Manhunt 2 gets modified for M-Rated US release

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Rockstar Games and their publisher Take Two have snapped their clapper board to mark the second scene in the life of their controversial title Manhunt 2. The companies have announced that an M-Rated version of the game will be good to go in the US on 31st October. Previously the game was relegated to the country’s AO category, essentially a kiss of death, as no platform holder allows for titles with this rating to be played on their consoles. The game, in its previous form, has been banned, or refused classification, by many other region's ratings bodies, including a number of PAL territories.

A statement on Take Two’s website by Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games reads, "Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we're glad it can finally be appreciated as a gaming experience," "We love the horror genre. Manhunt 2 is a powerful piece of interactive story telling that is a unique video game experience. We think horror fans will love it."

Currently it is unclear whether this will have any effect on the title's release outside the US, however it does allow the game to at least peak through that crack in the door leading to a possible PAL release.

Related Manhunt 2 Content

Manhunt 2 appeal launched in UK
27 Nov, 2007 BBFC more concerned with their reputation then gamers - Rockstar.

Rockstar responds to recent Manhunt 2 ban
09 Oct, 2007 "Unacceptable."

Revised Manhunt 2 denied UK release
08 Oct, 2007 Changes aren't enough, apparently.

10 Comments

WilliamsF1

4 years ago

Well, I for one didn't think it'd make it through until 2008.

A quick analysis reveals that Man Hunt 2 & Cooking Mama are pretty much the same, slice 'n' dice....

DrTim

4 years ago

^ Haha, slice n Dice. Nice

Hopefully they didn't cut too much stuff out to tone it down.

When will the day come when people will realize games are no longer for kids (generally speaking).

borgster101

4 years ago

Rockstar appealed the UK decision didnt they? So hopefully we get a PAL version.

?oe?oe

4 years ago

^Yeah they did a couple of weeks ago. Nothing have come out of it, except a day later MH2 went off Take2's release list for it's fiscal year. I guess they were scared. Now it's Coming to America (prepare the royal baggage). If anything Rockstar will be saying to the Europe's rating boards, "oh but the ERSB approved it, please, I'll be your friend"

Nev

4 years ago

When Rockstar appealed the UK decision, it was based on the original unedited version. I gather they'll now have to submit this new, edited version.

I don't know which is more concerning. The fact that the game was banned outright in European countries, or that simply giving the game an AO rating in the US is the equivalent of banning it, given Nintendo and Sony's policy of not allowing AO rated games to be released for its systems.

Interestingly, the R18 rating in NZ is basically the equivalent of the States' AO rating, but Nintendo and Sony don't have any policy about that. But then NZ ended up banning the original Manhunt anyway.

bradc1988

4 years ago

Even if it's cut down I still don't see Australia getting a release.

Jin66

4 years ago

People said it was all a marketing ploy by rockstar to submit the most violent game they could and get it rated high, to generate controversy and hype, then go back and cut out stuff that makes no difference to the end product. If this is true, they did a damn fine job. Now if only we get a PAL release, that would be great.

ZNMS

4 years ago

Quote

Currently it is unclear whether this will have any effect on the title's release outside the US, however it does allow the game to at least peak through that crack in the door leading to a possible PAL release.

Given the circumstances, the best plan of attack to nab a copy of this game is to import. But, I'm sure a number of people were already planning that.

Fall_From_Grace

4 years ago

Jin66 wrote

This sounds pretty likely to me. I wonder how much the new and 'improved' MH2 is like the old one?

Given this was said about it back in June:

Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."

Sounds like quite a lot of stuff will have to be cut....

Macca 22

4 years ago

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=171108

Manhunt 2 gets uncut PAL release
Thursday 30-Aug-2007 3:52 PM Exclusively in Holland at the moment though...

Holland's ministry have proved powerless to ban Rockstar's controversial title it seems. Manhunt 2 will be given a release in Europe - albeit exclusively in Holland at the moment.

According to an AP report, the Dutch Ministry has declined to intervene in any of the issues surrounding the game's path to the shops. This is because it would conflict with current Netherlands law.

The Associated Press goes on to report that it will still be possible to prosecute people who distribute the game to those under 16-years-old, but no such case has yet been tried in the country.

In a letter to Parliament, Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin said: "The current law is based on the principle that every adult is considered capable of deciding for himself which games he wants to play, unless it contains illegal material."

We're waiting for an official response from Rockstar to see when it'll be released. Does this mean a full European release is next? Fingers crossed...

Spotted by MCV.

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Manhunt 2

Pre-order or buy:
PALGN recommends: www.Play-Asia.com

Australian Release Date:
  30/04/2008 (Cancelled)
Publisher:
  Take 2 Interactive
Genre:
  Action Adventure
Year Made:
  2007

Read more...

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