After temporarily suspending the game following the assignment of an AO rating, Take-Two and Rockstar Games have revealed that Manhunt 2 has indeed been modified and that this new version, which has been rated M by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), will finally hit store shelves on October 31.

The game will be available for PS2, PSP and Nintendo's Wii. Unfortunately, Rockstar would not provide details on exactly what has been removed or toned down from the original AO version of the title.

"Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we're glad it can finally be appreciated as a gaming experience. We love the horror genre. Manhunt 2 is a powerful piece of interactive story telling that is a unique video game experience. We think horror fans will love it," commented Sam Houser founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games.

The game, which the ESRB now deems suitable for ages 17 and up, has been labeled with the following content descriptors: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs.

This of course is not the first time that publisher Take-Two has essentially been forced to alter a game so that it can avoid the dreaded AO rating (most retailers won't sell AO titles and all three console makers don't support them). Following the "Hot Coffee" scandal, Take-Two and Rockstar modified Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to remove the infamous sex mini-game. The move cost the company millions, as it happened after the title had been on store shelves for some time.

While the U.S. will now receive a modified version of Manhunt 2, across the pond in the U.K. the game is still banned. Take-Two did appeal the ban recently; however, the process could take months.