The player is entirely in control of which level they use once the player has locked onto an enemy, the lock-on reticule changes color over time to indicate the level white (level 1), yellow (level 2), and, finally, red (level 3). There are three 'levels' of execution, with each level progressively more violent and graphic than the last Level 1 (Hasty) executions are quick and not very bloody, Level 2 (Violent) are considerably more gory, and Level 3 (Gruesome) are over-the-top. As with the original game, the primary gameplay mechanic is stealth execution, whereby the player character must approach an enemy from behind, undetected, and kill them.
Although different in appearance and personality, both have similar controls. Players assume the role of Daniel Lamb in a third-person perspective while at some points they instead control the villain Leo Kasper. Manhunt 2 Daniel Lamb, attempting to execute an enemy guard with a It was ranked first in Gameranx' list of the "Top 25 Goriest Games of all Time", and was nominated for GameSpy's 2007 Game of the Year Award for the PS2. Reviewers praised the improved gameplay, twisted storyline and engine, while criticizing its voice acting and outdated graphics. Reception of the game was largely mixed to positive. Manhunt 2 garnered controversy before and after its release, getting the attention of Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, anti-video game activist Jack Thompson, and various US senators. Rockstar appealed their decision, and ultimately, the Video Appeals Committee voted that the game could be released with an 18 certificate.
However, the BBFC still refused to classify the edited version for its UK release. This edited version was rated M in the US by the ESRB and was released on 29 October. In response to these ratings problems, Rockstar censored the game, blurring the screen during the game's executions and removing the scoring system, where players were rewarded for particularly brutal killings.
As Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony Computer Entertainment do not allow licensed releases of AO titles on their consoles, this would have severely limited their potential customer base in the US as well. Originally scheduled for a North American and European release in July 2007, the game was suspended by Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive when it was refused classification in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and given an Adults Only (AO) rating in the United States.