MANHUNT 3, WHERE ART THOU?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the next addition to the Manhunt series and what it might look like (that’s if it’s even considered by Rockstar Games and its parent company Take-Two Interactive at this point). The developers have the chance to mark the series’ return with something that will shock the industry just like the other entries have done before it. Not with gore or motion control executions, but this time with a female lead.

WOKEHUNT

Now now, put down your pitchforks and hear me out. I’m not saying this in a ‘Battlefield V’ type of way. I’m saying it will be interesting to explore how a female character would deal with the horrific scenarios and choices that characters in the Manhunt series are faced with. As long as the core game mechanics the series is known for are still there and the game doesn’t get renamed to ‘Peoplehunt’ or ‘Womanhunt’, I don’t think fans will care.

AN OPPORTUNITY

Rockstar Games has the opportunity to create a groundbreaking game starring a female character in a series that is known for flawed personalities overcoming the odds and going through intense experiences of incredible violence and coming out of them alive. Characters in the Manhunt games, especially Manhunt 2, never feel like invincible superhero killing machines. Killing is something you need to do to survive and you have the choice on how messed up those executions will be.

LARA CROFT WITH A CHAINSAW

A female lead in a Manhunt game could also help Rockstar focus on crafting a narrative that will capture audiences more than any previous entry. A grounded female character in the insanely bleak and unforgiving Manhunt universe, with issues, feelings of revenge, a thirst for blood and a buildup from vulnerability to ass-kicking. The spotlight would be on them and it will be a true test of their abilities as game makers and story-tellers. Manhunt is the perfect candidate for having a female protagonist. In a time where Hollywood is dominated by simple replacement characters or female characters that are inexplicably “gods”, a “Lara Croft in Manhunt” is the way to go.

What do you think? Is this a direction you’d be happy with or are you already sharpening that pitchfork and creating online petitions?

The post What if Manhunt 3 had a female lead? appeared first on BadFive.

The Manhunt games have a special place in gaming history. Surrounded by controversy, the two games in this hyper-violent series were always in the spotlight. But let’s forget about all that for a second and focus on why Rockstar Games should focus on bringing us Manhunt 3.

Awesome childhood

The first Manhunt was life-changing for me. Probably because I played it at a very young age or watched passionately as my siblings played it. Some of the fondest gaming memories I have involve running from Piggsy, as weird as that sounds. Manhunt was fresh when it came out, unique.

The sequel

Although not connected story-wise, Manhunt 2 was a worthy continuation of this series. The second game upped the violence and tried to top the shock factor of a world sunken in filth and blood. But just like many of Rockstar’s games at the time, it was hampered by close-minded politicians, ESRB ratings and retailers who refused to sell a game with an Adults Only (AO) rating. After what was said to be a rocky development, the game released on Wii, PS2 and PSP, using filters to partially censor the violent executions.

The game to die for

I have played both the censored and uncensored Wii versions of the game and of course the uncensored one was the one that I liked the most. The motion controls are satisfying and the violent executions reward you for being stealthy and taking your time to plan your next move. While the censored version might hide some of the less than perfect animations of some executions, it throws off the vibe of the game. Don’t get me wrong, if I never knew of the existence of an uncensored version, I wouldn’t mind. The sound design makes up for the gruesomeness, the filters make everything feel more psychotic; and your imagination fills in the rest.

A new generation

The times they are a-changin’. Hillary Clinton, Jack Thompson and all the other (then) Senators that were hell-bent on blocking Rockstar’s games, are old news. TV shows (for example Game of Thrones), movies and games have more sex and violence in them than ever. Rockstar Games should revive the franchise and give us what we need; joy-con 1:1 motion executions on Nintendo Switch. All jokes aside, Manhunt 3 deserves to be made. Don’t let censorship end the franchise, Rockstar. Don’t let Them win.

The post The world needs a new Manhunt game appeared first on BadFive.