (7.75 out of 10)

For those of you that loved the original, Manhunt 2 is a trip that's worth taking, even if it's not nearly as memorable or enjoyable. While I applaud the series for it's uncompromising take on morality and violence, it's hard not to notice that recent tiles like Mass Efect and BioShock have covered similar territory in a more mature - and much more enjoyable - fashion.

Softpedia (7.6 out of 10)

Even though looks and controls do tend to be unsatisfactory to the point that you just ask yourself, "what on Earth have they been working on for so long?", Manhunt 2 does deliver what it promised to deliver: terrifying, bloody, dirty, gritty, mentally-unstable action, with a touch of drama, provided by a very inspired soundtrack, all held together by an upsetting, yet realistic plot. We'd like to say that Manhunt 2 isn't for those weak of heart, but the reality is that Rockstar's game isn't for anyone with a heart.

VicioJuegos.com / uVeJuegos.com (75 out of 100)

Manhunt 2 finalmente ha podido ver la luz y todos los jugadores hemos podido hacernos con él. Por desgracia, la tardanza con la que nos ha llegado ha mermado en las ganas que en un principio teníamos sobre él. La nueva generación de consolas ha acaparado toda nuestra atención, nuestros ojos se desvían hacia otras plataformas como XBox 360 o Playstation 3. Se puede decir que a Manhunt 2 se le ha pasado el arroz. No obstante, los usuarios que aún disfrutan comprando las (por otro lado escasas) novedades de Playstation 2 y quieran un nuevo título para su colección, quizás se sientan interesados con Manhunt 2, pero que sepan que no es juego apto para todos los estómagos y que su desarrollo es bastante monótono y repetitivo. Los seguidores del primer juego quedarán encantados con esta secuela, a pesar de todo.

GameZone (7.5 out of 10)

Manhunt 2 for the PlayStation 2 might not be as over-the-top as the first game but it is still a worthwhile game that’s just as gruesome and interesting in it’s own right. While much of what was behind the controversy has changed to secure an M rating, Rockstar did a great job putting story, challenging stealth mechanics and plenty of wonderfully nasty executions first and thus making it a game worth a look if you liked the first game.

GameSpot (7.5 out of 10)

It may not have the same primal impact as the original Manhunt, but the sequel features plenty of tense stealth gameplay to complement its violent subject matter. The clarity of that violence--and some Wii-specific annoyances--makes the PlayStation 2 version the superior one. But either way you slice it and dice it, fans of the original will have something new to chew on with Manhunt 2, which is a good, sneaky adventure.

UGO (UnderGroundOnline) (B)

Overall this game is better in just about every way than the original. The PS2 version isn't overly a graphical masterpiece, but for what it is the PSP version looks great for a portable game and the Wii version seems to have the best graphics out of the lot with more immersive controls. Each version of the game seems to be JUST the right length. Any more and you would probably start to run out of new things to do and any shorter and you would probably be upset. If you have a Wii get it for that, and if you are never home get it for the PSP.

IGN (7.5 out of 10)

I've played through and beaten both the original and Manhunt 2 multiple times on both difficulty levels, and while it's great to see Rockstar start to make this into a "franchise," it feels as though a number of things went missing in the sequel. The AI doesn't feel as good as the first game, the setting and environments don't feel as menacing, and the story is definitely weaker. That isn't to say that Manhunt 2 isn't a good game, because it is – Danny and Leo's adventure is enjoyable, especially if you've played the first title and have been waiting to eliminate enemies with plastic bags, crowbars or other household items. But as a whole, Manhunt 2 isn't the tour de force title that will grab your attention and keep you there like the first one did.

Middle East Gamers (MEgamers) (7.4 out of 10)

Manhunt 2 isn’t exactly the ‘sequel’ I expected it to be, and I’m sure many of you will agree after spending a few hours with the game. Sure, it tells a good tale and gives you a great variety of tools to butcher your foes with, but the less-than-decent AI, irritating content censoring, and just-about-average graphics have brought this game a good many notches down. Had Rockstar spent some more time with this title and perhaps brought it out on other platforms as well, the game could’ve been so much more. For now, it’s sufficient to say that you will probably enjoy it the first play through if you’re an action/stealth fan, but this is one of those ‘sequels’ which just can’t beat the original...

Gamer Within (7.3 out of 10)

While Manhunt 2 had to tone itself down in the end, it still pushes its mature rating as far as it can possibly go. In all, you should be able to reach the game’s two endings in about ten hours – depending on how well you do, though anyone who played through the first game should be able to breeze through this one. The Manhunt franchise has always catered to a certain type of gamer, and as long as you can look past the clouded violence, fans of the series should still find an enjoyable, solid game here. As the old adage goes, sometimes it’s what you can’t see that’s the most terrifying thing of all.

Gamer 2.0 (7 out of 10)

Manhunt 2, though not as original and challenging as its predecessor, is a worthy sequel but not necessarily a must-buy. It’s certainly worth renting, and rental period is sufficient enough to beat the game’s 8 to 9 hour campaign. Its controversy may be better than the sum of its parts, but Manhunt 2 accomplishes a noteworthy accolade: it makes the mediocre enjoyable.

GameTrailers (6.9 out of 10)

Manhunt 2 is an average stealth game with an extreme gimmick. The story’s what-the-hell-happened scenario mixed with the weird characters and scenes is enough to keep you shuffling along. But it quickly feels like busy work, when it should feel like, well, murder. Searching for redeeming social value from this game is basically a lost cause, and with all the brutality censored there’s not much for closet miscreants to enjoy, either.

Playstation Illustrated (68 out of 100)

So my clinical evaluation of this demented patient that was Manhunt 2 is that the game is terminally ill. Just let it die. There is nothing here redeeming to gaming or even shock horror to bring any more attention to than it has already gotten. Call it! 1200hrs.. Flat line.

Game Informer Magazine (6.75 out of 10)

Forget the rhetoric deriding Manhunt 2 for its ultraviolent tendencies. While the game offers a gruesome experience, it's scarcely more bloodthirsty than the horror movies playing at your local Cineplex or games already sitting on store shelves.

UOL Jogos ( )

Apesar de toda a controvérsia, "Manhunt 2" nada mais é que uma extensão do primeiro jogo, e o mesmo truque não funciona com tanta intensidade agora. A patrulha conservadora teve sua pequena vitória, fazendo com que a violência ficasse mais sugerida. O enredo e o desafio ficaram menos radicais, e isso também pesa contra os fãs desse tipo de jogo. É menos cru que o antecessor, mas mantém muitas das qualidades do primeiro game, principalmente no que diz respeito à mecânica de jogo, ou seja, o título não se resume apenas à violência. Quem gostou do primeiro título, pode ficar um pouco decepcionado com essa edição "desnatada", mas deve continuar do lado da série. Já quem quer pôr os pés pela primeira vez nesse mundo sombrio, o "Manhunt" original é uma experiência mais integral.

Cheat Code Central (3 out of 5)

In the end, it all comes down to the basic fact that a work of art, created specifically for a mature audience, should not have been forced to compromise the way that this game has been. Gamers who have been waiting a long time for this game to come out, or even just gamers in general, should definitely stay far away from Manhunt 2. While it is definitely not the worst game I have ever played, it is definitely one of the biggest letdowns.

GameSpy ( )

It's difficult to recommend Manhunt 2 in its current M-rated form to anyone. This material isn't just inappropriate for children, it's not appropriate for most of the people you know. The background material behind the storyline is well developed enough, and those with considerable tolerance for over-the-top gore and violence may derive some pleasure from it. While the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions still suffer from the core faults of Manhunt 2, in particular its execution as a bland third-person stealth adventure with sub-par combat and annoyingly stylized death sequences, the kill-scene visuals in these versions are quite capable of horrifying you to the point of making you sick to your stomach.

The Video Game Critic (C+)

Manhunt 2 is rough around the edges, but its engaging storyline, simple gameplay, and short stages make it hard to put down. I found it compelling, and think its violence is overrated.

V2.fi (57 out of 100)

Manhunt 2 on tarkoitettu joulumarkkinoille 2007, mutta se onnistuu tuntumaan PlayStation 2:n julkaisupeliltä, jonka ei ole tarkoituskaan olla kuin esimakua siitä, mitä supertehokkaalla konsolilla vielä nähdäänkään. On kuin rutiinit tämän sukupolven pelien kyhäämiseen eivät olisi vielä muodostuneet. "Miksi tässä ohjaimessa on kaksi tattia? Idea: mitä jos kameraa kontrolloitaisiin oikeanpuoleisesta? Ei. Pistetään sittenkin hahmo kurkkimaan siitä nurkkien taakse." Kaikki mitä Rockstar ei osaa, tiivistyy tässä, ja kaikesta minkä Rockstar tekee hyvin, ei ole mukana kuin jämäpaloja.

Worth Playing (4.8 out of 10)

It's sloppy, sloppy stuff, but it could be attributable to the developer's rush to retool the game. Removing some of the objectionable content could have had a ripple effect on other aspects of the title.

GamingTrend (285 out of 600)

Manhunt 2 is ugly on a number of levels, but visually it stands apart on the PS2 and not in a good way. Everything is a heightened caricature to give players the sense of gaming inside a nightmare, albeit one by Andy Warhol. This can be respected on its own merits, but it’s difficult to take anything seriously when the character models look, frankly, stupid. Finding the menace in a guy wearing a black suit and a gimp mask walking around on the street is a tough nut to swallow. Also, when a stripper in an S&M club looks like an animated gif, you know the artists were either woefully untalented or didn’t care enough to put forth any effort let alone their best.

Jeuxvideo.com (9 out of 20)

Maniabilité bancale, infiltration terriblement simpliste qui cède rapidement le pas à l'action des armes à feu, le gameplay de Manhunt 2 n'a pas beaucoup de choses à offrir. Evidemment, c'est sur son hyper violence qu'il misait mais celle-ci se retrouve occultée par un filtre graphique prompt à provoquer nausées et maux de tête. Au final, il ne reste à Manhunt 2 que son nom et son aura de polémique pour faire parler de lui en jouant les martyrs. Malheureusement, même s'il avait été livré dans son état original, cela n'aurait pas fait disparaître le reste de ses lacunes. N'est pas martyr qui veut.

GamesAreFun.com (GAF) (4 out of 10)

Manhunt 2 finally released, which is good, albeit in a somewhat neutered form. But unfortunately for gamers everywhere, it fails to live up to its promise and doesn't even reach the levels of its predecessor. Its gore and extreme violence serve no real purpose and are there purely for the controversy of it, much like in the first title. In any future iterations of this series, Rockstar might be better served spending less time thinking of the most disgusting ways to kill a man and more time making their characters move like actual human beings and adding enough diversity to their title that it doesn't get old before a few hours are up.

1UP (D+)

Really, the game warrants a 4 because it's technically playable and, despite its best efforts, probably won't plunge the industry into a period of navel-gazing and political sanction. Everything else about it is largely forgettable.

Digital Entertainment News (den) (3 out of 10)

Either version of the game is equally mediocre. The story holds some promise, but the action is so frustrating it's too much work to get to the meat of it. Rockstar has become a victim of their own controversy, as this game could have slipped under the radar. Manhunt 2 doesn't hold up under all the attention that the censorship conflict brought the title.