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You know I applaud Rockstar for making Manhunt.
We've become so desensitized to killing enemies in video games as it's portrayed as so quick, clean and simple, that it's kinda nice seeing it portrayed more for what it is. Like in other games, it's justified. But here? The enemies are just as criminal yet helpless as you, how do you feel now?
You have a melee weapon? They have one too. You have to run away? They do too. You also have the same advantage as them of attacking from behind. Not to mention, none of what is going on is the player nor the enemies' doing. They're both as scared and confused as you.
Not to mention the murder animations are more realistic and brutal compared to other most games like Yandere Simulator where the murder is just a simple "snuff the bish out with minimal screaming and animation" kinda thing. Human life is fragile, yes but we don't just die instantly. Especially if it's from a brutal murder.
The game also references real serial killers for their character names, but also stays out of the lane of real gore. So you just get a taste of how serious murder actually is without desecrating any actual people's remains.
What I'm saying is, the game helps point out a fundamental flaw in both conventional society and niche gamers. To conventional society, it points out how overreactive people can be to fiction by rebelling against all socially accepted norms in video games despite it being just fiction. To the gamers, it points out that yes, while you're not harming anyone by killing in video games, please remember that in reality, murder is both wrong, brutal and messed up.
It's a game not meant to be taken as an insult but as a rebellious provocation to drive the point home about the grey area that is brutal fiction. How you can enjoy brutal fiction while also reminding you how serious the thing actually is in reality.
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flameslayer
manhunt 2 had a great story and was an upgrade from its predecessor. instead of it being about killing people for a "brutally violent movie" you could say, it's about a guy who was injected with a failed experiment performed by a project. i dont want to spoil much about this great game, so why dont yall check it out?
I already checked it out. I think it's more revolutionary story wise but both games were doing something no AAA game company (I am aware of) had done so outwardly before, create a game where murder is both necessary to progress but most of the murders become unjustifiable by moral circumstances yet only justified by the player's point of view. I only give Manhunt 1 here because it's a better example of this idea considering Manhunt 1 has way more of an single-sided justification compared to the other game where a good chunk of the people Danny kills is involved with the project anyways.
by はなち; ; Report
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Great post. id have to go back and observe for the subtext as im not sure its intended to be that deep, though honestly, as Beksinski hints about his work, doesnt really matter if the art has a cannon purpose it just matters that you, the observer, gave it one yourself. so its events and actions and atmosphere are totally free to mean all that to anyone seeing it as such, even if it wasnt given that thought to begin with. Your own interpretation is just as valid to you.
Though im guessing you played it recently, so you probably are right,
i played it almost the better part of 2 decades ago it seams like, all that i remember is that it was awesome. lol.
And i doubt many in the aaa studios would have such balls again.
What a great fucking game. I would love a remake as long as it stayed just as gritty and creepy feeling. and hyper violent.
Indie game dev tech is rapidly improving all the time,
im thinking its merely a matter of moments before we get a full balls out brutal spiritual remake out of the indie dev community, likely with better animation and graphics.
I literally have one in mind that a plan to make after I feel I've established enough presence in the music scene. But it's gonna be more of a Manhunt inspired game if anything since the mechanics will be similar but have very stark differences that lead the player to take a way more strategic approach. I do want to make it just as gorey and brutal though.
by はなち; ; Report
That would be dope as fuck, i hope it comes to pass :)
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