After much hoo-ha, toing and froing, and general moral outrage, Manhunt 2 has been given an M for mature rating in the States.

The ESRB gave the title the rating after what must have been the most scandalised pre-release run up of any game, and it only came after Rockstar put forward a modified version. The original was given an AO, Adults Only rating.

The game is due out in North America on October 31 much to the relief of the developers, as both Sony and Nintendo had said an AO rated game wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near their consoles.

"Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we're glad it can finally be appreciated as a gaming experience," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar.

"We love the horror genre. Manhunt 2 is a powerful piece of interactive story telling that is a unique video game experience. We think horror fans will love it."