'Manhunt 2' disappoints; 'BWii 2' a real-time winner
'Manhunt 2'
The ratings maelstrom raging around "Manhunt 2" only stoked my expectations for a game that gnashed its blood-dripping teeth at the bounds of censorship.
First, it was banned in Britain. Then it got slapped with the profit-killing Adults Only rating. So Rockstar went back to work, taming the beast just enough to grab a Mature ESRB rating.
Now, the killing and executions your character -- an escaped psychopathic inmate -- performs are masked with filters and choppy cuts, thus laying waste to the one thing "Manhunt 2" had going for it: horror hype.
Having never played the pre-censored game, I can only say this version shows less gore than other M-rated titles, like "God of War" and "BioShock." And some PG-13 movies, for that matter.
I don't think the censors are to blame, though, for the terrible camera in "Manhunt 2" and its aggravating limited perspective. For a game that requires you to slink in the shadows, it does a lousy job letting you look around without switching to first person.
Then there's the character's movement: way-too-slow walk or hard-to-control sprint. Plus, fighting more than one person at a time typically results in your character's death because of the spotty targeting and maneuverability. And the graphics are painful last-gen -- the PS2 is capable of better.
With gameplay this clunky and a ho-hum plot, the only thing brutal about "Manhunt 2" is playing it.
-- Jessica Severs
'Battalion Wars 2'
"Battalion Wars," which debuted on the GameCube in 2005, was an entertaining entry into the oft-overlooked real-time strategy genre.
Despite its engrossing war games, the title lacked something -- online multiplayer. The Wii sequel, "Battalion Wars 2," not only has it, but offers what might be the Wii's best online gaming experience. It's a bonus that the graphics, sound and controls are greatly improved while maintaining the style of the original.
Unlike the long battles of the first game, "BWii" has many shorter campaigns in the solo and multiplayer modes -- it's perfect for anyone who gets bored easily. The first "Battalion Wars" was dubbed "real-time strategy lite." I guess that makes "BWii" nonfat.
What sets "BWii" apart from most hardcore RTS games is that it lets you give only four commands: follow, wait, attack and guard. But these are more than enough, especially when you're juggling so many units. "BWii" clearly is meant to be accessible to casual gamers.
Like the original, "BWii" lets you micromanage battles by taking individual control of a soldier or vehicle, with smooth-handling third-person Wiimote and nunchuk motion controls.
The game's only real flaws are the dumb artificial intelligence and lack of online chat.
The end result is an online experience that feels fresh and fun, no matter how many times you play.
-- Mike Eacobacci
Additional Information:
'Manhunt 2'
Grade: C-
Developer: Rockstar London
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platform: PS2 (also Wii, PSP)
Genre: Stealth
ESRB: Mature
Retail: $29.99
Additional Information:
'Battalion Wars 2'
Grade: A
Developer: Kuju
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Wii
Genre: Real-time strategy
ESRB: Teen
Retail: $49.99
