So common sense, or rather legal sense, has prevailed. Manhunt 2, after being restricted and restricted again is now finally able to be purchased as an 18+ game as it should always have been. The BBFC tried to step above it's station with this one, as they have with other games and films in the past, and to try and restrict adults from being able to get the game because of rather weak arguments about children still being able to get hold of them. As it's been widely criticised for, it's not really the BBFC's position to state that parents and people are so shit at self censorship that they are allowed to become overlords of entertainment where they decide what is and isn't good for us. That doesn't stop them sounding particularly peeved at this fact though...

However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an 18 certificate to the game.

What the BBFC have managed to do here is cut their own nose off to spite their face. They, for one reason or another, sought to control what it is we had access to as (generally) reasonable and mature people over the age of 18. In doing so they managed to hype up a game that for all intents and purposes probably wasn't worth the hype even before it was toned down by the makers. I guarantee this game will now sell hugely despite the fact that it is an average game at best by all critical opinion.

And worse still they have given the bane of their life, Rockstar, the added credibility of winning against them while also being seen as edgy game creators that push the boundaries of acceptability at just the time that EA is looking to buy them out. This will no doubt push their price up even more and make them even *more* money. So well done BBFC for showing everyone how trying to control our thoughts and experiences only ends up shooting yourself in both feet.