Board Thread:Mortal Kombat (Alternate Timeline)/@comment-34018739-20190327152005/@comment-25561256-20190401083543

@Dynamo68 Okay, so as far as I'm aware, there's only been three games ever released that were given an AO rating specifically for violent content related reasons: Thrill Kill, Manhunt 2, and Hatred. Every other title I could find that was released with that rating was due to sexual content related reasons. The following is an excerpt from the reasoning for giving Manhunt 2 an AO rating:

“On 19 June 2007, less than a month prior to the game's worldwide release, Manhunt 2 was rejected by both the BBFC and the IFCO. David Cooke, Director of the BBFC issued a statement, which read, in part;

Rejecting a work is a very serious action and one which we do not take lightly. Where possible we try to consider cuts or, in the case of games, modifications which remove the material which contravenes the Board's published Guidelines. In the case of Manhunt 2 this has not been possible. Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game. Although the difference should not be exaggerated the fact of the game's unrelenting focus on stalking and brutal slaying and the sheer lack of alternative pleasures on offer to the gamer, together with the different overall narrative context, contribute towards differentiating this submission from the original Manhunt game. That work was classified '18' in 2003, before the BBFC's recent games research had been undertaken, but was already at the very top end of what the Board judged to be acceptable at that category. Against this background, the Board's carefully considered view is that to issue a certificate to Manhunt 2, on either platform, would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public.”

It seems to me that Mortal Kombat could indeed be violent enough already, but games getting an AO rating seem to be more about the intent and context of the violence. Such as the player performing graphically violent maneuvers with precision in extreme detail, rather than pressing four or five buttons and watching a short animation play out (ie: fatalities). Also mentioned is that in Manhunt 2, there's nothing else to do in the entire game besides brutally murdering and torturing other characters, whereas in MK there's plenty of other content to explore.

Maybe this will clear up your question a bit. I was curious about it myself.