Add the annoying checkpoint saving system too, and Manhunt can often appear as if it's designed to drive you to murder.įair enough, there are some genuinely tense gaming moments when you're being hunted down by enemies, with the heart-beat sound effects and John Carpenter-style electronic soundtrack adding to the superbly dark atmosphere -and it's the stealth kills that give Manhunt its raison d'etre.

The later action-heavy levels involving almost constant firefights are often frustrating because of this unsatisfying real-time fighting. You always have to leg it and hide behind the nearest corner, luring enemies by throwing objects, dumping corpses in full view, or making a noise by tapping on a wall as in Metal Gear Solid 2. Also, it's sometimes difficult, even with PC mouse-look, to manoeuvre the camera when your back is against the wall to see exactly where any threat is coming from.Īnother criticism is that the hand-to-hand and weapon combat system is crude, with aiming difficult and multiple adversaries almost impossible to deal with. Avoiding enemies is just a matter of keeping the noise you make to a minimum and sticking to the shadows, and as long as you're hidden (represented by a shadow figure icon turning blue), the gameplay convention means any baddies can't see you, which can appear rather stupid when you're almost nose-to-nose. Softly, SoftlyĪs a stealth game, Manhunt is simplistic, without any of Splinter Cell's ledge clambering or hanging upside-down from a roof by your toenails - you don't even have crouch or prone options. This keeps your sick TV audience frothing at the mouth, and also helps you progress through Manhunt's levels or scenes with the aid of Starkweather's whispered instructions.

To survive this urban nightmare, you must find any weapons you can lay your hands on to kill gang members and government agents in the nastiest way possible.

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