After much hoohah and controversy due to it’s violent nature, the time has finally come for Manhunt 2 to be released and GameSpot is one of the first outlets to review the game. They didn’t seem to have much good to say about the game compared to the negatives that hinder it’s success and in the end give it a 7.0 and not because the title was overly gory or anything like that. It seems to suffer from some issues in the graphics, controls, and gameplay as explained in their review. I’ve got a few choice quotes here that lay out a few of the problems with the game.

A scratchy, slightly blurry filter gives everything the faint haze of scan lines, as if you’re watching an old VHS tape. That effect is particularly pronounced in the PlayStation 2 version. That isn’t to say that Manhunt 2 rises to the occasion from a technical standpoint. Animations and character models look terribly dated. Some environments are also washed out and textures aren’t detailed. The Wii release tends to maintain a better frame rate than the PS2, though there are occasional slight pauses when the Wii accesses the disc, an issue that also crops up from time to time on the PS2–just less often. Aside from these differences (and a few others to be noted shortly), the two versions look more or less identical.

…

How all this looks will depend on the version you are playing. On the Wii, the entire scene is rendered through a blurry red filter that gives you a merely vague idea of what’s going taking place. The movement and splattering sound effects make it clear that no one wants to die a death quite that painful–you just don’t get to see the details. As a result, you’ll be paying more attention to the motion prompts at the top left of the screen than trying to figure out the onscreen action. On the PS2, the filter is less blurry and blinks on/off so you can see more of the grisly kill–much more of it. The PS2 version also features a geometric pattern that flashes at the beginning and end of the execution. The more visible kills make this version far more satisfying because the simulated motions with the Wii Remote can’t compare to the clarity of the PS2’s gruesomeness. Still, pulling off an execution move can be rewarding on either version because they often cap several minutes of patient sneaking and nail-biting stillness.

…

There are a number of nagging gameplay issues, with enemy artificial intelligence sitting high on the list. Enemies get stuck jittering between objects, forcing you to unstick them by grabbing their attention. They’ll occasionally run past without noticing you or patrol a 3-foot-square area over and over again for no apparent reason. Another big annoyance is specific to the Wii: The A button is given too much to do. This button is mapped to using weapons, climbing, picking up bodies, executing targets, and more. You may want to execute your foe, but God forbid if you happen to be standing on a dead body because you’ll pick it up instead–and the ensuing animation will turn you from murderer to victim. And speaking of buttons, the Wii version doesn’t let you skip cutscenes. Considering stealth games always benefit from some trial and error, this is a grievous offense because you are forced to watch the same scene multiple times if you have to reload.

Another rental it seems, but I’ll wait to read a few other reviews before making my final decision. Anyone planning on picking this up and want to let us know what you think?