Manhunt 2 denied UK release!!!!!!!!!

The BBFC has rejected Manhunt 2 on PS2 and Wii, the ratings board has revealed, meaning that the sequel "cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK".

We've called Rockstar several times but have yet been unable to contact anyone.

According to the BBFC, the decision to refuse the game a rating was taken by the Director and the Presidential Team of Sir Quentin Thomas, Lord Taylor of Warwick and Janet Lewis-Jones.

Under the terms of the Video Recordings Act, distributors have the right to appeal the Board's decision.

David Cooke, Director of the BBFC said:

"Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly. Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board's published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. 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.

"Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game's unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game. That work was ****fied '18' in 2003, before the BBFC's recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category.

"Against this background, the Board's carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public."

Check back for updates this afternoon but be sure to join the debate below.

Update: NGamer magazine has reviewed the Wii version, giving it 92%. Hit this link to read exclusive excerpts. Update out

I'm getting this game. Not only because it sounds fun and because it has so far seen nothing but praise (in terms of gameplay) but I feel like it is my duty to support the release of such a game. I'm not that big a fan of gore (most titles i own are E and T, for no other reason than those are the games I happen to like for the most part) but to ban a piece of art regardless of the medium is rediculous.

Censorship is like telling a man he can't have steak just because a baby can't chew it.

I predict this game will be banned world wide, UK have banned it, and now Ireland

http://www.ifco.ie/ifco/ifcoweb.nsf/web/news?opendocument&news=yes&type=graphic

Australia and Germany will follow shortly as they're even more strict. Don't get your hopes up of playing this game, maybe it really is so sick it will be banned worldwide.

Banned in the UK?

Wow thats as good as an endorsement for any gamer to play this game.

Million seller for sure.

I predict this game will be banned world wide, UK have banned it, and now Ireland

http://www.ifco.ie/ifco/ifcoweb.nsf/web/news?opendocument&news=yes&type=graphic

Australia and Germany will follow shortly as they're even more strict. Don't get your hopes up of playing this game, maybe it really is so sick it will be banned worldwide.

NickJayD

they don't ban games in the US of A. they'll just force a tougher rating on it and. Maybe A/O (Adults Only)?

[QUOTE="NickJayD"]

I predict this game will be banned world wide, UK have banned it, and now Ireland

http://www.ifco.ie/ifco/ifcoweb.nsf/web/news?opendocument&news=yes&type=graphic

Australia and Germany will follow shortly as they're even more strict. Don't get your hopes up of playing this game, maybe it really is so sick it will be banned worldwide.

Dreams-Visions

they don't ban games in the US of A. they'll just force a tougher rating on it and. Maybe A/O (Adults Only)?

They dont banned them here in UK is well, I think this will be the 1st

I have no problem with violence and I'm sure it's the same for many people but Rockstar really should have known better. Violence is one thing but this game just clearly glorfies it.

Still I'm still torn on wanting to play and own it and being completely turned off by it. If it comes out I still think I'm going to get it just to have it for my collection if the reports of how good it is true, even if I can't bring myself to even play it in the end.

[QUOTE="Dreams-Visions"][QUOTE="NickJayD"]

I predict this game will be banned world wide, UK have banned it, and now Ireland

http://www.ifco.ie/ifco/ifcoweb.nsf/web/news?opendocument&news=yes&type=graphic

Australia and Germany will follow shortly as they're even more strict. Don't get your hopes up of playing this game, maybe it really is so sick it will be banned worldwide.

gameruk2010

they don't ban games in the US of A. they'll just force a tougher rating on it and. Maybe A/O (Adults Only)?

They dont banned them here in UK is well, I think this will be the 1st

yikes. interesting...

[QUOTE="Dreams-Visions"][QUOTE="NickJayD"]

I predict this game will be banned world wide, UK have banned it, and now Ireland

http://www.ifco.ie/ifco/ifcoweb.nsf/web/news?opendocument&news=yes&type=graphic

Australia and Germany will follow shortly as they're even more strict. Don't get your hopes up of playing this game, maybe it really is so sick it will be banned worldwide.

gameruk2010

they don't ban games in the US of A. they'll just force a tougher rating on it and. Maybe A/O (Adults Only)?

They dont banned them here in UK is well, I think this will be the 1st

Now i think i will get this! (If doesn't have scat, that the only thing i can't take)

I'm getting this game. Not only because it sounds fun and because it has so far seen nothing but praise (in terms of gameplay) but I feel like it is my duty to support the release of such a game. I'm not that big a fan of gore (most titles i own are E and T, for no other reason than those are the games I happen to like for the most part) but to ban a piece of art regardless of the medium is rediculous.

Censorship is like telling a man he can't have steak just because a baby can't chew it.

TacoJelly

Thats a bit extreme. There are some mediums that are unacceptable, always. This is why there are laws.

I hope this game gets slapped with an AO rating. We all know it's not hard for minors to get M rated games, and this is NOT something I think should be sold outside of specialty shops. I do not think that we should be stockign snuff simulators on the shelves where minors can pick them up and look at them, and potentially buy them.
Timstuff

Update: NGamer magazine has reviewed the Wii version, giving it 92%. Hit this link to read exclusive excerpts. Update out

gameruk2010

NGamer? Are they the ones that gave Red Steel a 90%?

If an adult wants to buy this then more power to them, however all the rules and laws though be held to this game and those that sell this game or the hammer should come down hard and often.

I agree with the ban, parents are clueless when it comes to games and will happily go into a store with their kids and buy them any game they wish without looking at the content.

Gore factor should not be used to sell games to kids.

[QUOTE="gameruk2010"]

Update: NGamer magazine has reviewed the Wii version, giving it 92%. Hit this link to read exclusive excerpts. Update out

Bill_McBlumpkin

NGamer? Are they the ones that gave Red Steel a 90%?

Doesit really matter? Gamespot gave PDZ a really high score and it's clear it didn't deserve. GS just recently gave Scarface Wii a score in the 5s but IGN gave it in the 8s. Each place is going to handle Wii games differently and if you suck using the controller it's going to hurt the score and bias as well will play a large factor when you are comparing games from system to system.

Which is something I think should be address. A game on a Nintendo system shouldn't be compared with a game on a Sony system, which in turn shouldn't have a game compared with another on a Microsoft system. It should be compared to what is on the system and on the games on merit. The reviews should be isolated and not assume that everyone is picking from all the systems when it comes to getting their games.

Doesit really matter? Gamespot gave PDZ a really high score and it's clear it didn't deserve.NeoStar9

Yeah, kind of.

I agree with you that Gamespot overrated PDZ but it does have an 81 on GR, a difference of .9 isn't "huge."

Red Steel was panned by critics - it has a 64% on GR..... that's a substantially larger difference. Out of all the reviews on GR (that count) NGamer gave it the highest score (the only counted reviewer to give it a 9.0+, everyone else was lower... everyone else.)

So yeah... NGamer isn't exactly all that credible. I'm not saying Manhunt 2 will be bad, I'm just saying it's probably wiser to wait for the credible crop of reviews.

I agree with the ban, parents are clueless when it comes to games and will happily go into a store with their kids and buy them any game they wish without looking at the content.

Gore factor should not be used to sell games to kids.

tenaka2

Who's selling this game to kids? And how is my fault that many people are dumb?

Good, we don't need this kind of garbage available in the mainstream.

I expect bans to follow up in NZ, Germany, and the AU. It will probably get an AO rating in the US and will never see the light of day in JP:)

So how comes Saw 1,2 and 3 got the go ahead!! double standardsgameruk2010

Good, we don't need this kind of garbage available in the mainstream.

I expect bans to follow up in NZ, Germany, and the AU. It will probably get an AO rating in the US and will never see the light of day in JP:)

FrenziedRaldo24

Don't like it? DOn't buy it.

So how comes Saw 1,2 and 3 got the go ahead!! double standardsgameruk2010

Well iam guessing its because in Manhunt 2 you are actually causing the acts of extreme violence, while in the (awful) Saw films your watching someone else do all the nasty stuff.

Iam not sure if this is shocking news or not, the BBFC is usually pretty fair when it comes to games, so maybe Manhunt 2 really does cross the line, still it be nice if they simply restricted it to porn shops or something, then at least those who wished to buy it and were over 18 could.

Just so you guys know, the BBFC is easily the most liberal ratings board on earth. They're always promoting free speech and anti-censorship, and the chairman once replied to a ten minute long speech from some old woman about how her son was violent because of Doom 3 with "i think it's about time you stopped whining and pointing the finger elsewhere in an attempt to conceal your own shoddy parenting."

In other words, Rockstar must've made the most violent, disturbing game ever made. Only one game has ever been banned in the UK in it's existance, and that was Carmaggedon; and even that was a mishap was reversed soon after.

Expect this game to be banned worldwide.

I agree with the ban, parents are clueless when it comes to games and will happily go into a store with their kids and buy them any game they wish without looking at the content.

Good, we don't need this kind of garbage available in the mainstream.

If you annoyed by this contact them here: contact_the_bbfc@bbfc.co.uk and tell them what you think.Glitch321

Not interested. Rockstar can handle their own dirty little problems.