A sequel to violent video game 'Manhunt' has been banned in Britain, it was announced today.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rejected 'Manhunt 2' on the grounds of its "casual sadism" and "unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying".
The game "constantly encourages visceral killing", it said.
The BBFC's ruling means the game cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.
It is the first video game to be refused a classification since 1997.
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."
The original 'Manhunt' game was given an 18 classification in 2003 and was "at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category", he said.
-- I'Casually sadistic' video game banned in UKThe British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) rejected 'Manhunt 2' on the grounds of its "casual sadism" and "unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying".
The game "constantly encourages visceral killing", it said.
The BBFC's ruling means the game cannot be legally supplied anywhere in the UK.
It is the first video game to be refused a classification since 1997.
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."
The original 'Manhunt' game was given an 18 classification in 2003 and was "at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category", he said.
That 1997 game? Carmageddon. Which later won an appeal.
I will say I have no love for the Manhunt franchise - I found the first one to be a video game version of a bad, bad horror movie. Tenchu was a much better "creep around and kill people" game without all the curfluffle. Again, my only real question for the BBFC is whether they'd be rating a film in a similar way.
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