How <cite>Manhunt 2</cite> Earned Its M Rating

We've been wondering just what tweaks Rockstar made to Manhunt 2 to get its rating whittled down from an AO to an M, and now, thanks to IGN, we know.

Despite the new changes, Manhunt 2 is still largely the same experience it always was:

In one cut-scene, a masked killer uses a power saw to slice into a man's bulging belly, as the victim lies helplessly strapped to a table. In another, a hunter prepares to electrocute a separate prisoner. Manhunt 2's new M rating does not appear to have any bearing on these sequences, as they look and play exactly as they did when we first saw them so many months ago. Indeed, the majority of main gameplay functions are intact, violence, gore and all.

So what did actually get axed? For one, the infamous testicle-ripping death sequence is now but a memory, sacrificed to please the ratings boards. Secondly, many of the death sequence animations have either been darkened or made blurry so that it's tough to see just what exactly is going on. You get the idea, of course, but the detail is lacking.

Despite the changes, IGN still calls Manhunt 2 "one of the grossest and most disturbing titles we've ever seen." More importantly, however, "It's also fun."

Manhunt 2 Preview [IGN]