While Rockstar’s sequel to one of the goriest games ever will soon hit Wii, PSP and PS2, gamers in the UK hungry for the slaughter will be left out. The decision was made recently by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) who must have seen Manhunt 2 pushing the “attempt to kill people in the most violent manner possible for fun” a tad over-the-top.
Having played the first Manhunt, this really isn’t much of a surprise to me. The interesting news is that this is one of the only two games to be straight-up banned throughout the UK. Carmageddon was banned over 10 years ago, and is still a fun game to date.

There’s a whole bunch of quotes and reports from the high-ups, such as BBFC director David Cooke -
“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.”
Fair game I say. The original was way cool, but way intense. From your first glass shard in the jugular, you knew Rockstar were trying to get a reaction.
Anyway, one quote I found amusing from Paul Jackson, the director of ELSPA –
“A decision from the BBFC such as this demonstrates that we have a games ratings system in the UK that is effective. It shows it works and works well. Any decision the BBFC takes, it takes on the basis of its remit to rate onscreen entertainment.”
Well tops. I guess the fact they’ve banned something proves that they work, right? Having something done doesn’t mean it’s been done right, all it means is the BBFC haven’t done nothing at all.