Manhunt [Xbox]

Manhunt, released late last year for the PlayStation 2, attracted controversy for its mature themes. Starring a convicted serial killer, it features shockingly violent execution-style murders, voice-overs and mission instructions from a snuff film producer, and more bad language than you can shake a stick at. Sadly, even on new platforms, Manhunt offers little beyond shock value, thanks to its repetitive and shallow gameplay.

Memorably opening with James Earl Cash -- the player's character -- seemingly put to death, the story reveals the execution was staged in order to provide an illegal snuff film director with a new star. Voiced excellently by Brian Cox, the director gives you constant instruction, and under his guidance you'll sneak your way through a series of run-down locations, leaving a trail of bodies. Your motive? Like the Arnie movie, The Running Man, it's your only way out.

If you've played other third-person stealth games, like Splinter Cell, Tenchu or Metal Gear Solid, Manhunt's controls should come naturally. The camera follows Cash closely, and is refreshingly free from the difficulties that plague so many third-person viewpoint games. The director slickly takes you through the early levels, explaining the controls as you go.

It's a well-integrated tutorial, but the control system's only noteworthy aspect is the notorious execution scenes. If the player sneaks up behind an enemy unnoticed, they can dispatch the victim with whatever improvised weapon is being carried, and in a gloriously violent way. Glass shards, piano wire, plastic bags... it's all the same to Cash.

The bloodthirstiness of the kill depends on the amount of time spent lurking behind the enemy, and is visualized by a crosshair that gradually changes color. At the end of each level, you're ranked on performance; pull off a sufficient number of executions, and you'll get high marks (you'd also be a perfect candidate for Governor of Texas).

These execution scenes are portrayed in gut-wrenching detail, and may be too much for some. They're not too much for the director, though, who comments enthusiastically on the more unpleasant killings.

Manhunt seems altogether too eager to offend. It's similar to a child screaming swear words in public, trying to be adult, but coming off as immature. GTA3, which shares a publisher and some technology with Manhunt, had a light-hearted, matter-of-fact quality to its offensiveness that's sorely missed here.

You do get your hands on a selection of guns later in the game, but hand-to-hand combat remains important throughout. Going toe-to-toe with an enemy is pretty much guaranteed to cost you half your health, so keeping out of sight is a must. This isn't easy, so be prepared for lots of reloads. Manhunt is frequently an irritating game -- not unfair, just difficult. Be aware that no version of the game allows the player to save anywhere, and what save points there are can be uneven.

Manhunt's not a bad looking game, but neither is it particularly outstanding, particularly on the PC. Like Silent Hill, it has a graphical noise effect that can be toggled. This gives Manhunt a pleasingly low-budget cinematic feel. Its world is portrayed well, if somewhat derivatively -- there's only so many bombed-out buildings or derelict scrapyards a person can sneak through without losing patience.

Sound is excellent, thanks to a first-rate voice cast, horror-film music, and understated, atmospheric effects. The director's exhortations to ever-higher levels of violence are, while well-characterized, among the games most disturbing elements (or amusing, depending on your tolerance).

If you're lucky enough to have the choice between two or more platforms, we'd place the PC version as the most desirable, followed by the Xbox and finally the older PS2 game. The PC version's mouse-and keyboard controls make spatial awareness much easier, thanks to the ease of looking around Cash's surroundings. Gameplay is otherwise identical between the three, but superior controls and crisper graphics on the PC version make it the clear front-runner.

Ultimately, we advise passing on Manhunt, regardless of the preferred platform. After you see through its repetitive gameplay, gimmicky execution scenes, and tiresome, self-consciously obscene dialogue, there isn't much left. Manhunt's gameplay isn't deep or varied enough to match up to the alternatives on any platform.