What is this game rated?

[raum215]

I really hope this doesn't carry an E rating.
And if it carries a T Rating, I may fear for the future.

Anyone play a bit or hear something that may indicate it's rating?
All I have seen so far is combat.

[Pibbman]

It'll probably carry a T rating. If it carries a M rating, that's even better!

[Enzeru]

It'll probably carry a T rating. If it carries a M rating, that's even better!
This. As long as ATLUS USA doesn't add 999 ill-fitting profanities to make it so.

[Kenji]

It's a tough call. On one hand, it's cute little sprite-based graphics. On the other, I hear some pretty horrible stuff happens in this game. I mean, more horrible than your average MegaTen.

Honest truth is that very few, if any, of the MegaTen series really deserve the M rating. Sure, it's among the most mature games on this side of old school Silent Hill, but there's really not that much in the games that should be restricted... oh well, I'm sure it'll be rated M for the same reasons all other MegaTens are rated M: all the things that we in the West like to shelter our children from that the Japanese seem to think isn't so bad.

I honestly hope nobody actually will have their opinion swayed by what rating the ESRB gives this game... :roll:

[dragonlife29]

Not knowing much about the game's story and how it unfolds, I would guess "T," but hope it's "M" just so I can own my first "M" rated DS game :P That said, it is pretty hard to guess [a rating] since the game's style and setting could belie its macabre goodness.

[Pibbman]

yeah there really isn't that many M rated games on NDS...what is there 2-3?

[Enzeru]

Now that I think about it, it might be rated M because of *slight DS spoilers*the meters indicating when a given person is going to die.

[cj iwakura]

Devil Summoner PS2 really didn't deserve an M rating.

[Ike.]

yeah there really isn't that many M rated games on NDS...what is there 2-3?

Seven. (http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A11075831%2Cp_esrb_age_rating-bin%3A00060{Mature{&page=1)

[xHaseox]

I'd guess a Teen rating, but Mature would make me smile and probably draw more attention.

Not many Mature titles on Nintendo platforms.

[Onion of Mystery]

It's not rated anything yet. When it does get rated, that information will be readily available.

[Gen Eric Gui]

ITT: We only want to play M rated games because it makes us feel grown up.

Who cares what the -rating- is? I mean seriously. I just care that it's going to be a good game or not.

[tross]

yeah there really isn't that many M rated games on NDS...what is there 2-3?

Seven. (http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A11075831%2Cp_esrb_age_rating-bin%3A00060{Mature{&page=1)

I own RE DS, and plan on getting GTA:CW at some point in the future. I have never paid full price for a GTA game(I got the ps2 collection in a box set for about $40 in total), and the ds game obviously doesn't look as good as anything on the ps2(I still don't own GTA 4, but may wait a long time for that). The only reason I'm actually interested in a ds GTA game is that I heard that it has as much content as the ps2 games, but with an even larger map.

Sorry, I kind of got off topic, but the point is that M rated games do exist on the ds. I would have thought that there would be more than seven though. Oh well. I don't really care what a game's rating is, as long as I enjoy it. If I did care, I don't think I would have 40 ds games.

[Zeta_Nova]

Well at most, with a theme like this. It's sure to garner an M rating

[dragonlife29]

ITT: We only want to play M rated games because it makes us feel grown up.
That's really what it comes off to you as? More like, "ITT, we guess for the hell of it."

It's not rated anything yet. When it does get rated, that information will be readily available.Onion of Mystery has used Serious Business!

Thread's Fun Points have decreased by 15!

dragonlife29 casts Silence!

dragonlife29 has insufficient MP!

='(

[raum215]

No, I don't want to only play M rated games to feel grownup. Many games I have are rated E or E+ and are great the way they are. I just want to not have THIS game "kiddied" up because it is on the DS in the US. In Japan, is not exactly cheerful to be sealed off in an area plagued by demons, even if some may appear harmless. It is even less cheerful to be trapped in such a city awaiting nuclear attack from a staunch ally after a coup by para-military demonic extremists.

If you think you can make that theme in a game rated E for everyone, or if nothing happens that causes someone to question stepping above the T rating - then frankly the game doesn't really return to the Dark Theme of the SMT game that forms the backdrop of this one.

T rating is defined by:
"Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. "

With demon auctions (simulated gambling), the SMT language standard, and a little on screen violence - I imagine they can look forward to this rating.

However, some of the content of the very first game pushed this limit before you ever engaged the enemy in combat. And from what I understand, there is content like that in this game, as well.

There is perhaps a better way to state my question "Is there content in this game that would compromise a T rating?" Personally, I hope so - even if it is still rated T just because it is on the DS - which seems to be what they do sometimes. Ultimately it is not about the letter on the box for me - it is about the fact I want the game to be serious and tense and dark like a demonic invasion and pending nuclear strike would be.

[ceifadorx]

i dont care about the rate, i can play all lol. But i prefer mature games.

[Kenji]

Well, if this game does end up with a T, then I'd say "it's about damn time" (though it'd more likely indicate the ESRB let themselves get deceived rather than the ESRB loosening up)

Okay, I'll have to qualify that.

I really don't think that MegaTen features anything that is that unsuitable for a teenage audience. I also think that the deeper questions that the games explore will go over the average teen's head, but that's what a layered plot is for, right?

Let's take Evangelion, for instance. At its core, it's a character study of the growth of a boy and some questions of what it is to exist in a society. Sure, most of the fans don't really get this and instead get wrapped up in the conspiracy-laden plot or religious references that ultimately mean nothing, but that's why it's "entertainment" instead of a "socio-philosophical treatise."

It's the same with MegaTen. At its core, the stories are about choices and the lack of a "right" decision but the necessity of making a choice anyway (imo). The demonic apocalypse is window dressing that makes it interesting and compelling. Any teen could get the demonic apocalypse bit, but it might take them growing up a little to get into the political implications of the story and really understand them.

But, again, it seems far more likely that the presence of the occult at all will get this an M, just like every other MegaTen that comes to the US. And I have heard from those who've played it that some genuinely disturbing things, more in the vein of old school SMT, happen.

I also hope nobody thinks that Atlus USA would actually tone down a game, with their recent track record, just to make a T rating...

[King Frost]

I think you are right. Most people in North America don't think too much about the real things, and prefer to have a path well defined in front of them. No wonder why they fear games like Shin Megami Tensei, especially the main series, where real questions are being pondered and where there is no real perfect answer to them.

See, Nocturne in Japan is rated "For all ages" while in North America, it's a M game. Apparently, it's the only game in this situation and it perfectly illustrate what I'm trying to say.

[slayn]

Nocturne is rated M because you're cavorting around with demons and this country has a pretty severe Christian lean.

[Olethros]

^ Agreed. The religious right wing is scary business that most companies don't want to risk calling to arms. Understandably so. I could go on and on about this, but I'm too tired and I'm sure nobody wants to read that anyway.

[xHaseox]

Didn't Lux-Pain manage to get a T? That title has themes like mass suicide and violent animal torture.

[dragonlife29]

Didn't Lux-Pain manage to get a T? That title has themes like mass suicide and violent animal torture.I want this game, too.

Animal torture? ='( Man, hopefully it's not too in-your-face.

[xHaseox]

Didn't Lux-Pain manage to get a T? That title has themes like mass suicide and violent animal torture.I want this game, too.

Animal torture? ='( Man, hopefully it's not too in-your-face.

According to the hands-on GamesRadar did, nothing is actually shown.

I doubt there is a title on the DS yet that can top Theresia. Now THAT is some twisted stuff.

[Jaxx-Leviathan]

I believe it actually has to be pretty mind-destroyingly macabre or brimming with gore to achieve an M-rating. I'm pretty confident this game will receive a T. Tops.

[Gen Eric Gui]

I believe it actually has to be pretty mind-destroyingly macabre or brimming with gore to achieve an M-rating.

Have you -played- Persona 4? It's M and it's hardly even close to either of those things.



I doubt there is a title on the DS yet that can top Theresia. Now THAT is some twisted stuff.


True dat. Theresia is MESSED. UP.

[Sphinx316]

I hope it carries the M rateing that the other games have..Then again it is on the DS sooo it's iffy...

[tross]

I believe it actually has to be pretty mind-destroyingly macabre or brimming with gore to achieve an M-rating.

Have you -played- Persona 4? It's M and it's hardly even close to either of those things.



I doubt there is a title on the DS yet that can top Theresia. Now THAT is some twisted stuff.


True dat. Theresia is MESSED. UP.

Really? Never heard of it. Though after you two mentioned it, I looked it up on metacritic. It didn't receive a very high score, but metacritic seems to be pretty harsh when it comes to ratings for anything that doesn't belong to a well known series. It received a similar average to the Izuna games, and I loved those. Anyways, now I'm interested.

May I inquire as to whether or not this game still exists(something tells me it isn't common), and if it's worth checking out if I can actually find it? Anything that apparently can't be topped by any other ds game, in terms of mature content, sounds intriguing.

[FewtureMD]

I don't really care what rating this game gets. The fact that a SMT game is being released in the US with the brand intact, in this day and age, is definitely uplifting. I mean, Demikids was a decent game, but the fact that it was part of SMT was completely ignored. Stop complaining about the rating and just be glad that Atlus is bringing the game here.

[Majeh905]

:agree:

If the rating was EC, I would still play it :-P

[FewtureMD]

sorry, thought this was the general dicussion thread, my red bull must be wearing off. I just think that a game can be good regardless of the rating. I've already reserved this at gamestop, and one day one, the rating will be the LAST thing on my mind.

[Sharkboyyy!]

While I'm not exactly worried about what the game is rated, I'll admit I'd prefer an 'M' rating. When I play a Shin Megami Tensei title, I'm expecting something one step above other games in terms of disturbing points in the overall plot and references of to the occult. These things are what sparked my interest in the series and are the same things that keep me playing, at least story-wise. While they can certainly be accomplished under a 'T' rating, I just don't want to see anything toned down or held back, and I trust it won't be, as Atlus has never been known to disappoint when it comes to localization and keeping things how they should be.

[TheMagicHat]

It's probably because I'm old enough not to give a damn about ratings, but I'm with those who say it shouldn't matter what a game is rated. From what I can tell, "M" means you can just get away with a bit more.

Bring on the blood, I say! :devil:

[Enzeru]

:agree:

If the rating was EC, I would still play it :-P

I don't think I've EVER seen a game with that rating.

[Azriel Crusnik]

It's probably because I'm old enough not to give a damn about ratings, but I'm with those who say it shouldn't matter what a game is rated. From what I can tell, "M" means you can just get away with a bit more.

Bring on the blood, I say! :devil:


Yup. because when a game get's an M rating or look's like it's going to get an M the producer's are like #### it let's make it more bloody, It's almost as if the rule's no longer apply to them, witch is pretty damn cool.

[dungeon_man]

I think the religious references cause all SMT games to get an M rating due to how uptight our country is about such things. Many of them did not deserve the M rating, IMO.

With regards to Devil Survivor, I have no personal interest because I'm old enough to buy it if it's rated M and I'm mature enough to know it will still be a good game if gets a lower rating. However, it might be nice to see it get a T just so it can sell better. I'd like to see more Atlus-developed RPGs on the DS.

[dunno001]

I think the religious references cause all SMT games to get an M rating due to how uptight our country is about such things. Many of them did not deserve the M rating, IMO.

With regards to Devil Survivor, I have no personal interest because I'm old enough to buy it if it's rated M and I'm mature enough to know it will still be a good game if gets a lower rating. However, it might be nice to see it get a T just so it can sell better. I'd like to see more Atlus-developed RPGs on the DS.
IIRC, the SMT games didn't start seeing M ratings until the PS2. Persona 1 was given K-A (now E as per ESRB's site), and P2 was T.

As for what Devil Survivor is rated, I really don't mind whatever it is. I'll still be buying it! (As in I'm not cancelling the preorder.)

[dungeon_man]

I think the religious references cause all SMT games to get an M rating due to how uptight our country is about such things. Many of them did not deserve the M rating, IMO.

With regards to Devil Survivor, I have no personal interest because I'm old enough to buy it if it's rated M and I'm mature enough to know it will still be a good game if gets a lower rating. However, it might be nice to see it get a T just so it can sell better. I'd like to see more Atlus-developed RPGs on the DS.
IIRC, the SMT games didn't start seeing M ratings until the PS2. Persona 1 was given K-A (now E as per ESRB's site), and P2 was T.


True, but didn't they modify some of the demon names in the PS1 games? That might have accounted for the lower ratings, at least on P1.

[Enzeru]

IIRC, the SMT games didn't start seeing M ratings until the PS2. Persona 1 was given K-A (now E as per ESRB's site), and P2 was T.
Didn't they re-rate P1 T?

[dunno001]

IIRC, the SMT games didn't start seeing M ratings until the PS2. Persona 1 was given K-A (now E as per ESRB's site), and P2 was T.
Didn't they re-rate P1 T?
If so, it's not on their site (http://www.esrb.org). The PSP version is not yet listed, and the PS1 version is still showing up as E.

[Enzeru]

If so, it's not on their site (http://www.esrb.org). The PSP version is not yet listed, and the PS1 version is still showing up as E.
Hmm. Teaches you not to trust uncited stuff on Wikipedia, right? xD

[raiku]

it might get a M based on cursing at least

[Inzaghi]

The rating came back as Teen for all that Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Blood, and Partial Nudity.

[Enzeru]

^That'll be a relief to my parents, at least. xD

[Zacewing]

I can imagine why some SMT games are rated M (See: Persona 3, Persona 4, and the Digital Devil Saga), but I don't think this one deserves an M-rating. T at the most.

[Enzeru]

^I can't really tell what you're trying to say about Devil Survivor because of Inzaghi's post, but I would not agree with DDS mainly because of it's theme of CANNIBALISM and there's a fair amount of blood in there, IMO.

[Zacewing]

^I can't really tell what you're trying to say about Devil Survivor because of Inzaghi's post, but I would not agree with DDS mainly because of it's theme of CANNIBALISM and there's a fair amount of blood in there, IMO.

What I meant was, I can see why some SMT games have an M rating.

Persona 3 - Well, for one, they shoot themselves in the head to summon their Personas. The Priestess shadow is naked from the waist up, and she supposedly summons shadows through childbirth.

Persona 4 - Marukyu Striptease. 'Nuff said.

Digital Devil Saga - Like you said, the whole cannibalism thing, and the vast amounts of blood and gore. (One of DDS2's boxarts shows all of the characters covered in blood)

I can see why those games were rated M, but Devil Survivor deserves nothing higher than a T rating.

[cj iwakura]

I never understood why Devil Summoner: RKvTSA got an M rating. I've played T games with more violence than that.

[dungeon_man]

The rating came back as Teen for all that Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Blood, and Partial Nudity.

Thanks for the update.

[Enzeru]

I can see why those games were rated M, but Devil Survivor deserves nothing higher than a T rating.
Ahh. I thought you were saying DDS etc. didn't deserve an M rating. The only SMT game that I've played that I think doesn't deserve an M rating is P3. The worst thing in that game is Mara, IMO.

[Ark]

It's a tough call. On one hand, it's cute little sprite-based graphics. On the other, I hear some pretty horrible stuff happens in this game. I mean, more horrible than your average MegaTen.

Honest truth is that very few, if any, of the MegaTen series really deserve the M rating. Sure, it's among the most mature games on this side of old school Silent Hill, but there's really not that much in the games that should be restricted... oh well, I'm sure it'll be rated M for the same reasons all other MegaTens are rated M: all the things that we in the West like to shelter our children from that the Japanese seem to think isn't so bad.

I honestly hope nobody actually will have their opinion swayed by what rating the ESRB gives this game... :roll:

Its mainly the demon design that makes the game M rated. Honestly some demons are a little too "anatomically correct" in design to even give it an T rating.

[Ark]

I can see why those games were rated M, but Devil Survivor deserves nothing higher than a T rating.
Ahh. I thought you were saying DDS etc. didn't deserve an M rating. The only SMT game that I've played that I think doesn't deserve an M rating is P3. The worst thing in that game is Mara, IMO.

Depiction of genitalia is an instant M rating, just like movies. And Mara is literally a walking penis.

[Saburo Hikari]

it might get a M based on cursing at leastI think the ESRB is starting to become more lenient about that. inFamous is rated Teen, yet if I remember, has all of the curses except "f**k".

[Saburo Hikari]

Sorry for the double post, but Atlus posted the cover for the game.

http://www.atlus.com/res/devilsurvivor_boxart_small_stroke.jpg

Rated "T" for "Teen" guys! Guess there's no more Mara? :P

[Lusankya]

Oh, the English version of the cover is censored.
Yuzu now wears a bra under her top and Haru's dress covers her sideboob (not that you could see anything delicate in the Japanese version).

[Kenji]

Definitely so on Haru's dress.

I'd say no with Yuzu, since all fanart I've seen with her (that has clothes in it) shows that same blue-and-white striped bra.

[Decept]

but the side boob is still there...

[Iris]

Yuzu's bra is clearly visible in the banner on these forums.

[dungeon_man]

Yuzu's bra has been clearly visible since the game was announced in Famitsu last year. She is not censored on the box art.

However, sideboob girl has clearly been edited. Not a big deal, and probably necessary for something that wants to be displayed on store shelves in the US. I would prefer that her in-game art be unmodified, but it wouldn't hurt the game if it was changed there too.

Any word on the situation there? (1,000 words would be better.)

[Lusankya]

My bad, somehow I thought Yuzu wouldn't wear a bra on the Japanese cover.
And as I already saw such kind of censorship I jumped to conclusions too fast.
So it is really a very small change, but it still feels unnecessary.

Edit: It is funny, that the cover, which you can see at the end of the character trailers for example, doesn't have any censoring.

[Eggn0g]

Why do the SMT games get such high ratings in America anyway? I'm just comparing to European ratings here, but no SMT game has ever recieved the highest rating (18+) over here, while quite a few of them get M ratings in America. What's up with that? :question:

Just for comparison's sake - the DDS series and Persona 3+4 got 16+, and Nocturne got 12+.

[Yukichin]

Why do the SMT games get such high ratings in America anyway? I'm just comparing to European ratings here, but no SMT game has ever recieved the highest rating (18+) over here, while quite a few of them get M ratings in America. What's up with that? :question:

Just for comparison's sake - the DDS series and Persona 3+4 got 16+, and Nocturne got 12+.

Possibly because America seems to be a lot touchier about what gets sent over here? We seem to get offended easily -_-;;

[Teamcaptain]

We Americans are more picky.