The British Board of Film Classification, responsible for rating films and games in the United Kingdom, has decided to reject Rockstar’s Manhunt 2 game for rating. Without this rating, the Wii/PS2 game cannot be legally sold in the UK.
The BBFC spent a great deal of time reviewing Manhunt 2 and came to the conclusion that the game did not fall into any existing classification acceptable for the release. The original Manhunt game reviewed in 2003 was already pushing the limits for the BBFC rating system, and the sequel attempted to do what every other sequel tries to do – surpass the original.
Generally, the BBFC avoids banning complete works. When possible, they will suggest the makers alter the game by cutting parts of the game or removing specifically offensive content. Director David Cooke explains that this was not possible with the entirety of the Manhunt 2 game. Based on the submissions of the game reviewers, a panel at the BBFC made the final decision to ban the game from release. Under law, Rockstar through Take Two has the right to appeal the decision.
David Cooke’s full statement on the game can be found after the break.
Official Statement regarding the ban of Manhunt 2:
“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 classified ’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.”– David Cooke,
Director, British Board of Film Classification
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