The hunt for Daniel Lamb's sanity begins here

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Developer insight

Since the day development was completed on the original Manhunt, Rockstar have been working on this sequel, with newly formed studio Rockstar London taking the reins from original developers Rockstar North. Headed up by Mark Washbrook, the team decided early on that Cash's journey was over "At the end of the first game there's a real sense of closure", explains Mark "With Manhunt 2 we want to explore new areas while retaining the mood of the original and, most importantly, create a game where it isn't necessary to have played the Manhunt to enjoy this one".

Mark Washbrook
Studio Manger
Rockstar London

There are still loads of brutal executions, right?

Of course and as before there are three levels of brutality. There's the quick kill where Daniel will plug someone's neck with a pen, or he can dole out a bit of a beating first...or furiously mash them up and puncture their chest with a flurry of biro stabs. It's very gory in places, as you'd expect.

So who's this Daniel Lamb chap?

Former scientist - and current psychopath - Daniel Lamb put his body on the line for some weapon-based research at shady Pickman Corporation. He awakes to find himself in Dixmor Hospital for the insane. Suffering from amnesia and haunted by horrific flashbacks. He goes in search of the only people he can remember in the hope of piecing together the events that landed him in the slammer. He's a reluctant killer, goaded on by his mysterious inmate chum, Leo, who convinces him that beating a man into a paste is much better than taking it out. Although savage murders are followed by bouts of remorse, it's the only way he's going to get real answers...

Is it less violent than before?

Quite the opposite, Graphic murders have been ramped up and blood flows like a river. Gun kills involve more headshots than your average photo-booth and sliced faces end up like Swiss cheese.

So what new features are there in the sequel?

The narrow corridors add a more claustrophic fell, but Manhunt 2 has a few new tricks besides that. Environmental kills are marked with an X on the radar and can be used as an alternative to the standard methods. For example, line up a foe and Daniel can grab a nearby telephone cord wrap it around their neck and drag them to the floor until they stop moving. You can also perform gun executions. Sneak up on a bloke and he'll turn around to be met with two barrels-worth of shotgun pellets to the face. Ouch. You can also use noise to you advantage. During the brothel level, if you smash a window while a working woman is moaning the stalking guards won't hear it.

Do you still hide in the shadows?

Yep. Unlike last time, though, you can create your own darkness by smashing light and dashing into cover. This can alert guards, mind. Also, there's a random bit when searching guards will stare into the shadows and button prompts will appear. Hit the right ones and you'll regulate your breathing and stay hidden - if not, you'll be spotted.

So who's the best: Cash or Daniel?

It's hard to choose at this stage. However, Daniel is more energetic than Cash as he can climb and crawl, and at least he has a conscience.

PSM3 Reckons

It's packed with the stuff that made the original so intense and exciting and, with the added polish; Manhunt 2 appears set to grip you once again. ETA MAY 2007

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