First Look: Manhunt 2

It's been a while since I played Manhunt and although I got a long way in I never finished it.. It got brutally difficult and of course Rockstar hate checkpoints.

The first thing you notice about Manhunt 2 (apart from the completely useless manual) is that graphically it looks almost exactly the same.. The art style evokes the first game perfectly. The second thing you'll notice is that they've made the characters huge. Which I don't think is the best thing for a stealth based game as it limits your awareness. Combine this with a lack of being able to move the camera and your almost entirely limited to the radar.. It's a lot less instinctive than the first game.

Of course the next thing you're made aware of is the gruesome 'stealth kills'. Again it's similar to the first game, Pick an item such as a piece of broken glass, sneak up on an enemy and then press the 'attack' button for as long as you dare to perfrom a kill. The longer you hold the button the more brutal the attack. Things are complicated on the Wii by then having to perform a series of moves with both the Nunchuck and Wii to do the actual kill (you simply watched an animation in the first game). All well and good but get it wrong and you alert the enemy and your soon over powered. Get it right and the actual kill gets soaked in a blood red filter so you can't really see anyway. It feels more brutal but it's a less rewarding mechanism both gameplay wise and visually. You need to know that the risk of the kill is going to be rewarded by one less guard.. Not a potential restart.

Checkpoints are (so far anyway) frequent but it seems impossible to skip cut scenes.. Annoying when you're trying something for the fifth or sixth time. So far a mixed bag..

The "Complete" List

Resistance 2
Mirror's Edge
Quantum of Solace
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
Saints Row

Not much to add to what I wrote yesterday.. I was only a couple of main missions and a little string of missions to end off (Sort of like the Ultor ones from the sequel) and only one of those was tough. Surprisingly I managed to keep my temper and several attempts saw steady progress until I was able to complete it.

So far that's two games a month finished on average so far which is pretty good going for me.

360 Health Check

Well I wasn't expecting to have too update this anytime soon having bought a brand new HDMI enabled 360 Arcade just 3 months ago..

I've even put this latest one in a place where it will get more ventilation (it's basically next to the Sky box which now was the PS3 on top of it so it's got at least six inches of space at the top and huge amounts of space to the back and rear. The HDD unit sits flush with the PS3/Sky box tower but I can't see any cooling vents there anyway).

Last night I played for about two hours then switched it off for an hour while I watch 24. Switched it on at the unit only to find it Red Rind (Bottom left, Bottom right and top right (not sure what that means). Anyway switched it off and switched it on via the pad and it was fine. Fine again this morning.

I do find it disgusting that M$ have basically done nothing to remedy this known fault so far down the line.. They claim to have sold so many units.. I've had four and I know I'm not alone.

Credit Crunching!

And it had all been going so well.. One used copy of Just Cause, one used copy of Saints Row. A total of just over £16 spent...

Went to HMV today (I thought I might be able too pick up a second hand copy of either Resi 5 or Killzone 2) when I spied Manhunt 2 for £14 in the Wii second hand pile! I'm not expecting much from it but I really enjoyed the first game and so I thought I'd have bash...

Only to discover a brand new copy in the sale for £10.. Now I'm not a man to spend an extra £4 on principal. Besides I think a tenner for a new game is in keeping with the spirit of the challenge if not the actual rules.

Currently Playing: Saints Row

Regular readers will remember how much I enjoyed last years Saints Row 2. I managed to pick up the original game for £8 on eBay which, with the DLC for the sequel weighing in at 800 Microsoft points, I thought provided good value for money.

So what's it like? Well if Just Cause had been made by people who'd only heard about GTA then Saints Row has been made by people who've played GTA III to death. Then tried to make it less annoying in places.

It's obviously very similar to the second game. Graphically it looks almost identical although the city of Stillwater is less refined. In fact that's pretty much the mantra for the earlier game as you'd maybe expect. There's no motorbikes or planes to fly. There's no cruise control, Almost unforgivably you can't configure the triggers on the pad for accelerate and brake, You can still create your own wanna be gangster but you can't be a female.

Most annoyingly for me there's no mid mission check points either. You can still carry up to four items of food and your health recharges if you can stay out of the action for a bit but die anyway during one of the more complex missions and it's back to the beginning. It's a step above GTA though. You get the option to start the mission again in exactly the same shape as you did originally. You get all your ammo and guns back, Any AI hommies you'd picked up and vehicles are all put back as they where. No annoying trips to the hospital to or reloading which at least keeps frustration to a minimum.

Overall then another enjoyable romp.

The "Complete" List

Resistance 2
Mirror's Edge
Quantum of Solace
House of the Dead: Overkill - Story & Directors Cut
Fable 2 - Story Mode
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot - (Liquid Easy)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves

My First Wario Ware experience. It's mostly a lot of fun. I couldn't for the life of me manage 'The Waiter' where you rest the Wii-mote on your flat palm and attempt to balance a broom.. Just wouldn't work. But other than that it's great. There's a great juxtaposition between the zen like way the various ways you'll wield the Wii-mote is explained and the bright primary coloured micro games. I'm looking forward to having a go on the multi-player now I've unlocked it.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone!

My game playing marathon has been slightly side tracked by a Two and a half Men marathon on Comedy Central.

Anyway enjoy the chocolate and the holiday season!