Game Details
Price
  • $40
Available on
Genre
More details

Manhunt (PlayStation 2)

common sense media says

Incredibly gruesome -- not for kids of any age.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is one of the most violent games ever produced. The premise is that you advance by stalking and murdering victims. The murder scenes are depicted with very realistic graphics. Since the game rewards and glamorizes brutal murder, it is definitely inappropriate for children and teenagers.

Educational value: Nothing you would want your kid to learn.
Positive messages: Absence of any moral/social authority, corruption, criminal behavior. Minimal humor, any humor is presented in a sadistic light.
Positive role models: There is no positive role models here. The game glarmorizes brutal murder and shows people stalking others to kill them.
Ease of play: Not applicable.
Violence: Repetitious, pre-meditated murders, blood, violence, torture. "Kill or be killed" plot, surprise attacks, hostages, torture.
Sex: Sexual references, sexual profanity.
Language: Continuous use of all types of profanity, vulgar language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Healing power-ups are referred to as "painkillers", other drug references, alcohol.

More on Manhunt

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why a game like this might be made. What is the appeal? Why do you think people like to play games that are so violent? Are violent games always bad for people, or can they be a safe fantasy?

What's the story?

What's the story?
As the star of MANHUNT you are James Earl Cash, a criminal who is on death row. Following your supposed execution, you wake up to find you have been "rescued" by the "director." The director's goal is simple: He wants to tape you assassinating men he has hired to hunt you down and kill you. You are beaten and abused by the director's men, then thrust out into a world of thugs, gangsters and psychotic killers who make every effort to hunt you down.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Words cannot really be used to describe Manhunt -- however, a few that come to mind are disturbing, sick, and scary. Not much else can be said for a game of which the entire focus is having the player assassinate people in the most gruesome way possible, all for the delight of a "director" who is taping your every move. If for any reason we needed to train kids to be expert killers, Manhunt could be the textbook.

Every aspect of a gruesome death is covered in slow-motion detail. The director is not happy with a simple death; instead you need to make the assassination bloodier, more cunning and more horrific to get the director's praise. Manhunt should make hardened criminals queasy, much less your kids. Keep your kids away from this one.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: PlayStation 2
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Rockstar Games
Released on: January 4, 2004
Price: 40
ESRB Rating: M

This review was written by Jeremy Gieske
 
 

Review It

 

Review Manhunt





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

15

Most useful reviews by all members

 
The game is great just really gory but if you like games that screw with your head or like stealth games then go try it out not for the kiddies though.

xboxgamer232
kid, 13 years old
 
dont let ur kids see what i saw
this game is way 2 violent 4 kids u play as jonny cash a murderer who has been put on deth row he somehow escapes and kills people in the worst ways possible i got this game after a month of disgusting filfth i finaly threw this trash away i mean come on rockstar even gta isnt this violent

gratefuldeadfan
teen, 18 years old
 
good game for older kids
This game is definitely not for children, but if you're 17 or older this game is SICK.

msimeont1
parent of 17 year old
 
game is great. my son is very greatful about it.

 
VERY VERY FKED UP!
OMG THIS MAKES GTA LOOK LIKE A KIDDY GAME SUPER VIOLENT AND PROFANE ALSO QUITE SCARY! ALMOST AS BAD AS POSTAL 2

rxcort
adult
 
Can't anyone give a serious review, yes I'm talking to all of those 13-year olds that pretend to be parents

dalek123456
kid, 12 years old
 
Perfect for toddlers
Good for young kids.

blubbernuggets9
kid, 12 years old
 
i hate this game
this game is horrible! im never going to play it! its just stupid! i dont get the point of it

BlackSmokeDemon
teen, 16 years old
 
Great game for five year olds

Z1A1C1H1
teen, 16 years old
 

mr instructable
teen, 18 years old
 
Plague and the other people: You are F**king sadists making it look like a good game.

jcdizz
teen, 17 years old
 
Life Changing and Traumatizing
I once tried playing this as an experiment but I never even made it past the first guy your supposed to kill. Ideally whoever made this designed it to be all about Kill, Murder, Kill, Assasinate, Kill, Get Rid Of, and....oh, did i mention Kill. To make my point even more proven the first time you start the game the game advises you to "Close the curtains, shut off the lights, lock the door, and get ready to Kill!" It even goes as far as checking your screen and telling you to adjust the darkness to make the game as gory and suspensful as can be. Not only do you kill, but people dont realize that WHO you kill. I've heard from other friends of mine who have played it, as well as did a little reasearch, that not only do you kill gang-members and thugs, but also going as far as killing mental patients at an asylum. Imagine the fear that could be struck into the minds of any kid playing this! The screams of your crazed victims is enough to want to make you check into your own asylum. Not to mention the character does not hesitate to be 'creative' in his killing. This game is only for those with steel hearts...literally. Show a 40-year old man and he can easily get a heart attack from the gore of this game

golder
teen, 17 years old
 
hu6ty
this game is very gory

The Quinnster56
parent of and 2 , 3 , 11 , 17 year old
 
Great for kids of all ages.
I think it is ok for kids once they understand that the content featured in the game is not right.

 
The game may be gory scary and disturbing but by just looking at the back cover of game you know what your in for so if you buy it you have to expect the gore. It doesnt have loads of nudity it just gets a bit of bad language.

 
This game should only be played by teens 15 and up.
This game is violent but it's all in self-defense. Gang-bangers are trying to murder you and you have to use any weapons you can get. The police in this game are not the good guys but not the bad guys. They are just caught in the cross-fire.

ParamoreFan09
teen, 15 years old
 
No way. OFF. for sure.
Okay first how come people are saying the game is terrible and to never play it then rate it five stars? Doesn't make much sense. But anyway y'know how common sense doesnt let you post reviews twice for one thing? I normally dont comment on stuff i havnt used but for this-- i know ill never play it. Looks awful and violent... I hate gore. Nasty stuff.... why is violence considered entertaining? Its a horrible... HORRIBLE thing.

cerealkiller189
teen, 13 years old
 
GREAT GAME!!
God,csm what are you thinking to give this game one star?its awesome!!!!!!!you start off with this inmate and you have to execute other people to stop yourself from being killed too.all this is being watched by lionel starkweather,who will reward you for making the killings more gruesome.and this isnt even half as violent as faces of death which i see a few times a week.its ok if you can handle violent killing games without becoming agressive.i know cos i play it over and over again and its pretty d*mn awesome.the chainsaw kills are awesome!!!!

Plague
parent
 
Manhunt
Brutal and fun, but sometimes confusing and fustrating becasue you will die a LOT. If you have a good head on your shoulders and you are a patient person, this game is just for you. Lots of blood, torture, and death. But what do you expect? The game is called Manhunt.

Halo 117
teen, 17 years old
 
not for children
This game is not for the squemish

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you play Manhunt?


Already played it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age