It's a story as old as the gaming industry itself. Developer releases game, throws in a 'controversy' and sits back to enjoy instant teen kudos and masses of publicity. But this year has seen a bumper crop of political incorrectness, shameless publicity seeking and unfortunate slip-ups. Here are the best/worst.
Ban this sick filth! But read about it first
So you think you can drive, Mel?
It has Mel Gibson! Booze! State troopers! "Hava Nagila"! And a Hasidic projectile-shooting rabbi! Beyond surreal, this little gem of a Flash-based game from GSN has players using the up and down arrow keys to maneuver Mel (who leers drunkenly from the window of a subcompact with the licence plate "WTFWJD?") around a nighttime highway.
You tag bottles of hooch for points while simultaneously dodging flying Stars of David thrown by bearded men wearing hats, shawls, and dark suits. Hit five state troopers, and the game ends. Play this game too much, and so might the world as we know it.
For: PC; Developer: Unknown; Publisher: GSN
Manhunt 2
Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar doesn't deserve the publicity this mediocre sequel garnered, but publicity it nonetheless received in spades, mostly after sales of the game were banned here in the UK and it was initially given an AO (Adults Only) rating in the US.
Players have to perform visually detailed executions (styled as "hasty," "violent," or "gruesome") using objects at hand. These include shards of glass to slit throats, toilet seats to bludgeon, and hypodermic needles to jab enemies in the neck.
What's most offensive about Manhunt 2 isn't its violence but its cruddy gameplay: Poor AI, boring environments, and blurry execution animations make Manhunt 2 a shoo-in for the year's "Sound and Fury" award.
For: Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable; Developer: Rockstar Games; Publisher: Rockstar Games
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Comments
Kevin said: Violence begets violencePity those who find violence funPity a society that allows it
ps3wolf said: It seems yet again Political correctness gone mad with games Games are given age ratings for a reason and I feel that parents need to have more control over what their kids are seeing and playingAt the end of the day a game is a game as well and people particularly here in the UK love to find something to complain about and half the ones who complain I expect have never played a game in their life and want to make peoples lives as dull as their ownI am sorry but I myself have resistance fall of man and the darkness but know they are games Why cant people leave others alone to make their own choices But I do feel parents need to be more cautious and careful on what games they get their children as ratings are there for a reason just like films
Rorkimaru said: the funny thing about the Resistance flaw is that the church is being shown as a place of refuge and the gun battle is a battle to defend it ie it paints the church in a good light then shows people willing to sacrifice their lifes defending it hardly offensive in my opinion