Manhunt 2: New playable character?

Rockstar has kept us in the dark on Manhunt 2, aside from ensuring we're all aware it'll be just as shocking as the original. But a disturbing new update to the official site - andsome new shots- hint at a larger, playable role for Leo Kasper, who we originally believed to be a supporting character alongside lead murderer Daniel Lamb.

On the site, a grimy new page offers up a recording of Kasper being questioned at the Dixmor Hospital for the Criminally Insane. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted, or anyone who's eaten lunch in the last couple of hours.

In addition to creeping us out, however, listening to the recording has led us to believe that Kasper will be a playable character. In fact, we're reckoning that you'll play both Leo and Danny at certain points throughout the game. Several times video footage pops up that resembles the murder-moments of Manhunt, but it's Kasper that's doing the offing.

Above: We're certain this chap here with the gun is Leo - prior to being imprisoned and drugged at Dixmor

According to the tape, Leo is a particularly nasty - and especially unfortunate - fellow. He's been subjected to drugs, imprisonment and a level of combat and stealth training that involved techniques so damaging he has trouble remembering anything before he was inducted into the Project, which the interrogating doctor claims is a part of a government agency. Leo's also a mass-murdering psycho, and we learn that he throttled the last person who interviewed him at Dixmor.

You can check out the unsettling interactive site through the main Manhunt 2 webpage, but maybe have some soothing images on hand just in case it all becomes too much, okay?

June 1, 2007