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Manhunt 2 PC gets AO rating

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Aug 25, 2009 1:38 pm PT

ESRB suggests an uncut release for Rockstar's controversial stealth action game is in the works.

In June of 2007, Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 for the PlayStation 2, PSP, and Wii was slapped with an AO-for-Adults-Only from the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Given that Sony and Nintendo forbid third-party publishers from releasing AO-rated games on their platforms, Rockstar and parent company Take-Two quickly toned the game down and resubmitted it to the ESRB, receiving an M-for-Mature as a result.

Rockstar took the axe to its game on the consoles and PSP in order to get an M-for-Mature rating.

Now the game has been given an AO from the ESRB once more, this time for a new platform. The ratings board's online database has been updated to include Manhunt 2 on the PC, with the age-restrictive rating applied for "Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs." The M-rated editions of the game feature the same content descriptors.

Manhunt 2 was Take-Two's third time running into ratings trouble. In 2005, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the PlayStation 2 and PC had its ESRB rating bumped up from an M to an AO after a sex-themed minigame dubbed "Hot Coffee"--inaccessible through normal gameplay--was discovered on the disc. The game was yanked off shelves, damaging Take-Two's bottom line, sparking a federal investigation and multiple lawsuits, and ultimately contributing to a change in management.

The second time Take-Two ran afoul of the ESRB was with the release of Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the Xbox 360 and PC. Launched in March of 2006 with a T-for-Teen rating, Oblivion was on shelves roughly six weeks before the ESRB decided it deserved an M rating, citing "more detailed depictions of blood and gore than were considered in the original rating," as well as nude female skin textures in the game accessible through user-made mod programs.

As of press time, representatives with Take-Two and Rockstar Games had not returned GameSpot's requests for comment.

75 Comments

  • Re-Skull

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 11:05 am PT

    Hey "TxtBin" your a Genius Dude.
    you have told my tongue !
    i vote u up...

  • TxtBin

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 12:13 pm PT

    I don't give a crap about the rating. What big difference is in between M and AO. Nothing. You think one year is gonna make you more mature? Are you saying 17 year olds don't know whats wrong and right? Really, people are just protecting people. Kids start watching porn as soon as they hit 10 and have a very vast knowledge of how "bad" stuff works. Technology is so advanced these days. I really don't understand what point there is in lousy ratings of 1 year differences and of damned parents just overreacting. It's just a game. Get over it. Your fine with watching uncut versions of Saw and Hostel which is far more disgusting and realistic, but don't watch kids to see badly-animated, pixelised red stuff squirting about. Fine, you might argue that the child has to interact but I can counter-argue, don't buy the bloody game then. It's called "Manhunt", sweet jesus. Your not gonna expect a freakin' game where you gonna be riding ponies now are you?
    But I am looking forward to an uncensored PC release. I didn't like Manhunt 2 that much, but I had Manhunt for the PC, the seuel might be worth adding to my collection.

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Sep 28, 2009 5:08 am PT

    I bought Manhunt 2 for PS2 and quickly returned it because it was heavily censored. If R* release an uncensored PC version I'll definitely be a very happy man.

  • 2bitSmOkEy

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 1:00 am PT

    This game was not anyway near as bad as it is made out to be. I played the uncensored psp version and it was absolutely no worse than the original.

  • bcroger2

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 2:38 pm PT

    Interesting... why would the ESBR suggest an uncut release for the game. But i mean this is a great reason to try to make a super scary game, i played manhunt 1 and i have to say i felt very uncomfortable playing the game. Am not into this game, but with all the graphic technology PC has to offer, and all the violence the game has this is a perfect time ti make this game a horror game.

  • dr_satan666

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 8:22 am PT

    Sweet!

    Good on Rockstar! Release the game YOUR way, as it was originally intended. We never even got the censored Manhunt 2 in Australia but we had the original Manhunt for 2 years before it was banned (in case you haven't heard our government are f***ing nazis), digital download huh? try and stop me now!

    Will definitely be picking this up....

  • lbjkurono23

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 5:01 pm PT

    @Morphine_OD completely agree.

  • Morphine_OD

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 4:14 am PT

    I doubt someone can stop a kid, who's determined to play Manhunt 2 or watch some porn, so don't be rediculuos it's inevitable and it's better for you to know when it's gonna happen and keep it under control, then to forbid it and miss the moment your kid get used to words such as decapitation and/or threesome gangbang.

  • gangsterjc

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 6:43 pm PT

    Also if it does get a pc release some one is Obviously Guna Un-censor it,and even then pirating aswell.

  • gangsterjc

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 6:41 pm PT

    @Morphine_OD

    Horrible Parents FTW!

  • squarejp

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 11:53 am PT

    I think Manhunt is just insane. It's definitely not for the faint of heart. I was pretty uncomfortable when playing that game, not to mention it's pretty challenging. Everytime when I die, I have to look at the cruel scene and moves again. Which leads to learning passively how to kill people using the in game tools such as plastic bags, pipe, glass fragment, etc.

    AO for sure.

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 6:57 am PT

    So what. Give it an AO it would sell just as good as the M stamped box... which is little.

  • smzee27

    Posted Aug 27, 2009 3:07 am PT

    I can't believe we're still talking about Manhunt 2. Though for PC, I think it's still pretty OK even if it gets an AO rating because most core PC gamers seem to be above 18 anyway.

  • hollow56771

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 11:50 pm PT

    Lol i still have the teen rated box of Oblivion

  • Andrex1212

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 11:14 pm PT

    In all honesty, I played Prototype and was ASTONISHED by how insanely gruesome that game was. I am not one to be urked by blood or gore, but I just found it quite ridiculous that Prototype had NO problems whatsoever with being released when one of the main arguments against GTA was that you could get a hooker in your car, pay her to have sex with you to regain health, and then kill her after to get your money back. The rebuttle was "Who the hell does that as a means to get health?" In prototype, you have to consume people in a gruesome fashion to regain health, and you are CONSTANTLY slaughtering people without even MEANING to as you run through the streets. What's with the favoritism?

  • thetravman

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 10:10 pm PT

    Dang, this game is old and it's still being ported? Especially since the PC supports next gen graphics. In a way, that sounds more interesting since we can actually see what's going on in the death scenes. That was actually the best part of the game, and the censorship sort of killed it.

  • Cetanu07

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 9:43 pm PT

    AO games should be sold in american retail stores

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 6:43 pm PT

    @Morphine_OD
    Fail.

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 5:29 pm PT

    This is great news. I've wanted to play Manhunt 2 since it was released but I refuse to buy that censored version. I'll definitely buy this uncut version when it's released.

  • chakkerz

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 1:19 pm PT

    Morphine_OD and it is your kid, so who better to mess him up, right?

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