The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) have issued ratings for a broad quantity of upcoming Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS releases, including Chrono Trigger for Virtual Console, ExerBeat for Wii, and a duo of Transformers: Dark of the Moon titles for Nintendo DS.
The latest ratings, categorised alphabetically by format, are as follows:
Wii
* Chrono Trigger, Square Enix (Virtual Console)
Rating: Everyone 10+
Content descriptors: Mild Fantasy Violence
Rating summary: This is an action role-playing game in which players assume the role of a young adventurer who travels through time to save the world from evil forces. From a top-down perspective, players use swords, crossbows, and magic spells (e.g., lightning bolts, ice strikes) to engage fantastical creatures in turn-based combat; enemies blink and disappear when defeated. One scene depicts characters strapped to small guillotines inside a jail cell; during another sequence, a character sacrifices himself (i.e., turns to dust) to save other members of his party.
* ExerBeat, Namco Bandai
Rating: Everyone
Content descriptors: No Descriptors
Rating summary: This is a rhythm-based fitness game in which players engage in exercise-themed mini-games. Players earn points for matching on-screen cues as they perform various dance moves, aerobic exercises, and martial arts movements.
Nintendo 3DS
* BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II, Aksys Games
Rating: Teen
Content descriptors: Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
Rating summary: This is a fighting game in which players control one of several 13th century characters from the City of Katugsuchi in one-on-one fight matches. Players punch, kick, and use special attacks against opponents until the other character’s health meter is depleted. Each character has individualized special attacks, including sword swipes, gunfire, magic, and electrocution. Characters often react to injury by staggering back with a moan, groan, or strained breath. During fight sequences, some female characters’ breasts jiggle, while other characters make sexually suggestive remarks (e.g., ‘Boing! Boing! Mmm . . . Your boobies are still the best!’). A ‘Gallery Mode’ includes still images of female character—in provocative poses—wearing outfits that expose a lot of cleavage; a couple of women’s outfits suddenly disappear, revealing near-topless images. In one cutscene, a character’s face and clothing is streaked with blood. Characters frequently use language such as ‘sh*t,’ ‘a*shole,’ and ‘b*tch’ in the dialogue.
* Dream Trigger 3D, D3Publisher
Rating: Everyone
Content descriptors: Mild Fantasy Violence
Rating summary: This is an action/shooting game in which players eliminate fantastical enemies from various dream worlds. Players earn points by shooting colorful projectiles at cubes, triangles, and butterfly-like creatures. End-of-level bosses react to damage by losing health; enemies disappear amid brief bursts of light.
* Reel Fishing 3D Paradise, Natsume Inc.
Rating: Everyone
Content descriptors: No Descriptors
Rating summary: This is a fishing simulation game in which players use various lures and reels to catch fish in 15 different locales. Players can also design fresh or saltwater aquariums to feed and care for prized catches.
Nintendo DS
* Junior Island Adventure, Maximum Family Games
Rating: Everyone
Content descriptors: No Descriptors
Rating summary: This is a collection of 18 mini-games in which players help a young boy search an island for a lost artifact. Mini-games include counting objects, sorting multicolored insects, matching scrambled cards, and racing a boat.
* Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Autobots
Rating: Everyone 10+
Content descriptors: Fantasy Violence
Rating summary: This is an action game in which players assume the role of robot-like aliens (Autobots) from the Transformers franchise. Players explore urban environments (in Robot, Vehicle, or Stealth Force mode) and use lasers, energy swords, machine guns, and rockets to defend targets and dispatch enemy robots. When in robot form, players’ character can also punch and kick robots in closer hand-to-hand combat. Battles are sometimes accompanied by gunfire sounds and small explosions; enemies fall to the ground and disappear when defeated.
* Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Decepticons
Rating: Everyone 10+
Content descriptors: Fantasy Violence
Rating summary: This is an action game in which players assume the role of robot-like aliens (Decepticons) from the Transformers franchise. Players explore urban environments (in Robot, Vehicle, or Stealth Force mode) and use lasers, energy swords, machine guns, and rockets to defend targets and dispatch enemy robots. When in robot form, players’ character can also punch and kick robots in closer hand-to-hand combat. Battles are sometimes accompanied by gunfire sounds and small explosions; enemies fall to the ground and disappear when defeated.
