Yesterday we reported on the fact that the British Board of Film Classification banned Manhunt 2 from sale in the UK, and now there’s been more bad news for the title with the American classification board giving it an Adults Only tag.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has given the game the highest rating which will severely restrict its sale in the U.S.

The problems arise from the fact that the major U.S retailers do not stock games with an AO rating.
Although this is only an initial rating, giving the publishers Take Two a chance to modify the game, it is difficult to see what can be done to mollify the censors.

"We believe the process of rating video games is to help people make informed entertainment choices and not to limit them," a Take-Two representative commented.

"Manhunt 2 was created for mature audiences and we strongly believe it should receive an M (Mature) rating, aligning it with similar content created in other forms of media. We are exploring our options with regard to the rating of Manhunt 2."

Whereas Take Two, already in financial difficulty, and fans will be annoyed at the news, it was welcomed by various groups including the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood who say playing such games on the Wii compounds the problem given the console’s interactivity.