The original release of Manhunt in 2003 didn't exactly mark the first time the game industry had been targeted for promoting violence - not even the first time Rockstar were targeted - but it certainly proved to be one of the more extreme cases in recent times, receiving restrictions and bans across multiple countries outside the US, ranging from age minimal's to outlawing possession altogether. This is because Manhunt was a very violent and gritty game not only in what it rendered visually, but also in its very premise, which was brutal killing more or less in a sport like fashion. Whether you loved it or hated it, you can prepare yourself for another onslaught as Manhunt 2 is fast approaching, and Rockstar have made it pretty clear not only are they not backing down from the gory standards set by the original, but if anything they are instead pushing the limits even further.

Rather than continue the story of the original, Rockstar have opted for new characters and a new storyline for Manhunt 2. While the same basic story of "kill or be killed as you escape your captors" is at play again, this time around you are not a death row inmate named 'James Earl Cash' used in a sick reality TV show, but rather an experiment lab guinea pig named 'Daniel Lamb' that is granted an opportunity for escape thanks to a severe electrical storm that hits the facility. Daniel isn't the only escapee however - another playable character named 'Leo Kasper' also faces the prospect of escape, and with him comes a wealth of combat and killing knowledge to help both on their way.

While the storyline has changed, one of the underlying themes to Manhunt 2's gameplay will be "don't fix what isn't broken", which means the same sort of desperate and blood thirsty action we saw in the original will be retained in Manhunt 2. This also means that stealth will once again be the primary focus, with excessive aggressiveness on the gamer's behalf often being met with ghastly results, such as being hunted down by a pack of enemies with relative ease. Like the original, Manhunt 2 will require you to move cautiously amongst shadows and darkness, carefully plotting the demise of each psycho "hunter" you come across, either by utilizing what is around you or using the weapons of your opponents against them, which Rockstar promise will include more guns. Naturally, you can also expect to see more make shift weapons such as pens, razors, and syringes on top of what we saw in the original Manhunt, plus more environmental based killings.

Given that the gameplay mechanics will be reasonably similar to the original and the storyline similar in fundamentals, the areas for left for improvement are somewhat limited but there is one aspect which can always get better, and that's the AI, or more specifically, the AI of the hunters trying to track you down. While the original's AI was hardly shabby, Rockstar claim this time around hunters will be a lot smarter, and far more unpredictable. This means movement patterns are no longer going to be easy to decipher with hunters often making random and surprising movements, such as changing direction in a way that is impossible to predict. Also improved will be the way in which hunters detect your presence and, if detected, alert others of your presence, all in all making the gameplay significantly harder than the original. This sounds great as the original did become quite predictable in spots, but it wasn't exactly an easy game itself so it will be interesting to see how Rockstar balance the enhanced difficulty without stepping too far into the realm of frustrating gameplay - for instance, there were times in the original when the checkpoint saving system produced a lot of repetition, so hopefully this is not an issue multiplied by Manhunt 2's increased difficulty.

Coupled with the enhanced AI of hunters in Manhunt 2 will be the fact that even in the darkest of shadows, your character will not be totally safe. In the original Manhunt, often you found yourself safely concealed in darkness inches away from a hunter, which was a tad unrealistic. This is a thing of the past with Manhunt 2 as now, even with total darkness and complete stillness, hunters can still detect you and drag you out into the open for the kill. The way Manhunt 2 will portray this is via a mini game of sorts - if you're well hidden in darkness but a hunter suspects your presence, you will have to successfully complete a series of button presses to avoid detection. While this is not exactly the most innovative idea around, it should keep you on your toes knowing that no matter where you are, in Manhunt 2, you are never completely safe. Of course, detection won't necessarily mean game over, but it will definitely make survival much harder.

With that said, even though the shadows and darkness won't be completely safe, they are still the safest places to hang out and as such, you will be able to occasionally break lights to create darker areas to move about in, although there will be little you can do about the hunters and their ability to shine their own lights into dark areas in an attempt to find you. This will include normal flashlights, to spotlights and search helicopters. In these situations, fleeing is basically going to be your only option. It is a good thing then that new to Manhunt 2 will be the ability to climb objects, which should help eliminate much of the "limited movement" feel of the original, and make getaway's a little more dynamic.

Like the original again, scripted events will play a large role in Manhunt 2 and these will likely be the source for the greatest heart stopping moments in the game, as Rockstar have specifically crafted them to occur in unexpected spots with the sole intention of taking you by surprise. I have always held the belief that, if the developer really tried hard, video games could be far more scary than what we've typically seen in this sense and it seems Manhunt 2 will put my theory to the test. To sum this aspect of the gameplay up, Rockstar offered the following statement - "You have been warned!".

While it is a little disappointing that Manhunt 2 won't be seen on the PC, PS3 or Xbox 360, but rather just the PSP, PS2 and Wii, hopefully eliminating the need to focus on a graphical overhaul which would have been all but required on the more powerful aforementioned platforms will mean the gameplay is that much better. It has been while since I last fired up Manhunt, but from what I can recall, there were quite a few areas that the game that needed improvement on such as the hunter AI and the limitations of the environment, and it seems Rockstar are focusing on the right areas for number 2 without reinventing the wheel. With release only a few weeks away, all signs are pointing to another enthralling experience from Rockstar, and it couldn't have come any sooner as since the original release in 2003, there hasn't really been an experience quite like Manhunt. It seems July is definitely going to be another one of those busy months for the video game industry, its gamers, and its critics.

UPDATE: Looks like the "busy-ness" got started before July, as Rockstar are delaying the release on Manhunt 2 to try and get it rated more appropriately. How great the day will be when video games are given the same rights as movies or other mediums, eh?