ManHunt 2 finally granted rating for UK release

by Steven Williamson on 17 March 2008, 08:59

Tags: Manhunt 2, Rockstar Games (NASDAQ:TTWO), PS2, PSP, Wii, Action/Adventure

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Following a successful appeal, Rockstar's controverisial actrion horror game, ManHunt 2 has finally received a UK rating from the BBFC and will be released later this year.

Back in June 2007, the BBFC refused the UK distribution of the notorious videogame, Manhunt 2, unless substantial changes were made to remove the apparent 'bleakness and callousness of tone' within the game. Despite some changes being made, the BBFC rejected the revised version of Manhunt 2 in October 2007 and it looked as though the game wouldn't see the light of day in the UK.

Rockstar then appealed against the rejection and won the right to have the decision reconsidered.

The Video Appeals Committee has now reconsidered the appeal in the light of the High Court’s directions on the law but has decided, again by a majority of four to three, to allow the appeal on the basis that Manhunt 2 should be given an ‘18’ certificate.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said: “As I have said previously, we never take rejection decisions lightly, and they always involve a complex balance of considerations. We twice rejected Manhunt 2, and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered, after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real potential harm risk. However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an ‘18’ certificate to the game.”

Let the skull smashing commence.


HEXUS Forums :: 16 Comments

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Yeh but it slightly toned down. Hopefully there will be a patch to get the old content back :)
i just read about this, i cant wait!!!

“When PC Advisor Blog heard that Rockstar had softened the blind, unremitting violence in Manhunt 2 to get it reclassified for sale, we were so angry we could have stabbed ourselves in the neck with a shard of glass.
But we feel much better now. Why? Because we've just heard that, according to IGN, which has tried out the notoriously sadistic video game both before and after the amendments, not much has changed. Hooray!”
sorry to double post but i read the end of the article and it said this:
For the uninitiated, the Manhunt games reward successful sneaking manoeuvres with ‘scripted’ death sequences of occasionally breathtaking brutality. In the first game, you could smother your enemy with a plastic bag, for example, or do something uncalled-for with a baseball bat. But now, when you move in for the kill, the screen darkens and the action blurs. How is anyone going to get properly desensitised that way?

how is that not changing much :( taking out the bloodthirst of the game! psycho's like me need this!
As has been said, I dare say a patch will become available, through official or unofficial channels that disables it.

I'm surprised that there has been so much controversy over it, as long as it is only available to those over 18 then it shouldn't cause too many problems ;)
dave87
I'm surprised that there has been so much controversy over it, as long as it is only available to those over 18 then it shouldn't cause too many problems ;)

its those idiotic mums who buy these games for their infant child, see whats happening on screen and then think its the game's that are in the wrong and not them for buying their 12 year old Angel an 18+ copy of Manhunt.

gotta love it