Well its the first game in 10 years in the UK to be banned. That doesn't seem like bad going to me. The sensors banned it for its merciless brutality, not its gore content.
Thing is, unlike in the US, it is actually ILLEGAL to sell a rated game to anyone under the age limit. So, you can't sell an 18 to a 17 year old.
In the US, thats not law, but is just taken as practice in many stores anyway.
Manhunt isn't banned at all in the US (that I know of), it was just given an AO (adults only) rating and subsequently, most (if not all) stores refused to stock it on policy. EFFECTIVELY banning it. The reason they do this, is because stocking AO games opens then up to all sorts of porno games. That may not be a bad thing to you and me (theres loads of porn mags in shops anyway right? whats the difference) games STILL aren't as socially acceptable as say, movies. And are STILL thought of as a childs passtime by many. The idea of porn in these kids games? Oh, good gracious no! So they block AO games from their shelves.
Germany however, ban loads of things.
Whether I think it should be banned is a different matter. And I'm honestly not sure. Censors have their place to protect both innocence and moderation. The idea that NOTHING should be banned is a bit ridiculous to me.
Manhunt doesn't really interest me as a game anyway. That level of brutality is a bit disturbing, in any medium. The idea that people could see this as entertainment, well, makes me question really how far the human race has come from its savage past.
Sure, there are plenty of movies that have violence and graphic realism above and beyond manhunt, and those aren't banned. Although, with many movies, the action is implied, rather than actually shown. With games you see everything. So there is a difference there.
I dunno.