10 Banned PS2 Games Too Controversial For Their Time

10. The Punisher

Developed by Volition (who’d go on to make the Saints Row series), The Punisher saw players as titular antihero Frank Castle hunting down members of the Russian mob, mafia, and yakuza to enact some bloody justice. The game even featured cameos from other Marvel characters Black Widow, Iron Man, Matt Murdoch, and Nick Fury.

Despite selling over a million copies on release and being received positively by critics, it was the game’s interrogation sequences that sparked controversy. Giving players the ability to utilise an assortment of brutal means to torture enemies to gain information before killing them (with notable mentions including a power drill, rhino, and a shark), the game almost never saw the light of day in the US and UK.

Initially earning an Adults Only rating by the ESRB, meaning it couldn’t be released on Sony’s platform, these sequences were changed to black and white in order for its rating to be reduced. Similarly, the BBFC in the UK also required the camera to zoom out at these points for the game to pass with an 18 certificate. And in Germany the game was placed on a list which marked it harmful to young people.