Is it wrong that I am more interested in what Rockstar cut from the original Manhunt 2 to have the ESRB finally slap an M rating on it instead of the fact that we "adults" can actually buy it in retail stores now?To be released on October 31st in North America, Manhunt 2 will either be a trick or treat for me, as I ponder what the actual difference between "Mature" and "Adults Only" is. This once "unremittingly bleak" title that Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games, now believes "horror fans will love" has a laundry list of descriptors under its fresh-ink 'M' rating:Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs.How much "callousness in tone" has really been removed after Rockstar Games "explored its options"? And by "explored its options," I mean, clicked and dragged the original content into the recycle bin.Imagine what guts and innards we can find in there.But I'm not the only one who is interested to see what has been censored for me, so that I don't become a mindless trigger-happy zombie with an anti-Jack Thompson desire to reinact Saw I, II, or III. Because we must all think of the toy-loving children, and that apparently includes me. Game developers are especially interested in what and what doesn't entail the kiss of death from the ESRB, BBFC, and whatever acronymed censoring agency you can think of. Since video games are now effectively bannable, which sends the message that they're more dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, both game designers and shareholders must now tiptoe on the politically acceptable line.How free is freedom of speech this time?For now, we can only speculate about what gameplay experiences "Mature" conscious judgment is unable to defend against. And to put this question to rest, I wait and pray with foam and blood dripping from the edges of my mouth for Manhunt 2: Director's Cut.Yum, man flesh.

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	wayne_steed - August 26, 2007 (12:49 PM) Yeah, it looks pretty bad even for an M-title. Can't imagine how PO'd the politicians'll be when they release the director's cut in all of its gory glory.
	iamtheprodigy - August 26, 2007 (06:22 PM) I agree. It's clearly not being marketed for children, so why worry about it? It's for adults, so it should contain all its original content.