History VideoGame / ManHunt

* HuntingTheMostDangerousGame: What the hunters do.

Leo : "''You still got it - They didn't see a thing.''"

* KarmaMeter: The second game, surprisingly. Performing more Violent and Gruesome level executions (both of which tend to be [[ColdBloodedTorture more sadistic and gratuitous]] than Hasty level ones) awards more style points. Your style point count by the penultimate level determines whether you get the normal final level where [[spoiler:Danny enters his mind and kills the Leo personality and is given a new identity to live a peaceful life]] or the alternate where [[spoiler:Leo kills the Danny personality, and prepares to go on a SerialKiller murder spree.]]

** [[spoiler:As for the original ''Manhunt'', James Earl Cash [[KickTheSonOfABitch finally kills]] [[BigBad Lionel Starkweather]] as punishment for [[MoralEventHorizon betraying him and killing his]] [[KickTheMoralityPet family members]]. As the result, the snuff film ring is finally exposed, in which is later discovered by the police. However, it's very likely that Cash already made his run [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse and he's nowhere to be found]].]]

In between ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' outings, Creator/RockstarGames published ''Manhunt'' and ''Manhunt 2'', two controversial [[StealthBasedGame stealth]]/[[PsychologicalHorror psychological]] {{survival horror}} games that share gameplay mechanics, similar settings, and [[NonLinearSequel little else]]. It is one of the company's most infamous masterpieces, and the TropeCodifier for games going too [[RatedMForMoney controversial]] and too [[MurderSimulators bloody]] for the public to accept. The first was released in 2003 for the [[Platform/MicrosoftWindows PC]], Platform/PlayStation2 and Platform/{{Xbox}}; the second was released in 2008 for the same platforms in addition to the [[Platform/PlayStationPortable PSP]] and Platform/{{Wii}}. Up until the release of ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}'' in 2015, the uncut version of ''2'' was notable for being the only video game to be published with an [[UsefulNotes/AdultsOnlyRatingESRB AO (Adults Only)]] rating given for violence alone.[[note]]''VideoGame/ThrillKill'' also received the rating, but it was never published.[[/note]]

* CrapsackWorld: An understatement of how fucked up Carcer City is, considering the multiple gangs of killers and madmen that willingly play along with a snuff film ring for kicks, and how one disgraced film director can pull someone off of death row just to star in his latest project.

* WretchedHive: Carcer City is ''filled'' with various gangs of criminals and madmen who are all connected with the local snuff film industry.

In between ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' outings, Rockstar Games published ''Manhunt'' and ''Manhunt 2'', two controversial [[StealthBasedGame stealth]]/[[PsychologicalHorror psychological]] SurvivalHorror games that share gameplay mechanics, similar settings, and [[NonLinearSequel little else]]. It is one of Rockstar Game's most infamous masterpieces, and the TropeCodifier for games going too [[RatedMForMoney controversial]] and too [[MurderSimulators bloody]] for the public to accept. The first was released in 2003 for PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and Xbox; the second in 2008, for the same platforms and also the PSP and Wii. Up until the release of ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}'', the uncut version of ''2'' was notable for being the only game to be released to carry the AO ([[UsefulNotes/AdultsOnlyRatingESRB Adults Only]]) rating for violence alone.[[note]]''VideoGame/ThrillKill'' also received the rating, but it was never published.[[/note]]

The chief gameplay mechanic revolves around "executions" (gruesome {{Finishing Move}}s a player can perform after a stealthy sneak-up on gang members): if a player waits as long as possible to pull off the execution, it will become more drawn-out and elaborate. The game rewards players with a higher ranking after a level ends if they perform enough of these top-level executions.

* KickTheSonOfABitch: [[TitleTheAdaptation The Game]]. As bad as Cash may have been, just about everyone he kills over the course of the game had it coming.

* IdiosyncraticMenuLabels: Going by its movie-making theme, the level select feature is titled as "select scene".

* ChainsawGood: The chainsaw appears as a rare red class weapon ([[spoiler: only being used by Piggsy in ''Deliverance'' and in the ''Time 2 Die'' bonus level]]), it is weak, unable to be used to hit walls, and mostly importantly; noisy when off, but makes up for being automatic, can be turned off and usable when sprinting.

* ButNotTooBlack: Cash, if [[ANaziByAnyOtherName The Skinz']] stated motivations in hunting him is anything to go by.
** On the other hand, being [[ThoseWackyNazis neo-Nazis]], this can extend to [[TheSocialDarwinist anybody "non-Aryan"]], which can make Cash AmbiguouslyJewish, AmbiguouslyBrown, ButNotTooForeign, and possibly more. That is, of course, assuming that Starkweather didn't just lie to them about Cash's ethnicity so they'd try to kill him.

* PunBasedTitle: A great many of the names of the levels in the first game, e.g. "Trained To Kill" takes place in a train station, "White Trash" takes place in a junkyard full of white supremacists. FridgeBrilliance when you realize that the levels represent scenes from a snuff porn film, and lots of porn films have really terrible puns as titles.

** If you also [[FinishingMove Execute]] a Hunter in full-view of other Hunters in the same game, they also vomit in horror, which explains [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim why they don't attack you]] [[TakeYourTime until you're done with the Execution...]] although it brings up the FridgeLogic of how some of them can vomit [[MalevolentMaskedMen if they've got a mask on them...]]

** The hobo in the first game that you had to escort through Innocentz Turf to the Graveyard. There is some production art that shows that he was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen meant to be a boss character called]] [[http://manhunt.wikia.com/wiki/Scarecrow The Scarecrow]], who would have been the former leader of The Smileys that was disgraced by Starkweather, separated from his Scarecrow persona until he reacquired his outfit and weapon.
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Carcer City in the first game, and Cottonmouth in the second. The first [[WordOfGod is stated to be close to]] [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto Liberty]] [[TheBigRottenApple City]], so it's possibly an {{Expy}} of either UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}} or [[PlaceWorseThanDeath Newark]], while the second takes a lot from cities in the DeepSouth, such as [[TheBigEasy New Orleans]], [[OnlyInFlorida Tampa]], [[DeepSouth Charleston]] and UsefulNotes/{{Atlanta}}.

* ThisLoserIsYou: If one buys the YouBastard interpretation of the game, Starkweather is meant to represent the player - an [[FatBastard overweight]], [[CardCarryingVillain amoral]] [[ADateWithRosiePalms chronic masturbator]] [[{{Hikikomori}} who spends all his days sitting in front of a computer screen in a darkened room.]]

* DeathBySex: In the first game, it's possible to lure out an enemy who's busy watching porn by breaking the circuit powering his TV. When he goes to fix it Cash can execute him.

* KillEmAll: Fairly obvious, as the goal of the series is to kill everyone in sight in order to survive. There are very few characters that survive the events of both games.

* ChainsawGood: The first game mainly, but the second game features a smaller circular power saw.

In between ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' outings, Rockstar Games published ''Manhunt'' and ''Manhunt 2'', two controversial [[StealthBasedGame stealth]]/[[PsychologicalHorror psychological]] SurvivalHorror games that share gameplay mechanics, similar settings, and [[NonLinearSequel little else]]. It is one of Rockstar Game's most infamous masterpieces, and the TropeCodifier for games going too [[RatedMForMoney controversial]] and too [[MurderSimulators bloody]] for the public to accept. The first was released in 2003 for PC, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 and Xbox; the second in 2008, for the same platforms and also the PSP and Wii. Up until the release of ''VideoGame/{{Hatred}}'', the uncut version of ''2'' was notable for being the only game to be released to carry the AO ([[UsefulNotes/AdultsOnlyRatingESRB Adults Only]]) rating for violence alone[[note]]''VideoGame/ThrillKill'' also received the rating, but it was never published[[/note]].

Not to be confused with [[Film/{{Manhunter}} the 1986 film]] [[note]]which happens to also feature Creator/BrianCox playing a villain[[/note]], the [[VideoGame/{{Manhunter}} 1988/1989 video games]], or the [[ComicBook/{{Manhunter}} 2004-2009 comic book series]] all named ''Manhunter''. Also not to be confused with the 2017 Creator/JohnWoo film.

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: In the sequel, Danny is the main character but Leo is playable in the chapters [[{{Flashback}} that takes place 6 years ago]], [[spoiler: and the alternate ending, where he kills Danny]].
* AntiHero: Cash is clearly not a good person, but the people he's up against are infinitely more vile and depraved than him, with some of his opponents including sadistic {{p|aedoHunt}}edophiles and [[ANaziByAnyOtherName neo-Nazis]]. He's also shown [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes to try and save his family]] ([[spoiler: and declares ItsPersonal when Starkweather [[KickTheMoralityPet kills them out of spite]]]]) and guides an innocent journalist to safety even after she witnessed him slaughter a bunch of police officers ([[spoiler: albeit [[CorruptCop ones on Starkweather's payroll]]]]). In fact, the only indication we have that Cash is evil at all is the fact that he was a DeathRow inmate, [[NoodleIncident for unknown reasons]]... although, given [[ImprobableWeaponUser his familiarity with guns and improvised weapons]], he probably isn't the victim of a FrameUp...

** Averted with BigBad Lionel Starkweather, [[spoiler: who you simply gut open with a chainsaw]]. ClimaxBoss Piggsy is an interesting case, because, while he doesn't play out like the previous boss battles, [[PuzzleBoss he can only be killed by performing multiple executions on him]].

** [[spoiler: As for the original ''Manhunt'', James Earl Cash [[KickTheSonOfABitch finally kills]] [[BigBad Lionel Starkweather]] as punishment for [[MoralEventHorizon betraying him and killing his]] [[KickTheMoralityPet family members]]. As the result, the snuff film ring is finally exposed, in which is later discovered by the police. However, it's very likely that Cash already made his run [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse and he's nowhere to be found]].]]
** [[spoiler: ''Manhunt 2'' canonically ends with Daniel finally taking down [[AxCrazy Leo]]'s personality. Unfortunately, The Project have wiped out his memories in order to avoid Leo from reentering his mind. After that, Daniel wakes up in the middle of a road without any knowledge of who he is. Then, he finds a package containing info regarding his new identity and home. With this, Daniel [[StartingANewLife sets out to live a new life as David Joiner]].]]

** When characters talk to Leo, they often mistake him for Daniel at first. [[spoiler: They're the same person.]]
** When Leo is interrogating Pickman, Leo is not speaking with his own voice, [[spoiler: he's speaking with Daniel's.]]

** [[{{Squick}} To elaborate]], the first game allows you to yank off a Mook's testicles with a {{Si|nisterScythe}}ckle. The second game keeps that, and features one PlayedForLaughs ([[AmusingInjuries kicking the victim in the groin]] [[MoodWhiplash before stabbing and injecting their neck with a tranquilizer syringe]]), and three [[RuleOfScary Played For Scares]] big time! [[spoiler: If you ''really'' want to know, one shoves a shovel between the legs, at an angle the spade will cut off the victim's junk, another yanks off the groin with a pair of pliers, and the third saws through the groin with a length of barbed wire]].

* PerspectiveFlip: Throughout the game, James Earl Cash is the center of the story as he's guided by the director to hide from various hunters and the director demands him to kill those hunters in increasingly violent ways so the snuff films will be more memorable. [[spoiler: In ''Deliverance'', Cash is now the one being hunted by Piggsy as he must hide in the shadows from a stronger enemy as Piggsy believes this is all part of the game and he kills the Cerberus guards in increasingly violent ways. This chapter of the game shows the hunters' point of view throughout the entire game as Piggsy is a parallel to the player and a deliberate deconstruction of the player character.]]

** In the second game, Daniel's appearance [[spoiler: after the Project institutionalized him]] is very clearly based on the infamous police sketch of the Zodiac Killer.

* ScoreMultiplier: Via the different kinds of execution, with lengthier and more risky executions upping your score. Getting high scores in the first game unlocks concept art and bonus levels outside the main story. In the sequel it plays a decidedly different role, where [[spoiler: willingly indulging in sadistic violence for a high score and giving in to Leo's influence will swap the final level to Leo's perspective, where he kill Daniel's personality and take over his body in preparation for a Project rampage.]]

* StealthBasedGame: Although the stealth is technically optional, trying to take on hunters directly in the first game will make you swiftly regret your decision. The game's combat system is intentionally designed to be clunky and awkward enough to make stealth seem massively preferable. The firearms sections of the game make little use of stealth, although it certainly helps when [[spoiler: pursued by half of Carcer City's police force or facing off against several of Starkweather's troopers]].

** [[spoiler: Leo in ''Manhunt 2'' can be a different spin on this: a seemingly ordinary guy who forces otherwise "good" characters in games into committing brutal murders to satisfy his own psychotic tendencies, thus "taking over" the character themselves.]]

*** The second game takes this idea further: Leo acts much like Starkweather, who serves as MissionControl, while encouraging Danny to commit Violent and Gruesome Executions against the Hunters. Played with even more so than in the first game: at first, Leo seems justified, in a PayEvilUntoEvil sense, but then it's revealed [[spoiler: he's really your EnemyWithin, and wants to destroy your original NiceGuy personality in order to perform a SplitPersonalityTakeover on you: which, in the alternate ending that's unlocked from high enough "ratings" on each level, [[TheBadGuyWins is exactly what he does]].]]

* CorruptHick: The Skinz and Wardogs gangs in the first game and the Bloodhounds in the second.

* TorturePorn: The first game is a slight subversion, as it revolves around a SnuffFilm ring, and even the worst executions are relatively quick and clean compared to usual TorturePorn. The second game, which takes inspiration from most of the SlasherMovie genre, takes this trope, [[UpToEleven and runs with it to the endzone]], with the "Violent", "Gruesome", and "Environmental" kills [[ColdBloodedTorture all out to inflict as much pain on the helpless victim]] as possible before killing them. This is also clearly invoked in the "Sexual Deviants" level, which takes place in BDSM club "Dungeon" that is one giant homage to ''Film/{{Hostel}}''.