Manhunt 2 On the Shelves

Just in time for Hallowe’en, Rockstar Games has announced that the long-delayed gorefest Manhunt 2 is now on the shelves.

“Manhunt 2 has gone through much to reach this day,” said Rockstar founder Sam Houser. “We are very excited that fans will finally get a chance to experience the magnificent horror experience we’ve crafted with Manhunt 2.”

Described as “dark and disturbing,” Manhunt 2 centers around the events of the Pickman Project, a secretive research project that involved human experimentation. Players will simultaneously work to unravel the mysteries of the project and kill their foes in some of the most creatively brutal fashions possible. According to a GamesRadar.com preview, “Manhunt 2 looks to be a deeply, horrifyingly unsettling experience, and we mean that as the highest possible compliment.”

Complaints about the violent content in Manhunt 2 have run rampant, with the game ultimately being banned in the U.K. and Ireland and slapped with an AO (Adults Only) rating in North America, a virtual ban in itself. While a modified version of the game with the worst of the violence removed (think “testicles and pliers”) was eventually given an M (Mature) rating in North America, clearing it for sale, it remains banned in the U.K., and some conservative watchdog groups continue to call for a boycott of the game.