Classification Board announces Wii U console title is first game to receive adult classification; title will be rated R18+ for high impact violence.
The upcoming Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge for Nintendo's Wii U console has become the first video game in Australia to receive the newly-introduced R18+ adult rating for games.
According to the Classification Board of Australia, the Team Ninja-developed action adventure title received an R18+ for "high impact bloody violence". In the game, players assume the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a cursed ninja battling a terrorist organisation.
"Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge contains violence that is high in impact because of its frequency, high definition graphics, and emphasis on blood effects," Classification Board director Lesley O'Brien said in a statement.
The new guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games--including the R18+ rating--came into effect on January 1, 2013.
According to the Classification Board, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge was submitted for rating by Nintendo on January 3, 2013. The rating decision was made by the Board today. The Board revealed the game was classified M (17+) by the Entertainment Rating Software Board (ESRB) in the United States and 18+ by the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) Scheme in Europe and the United Kingdom.
For more on the new R18+ adult classification for games, check out this GameSpot feature.
Laura Parker is the Associate Editor of GameSpot Australia. She loves adventure games, sparkly stuff, Trivial Pursuit, cake, Master Chief, earthworms, and rhetorical questions. She once stole a sandwich from Peter Molyneux.
folks you all seem think that the wii u version is the same version on xbox 360 and ps3, ive have looked at videos on youtube and read players reviews on the wii u version, they all say its has been fixed up, and plays more like ninja gaiden 2, wii u have more weapons you know can up grade your weapons etc, this isnt a MA to R, its R because of the bloody content, you now decapitations people up with different type of weapons with a huge amount of blood spray
1 Like Ninja Gaiden 3 should of got a rated U for unsatisfactory on the Xbox 360/PS3 I haven't played the Wii U version, but my ninja spirit has died for this one just hope that Medal Gear Rising can fire my ninja spirit again I mean cyborg ninja spirit lol.
You know what, I don't care what you say, this game HASN'T GOT ENOUGH BLOOD displayed...I'm sitting here eating tomato soup and I don't feel any loss of appetite, so OBVIOUSLY it hasn't fully earned it's M-rating!
@sam628 Nintendo have always had the odd mature game, I do not see things changing this gen either. Predominantly the wii u will consist of kiddie titles.
1 Like High impact? LOL is this an action figure box ad for little children? Reminds me of Buzz Lightyear's "Karate Chop Action!" -_-
1 Like @Sefrix limbs removal probably affected it, like Mortal Kombat was banned because of the bone breaking scene - also to them high impact. :p
So glad I didn't get this game for my PS3 or 360 earlier. Just ordered it for Wii U. Would have really sucked to have a bad taste in my mouth (so to speak) for one of my favourite game franchises ever.
3 Like Congrats Australia. Now you can CHOOSE to not buy this POS game just like the rest of the world.
Not that anyone is likely to be buying the console it's out on anyways...
2 Like @maximumbarmage
1.Made many sales here
2.Its a port of a game thats out on ps3/360, they just bumped it up as an excuse to use it
3.I seen better trolls
1 Like america needs R+27 games. games that only people over the age of 26 can buy.
that way no people in college (even older college students) can buy games that might make them go on a shooting rampage at a college.
@NTM23 @buccomatic or mabe America can just be like most other countries and not go on shooting rampages?
This comment has been deleted
3 Like On a Nintendo console, too, and we all know how "kiddy" their consoles are said to be.
@nintendoboy16 That's because it's only kiddie games that sell on Nintendo hardware. All Pokemon and Mario and little else. Anything even remotely mature bombs hard. Nintendo need to just know their place and stick to the audience they appeal to, dwindling though it is.
2 Like @maximumbarmage Why? This is a common criticism they have had since the N64 era. Not to mention, there have been a few mature games that sold well on their systems. On the N64, there was Acclaim's Turok and Rare's Perfect Dark and on the GameCube, REmake and RE4 did decently there too.
This is part of the reason why they are publishing Bayonetta 2 for f*** sake.
@nintendoboy16 What you said just made sense. Why have a 18+ game on a console that is mostly have kids games. No offence
1 Like @flameon12346 Oh, I don't know, to actually appeal to adults, something Nintendo has tried since the N64 era (and has been a common criticism with them since then)? God forbid Nintendo tries to get this audience, something Sony/MS have had for years.
Ubisoft's free-to-play fighting game based on Starz's original television series gets new Australian adult rating for "high-impact bloody violence". [UPDATE: Microsoft responds.]
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