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Release: Oct 23, 2011 - Author: Once - Translator: Tony Montana
Kane & Lynch 2 isn't really good but it justifies a comparison anyway. Why's that? Is the European Version censored? Or even the International (US) Version?
Well, here's all clear so far. Neither the European nor the US Version are censored. Nevertheless, there's a different (one could also call it a special) version of K&L2 available. In the Japanese Version, the pixel filter has been removed from the entire game. But there's no need to hope to get a comepletely uncensored pixel-free version because that's not going to happen. Despite the lack of the pixel filter in the Japanese Version, other things have been censored. If anyone wants to take a look at the Japanese Version, I recommand the PlayStation Version because it's region free and works with any game console worldwide. But one needs to consider that the Japanese Version is only available in Japanese, there's no English audio track or subs. I can't say whether or not the Xbox 360 Version is region well. Compared are the uncensored (Xbox 360) PEGI Version and the Japanese (PlayStation 3) Version. Comment about the screens: Since the paragraph censoring, the screens from the Japanese Version are on the left.
Pixel Filter
The pixel filter is completely missing in the Japanese Version. That means cutscenes, script scenes and ingame scenes (headshots) are being presented without filter in the Japanese Version. Game If an enemy gets his head blown off, it's pixelated in the International but uncensored in the Japanese Version even though the gunshot is pretty small. As an example the opportunity to use people as human shields (but only enemies, civilians never can be used as shields) and take them out via headshot.
Chapter 1 - Welcome to Shanghai Cutscene Kane and Lynch storm a gangster's appartment. He and his girlfriend jump up and the chick's crotch is pixelated in the International Version. In the Japanese Version, it's not pixelated but she's isn't naked either because she's wearing panties.
Game Another pixelation during the chase of the gangster and his girl. In the Japanese Version, the girl is pixel-free again.
Cutscene At the end of the first chapter, Kane and Lynch apprehend the gangster on the run. He commits suicide after Kane accidentally shot his girl. In the International Version, the pixel filter begins after the gangster sliced his throat. In the Japanese Version, the entire scene is uncensored but the girl is wearing her panties again.
Chapter 3 - Blood, Sweat, & Tears (Blut, Schweiß und Tränen) Script Scene After the buddy kicked in the door, he gets shot in the head. In the International Version, the headshot is pixelated. In the Japanese Version, it's not.
Script Scene Another script scene in this level. A further buddy of the two main characters gets shot in the head and drops dead, a pixel filter is being used again.
Chapter 5 - Coming Home (Heimkehr) Cutscene Lynch presses an enemy's face in a frypan. The International Version uses a pixel filter here, the Japanese Version doesn't. After the enemy dropped dead, the head is pixelated as well.
Chapter 6 - A Thousand Cuts This level is unique in either of the versions. Due to the removed pixel filter in the Japanese Version, this level is completely pixel-free despite the fact that the two main characters got tortured and are naked while they're fighting across this chapter. But then again, there's the usual problem in the Japanese Version: Kane and Lynch are dressed. Lynch's dead girlfriend, who is being covered by a pixel filter in the International Version, is lying under a blanket in the Japanese Version. Furthermore the cuts and the blood on Kane's and Lynch's bodies have been reduced. More details can be found under "Censorship". Cutscene
Cutscene
Game
Cutscene
Chapter 7 - The Deal Cutscene After Kane and Lynch apprehended Glazer, he gets assassinated. The headshot is pixelated in the International Version but it's not in the Japanese Version - business as usual. After the cutscene, Glazer's head is also pixelated in the International Version.
Censorship Even though the pixel filter is missing in the Japanese Version, the version is still censored. It concerns the intro, the chapter "A Thousand Cuts" and the game itself. The ingame censorings (ragdoll, civilians and wounded enemies) are equal to the German Version. The intro and the chapter "A Thousand Cuts" are exclusively censored in the Japanese Version. Intro The first alterations due to censorship pop up in the intro. The cuts and blood on Kane's and Lynch's bodies have been reduced.
Chapter 6 - A Thousand Cuts The pixel filter (please see the refering paragraph) is missing here but the cuts and blood have been drastically reduced. This is the only alteration in the Japanese Version which isn't equal to the German Version. (As example some screens from the actual chapter and the two cutscenes. Further differences can be found in the paragraph "pixel filter".)
Censorship In General Ragdoll There's no ragdoll in the Japanese Version which means the dead bodies don't react / move anymore if they're being shot at.
Civilians In the Japanese Version, it's not possible to kill innocent bystanders. This concern the main game, the arcarde and the multiplayer mode. In addition to that, the statistics lack the fine for civilian casualties. (no statistics in the main game)
Wounded Enemies It might happen that enemies don't bite dust immediately. They're going down wounded instead. In the International Version, you can spare their suffering and pain by shooting them. In the Japanese Version instead, this is not an option because the shots don't influence the game in any way.
Comment about ragdoll and wounded enemies: Gunshot wounds still can be caused. The bullets don't just go through the dead bodies. |
International Version