Controversial Games

[Polarbert]

There have been a few controversial games over the years, I remember all the talk about Manhunt 1 and 2. I got to play those through just through curiosity and thought that they were quite violent, but quite good games never the less. Has there been a more graphic/violent game than Manhunt?

[Mannginger]

I've not played Manhunt but surely the GTA series is right up there as most controversial? Deliberately setting out to commit crimes, running pedestrians over, murdering prostitutes etc etc.

Granted not very graphic but controversial - definitely!

[3sixty]

All the talk used to be about Postal and Carmageddon. GTA and Manhunt seemed to be less offensive (At least I saw less press attention attached)

[daddy cool]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RapeLay

/Thread


(Yeah - i downloaded it off torrents, "played" it, and then scrubbed myself in bleach because it was so wrong)

[Hoofy]

O.o I'll stick to BF3 and killing people in unusual ways (shock paddle, dropping heavy objects on them, running them over).

[Polarbert]

daddy cool said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RapeLay

/Thread


(Yeah - i downloaded it off torrents, "played" it, and then scrubbed myself in bleach because it was so wrong)

Requiring bleach afterwards must make it a strong contender.

[Mannginger]

daddy cool said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RapeLay

/Thread

[Baryonyx]

Polarbert said:

There have been a few controversial games over the years, I remember all the talk about Manhunt 1 and 2. I got to play those through just through curiosity and thought that they were quite violent, but quite good games never the less. Has there been a more graphic/violent game than Manhunt?

As far as mainstream games go, Manhunt and Manhunt 2 remain controversial. The first game was IMO more violent and more bleak. Even the uncensored Manhunt 2 isn't quite as brutal and graphic. However, the second game will remain more infamous because the BBFC got their knickers in a twist over it, and it's release was so convoluted. Something which, sadly, did it no favours and was a factor in, I suspect, there being no 'next generation' sequel.

I'd say thought that Manhunt is one of my favourite games of all time, and I really do commend the BBFC for letting us play it in an uncensored format. Truly a victory for adults being allowed to enjoy adult entertainment by their own consent, rather than having the nanny state tell us what is and isn't acceptable.



Custer's Revenge was basically a load of st, but attracted criticism for apparently being racist, and definitely distasteful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custer's_Revenge

Even Splatterhouse was considered controversial at one time. It did stand out as quite a graphic thing back in the day when Sonic and Mario were considered mainstream contenders. It is the only game that I can remember being refused as well. I asked my mother to buy me a copy, and she refused saying it looked too violent. I did later play it though, by lending it from a friend.

[Polarbert]

Mannginger said:

daddy cool said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RapeLay

/Thread

[Polarbert]

Its incredible to think just over thirty years ago games like this sold for $50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY2AqKCpGkk


I think games would have to imitate real life in thirty years time for us to look back on todays games similarly.

[Mr E]

Bully was deliberately provocative; buy having read the wiki page in the thread above I'm going to echo the Fillion gif...

[JB8]

Thrill Kill was a game which got cancelled due the gore and violence.

Despite this everyone of my friends had it, it was a pretty standard beat em up.

[daddy cool]

I have this one on PC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingpin:_Life_of_Crim...
Only got it because the soundtrack was by cypress hill. Lots of gangster violence and swearing, but underneath it a completely generic game, and in retrospect quite tame.

[JDMDrifter]

Bully has to be up there, renamed to Canis Canem Edit iirc due to outrage at the name?

Postal 2 was immense in my opinion the humor was so un pc it was brilliant, and they also made a film that I've never been able to find.

I think one of the Hitman games also go a bad rep, but it was no worse than anything else.

[MattyB_]

The classic "Cannon Fodder" from 1993 drew controversy due to its depication of the poppy under the slogan "War has never been so much fun"

[militantmandy]

The original Manhunt was an outstanding game and one of the few that made me feel "bad" for how brutally I killed the enemies...at least at first. Played with the headset, you had Starkweather talking into your ear, made it a bit more intense! It was certainly a game that was for adults only.

Postal was hilarious, but I can definitely see why it would get people frothing. "Watch the flowers grow!". The film was utter balls BTW.

[Baryonyx]

JB8 said:

Thrill Kill was a game which got cancelled due the gore and violence.

Despite this everyone of my friends had it, it was a pretty standard beat em up.

The suggestions on the matter are that it was cancelled for being st. A mate of mine had it downloaded from a torrent, it was dreadful.

As for Hitman, I believe it was edited for potentially offensive content, namely a level in a Gurdwara or something like that.

[deckster]

JDMDrifter said:

Bully has to be up there, renamed to Canis Canem Edit iirc due to outrage at the name?

It was only ever controversial to people who had never played, or even seen, the game. There was nothing to get even remotely worked up about, just a GTA-lite with all the grown-up bits removed and aimed at early teens.

[Mastodon2]

deckster said:

It was only ever controversial to people who had never played, or even seen, the game. There was nothing to get even remotely worked up about, just a GTA-lite with all the grown-up bits removed and aimed at early teens.

Was it aimed at early teens though? I think a lot of the humour was probably more relevant to late teens and adults. Nevertheless, a staggeringly good game. Rockstar seemed so fresh and full of ideas, creating such a coherent and amazingly sculpted gaming experience. Even more amazing that it came off the back of the "everything but the kitchen sink" GTA San Andreas.

[Negative Creep]

The original Mortal Kombat would be the one I remember the most. As soon as we heard you could tear someone's heart out or tear their spine out it became the game to have. My parents wouldn't buy it but a friend had the Mega Drive version which came with a blood code (supposedly to stop kids accessing it and keep the newly-created ratings board happy) but of course he knew it off by heart. The SNES version was censored, but the way to activate a blood code was a massive urban myth at the time (one magazine ran an April Fool that said you could get it by taping a 50p coin on the cart). Looking back the game itself was pretty mediocre, and if it wasn't for the fatalities would have been a long forgotten franchise. I really enjoyed the latest game, but actually found the violence was so OTT it was more funny than anything else. Perhaps I've come full circle, but although I don't have kids I wouldn't let them play such games due to the level of violence and swearing.


Also, Portal 2. No, really

http://www.wbtv.com/story/14662694/tonight-at-5-vi...