Batman: Arkham Knight’s Mature Rating Explained by the ESRB
The Entertainment Software Rating Board's explanation as to why Batman: Arkham Knight is the first Caped Crusader title to get an M rating provides some insight on its gameplay and story.
The ESRB has posted its ruling on why Batman: Arkham Knight was slapped with an M for Mature rating, Polygon reports. For those in the dark about how these ratings work, every game sold on the market is labelled with a rating by the ESRB and given an appropriate age range for the title's intended players. For example, a game intended for young children will have the Early Childhood, or an EC rating, whereas a game with violence, minimal amounts of blood and rare occasions of strong language would likely be rated Teen (T). The first three games of the Batman: Arkham series were each given a T for Teen rating.
Here's the ESRB description of Batman: Arkham Knight, explaining why it was given an M rating (minor spoilers below):
Content Descriptors: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Rating Summary: This is an action-adventure game in which players primarily assume the role of Batman as he battles several villains spreading chaos across Gotham City. Players traverse a variety of locations around Gotham while battling thugs, examining crime scenes, and occasionally rescuing hostages. Players engage in melee-style combat using punches, kicks, and gadgets (e.g., batarangs, explosives). Enemies cry out in pain when struck, and some takedowns are highlighted by brief slow-motion effects and loud impact sounds. Some sequences allow players to use tank-like vehicles with machine gun turrets and rockets to shoot enemies; a vehicle's wheels are also used to torture an enemy in one sequence. Cutscenes depict characters getting shot (on and off camera) while restrained or unarmed. Large bloodstains/pools of blood appear in crime scenes and in the aftermath of violent acts; one room depicts a person torturing a character on a bloody operating table. During the course of the game, players can shoot unarmed characters and a hostage. Neon signs in a red-light district read “live nude girls” and “XXX.” The words “b*tch,” “gobsh*te,” and “a*s” appear in the dialogue.
It's interesting to hear that Batman is taking the Pet Semetary 2 route of threatening villains by using the Batmobile's spinning wheels. While there was blood before, we're guessing there's going to be a bit more this time around. The player's ability to "shoot unarmed characters and a hostage," is likely in reference to GameStop's exclusive Red Hood DLC. It could also be in reference to an in-game sequence where you play as the Arkham Knight (who uses guns) or perhaps some other Gotham super villain. And we're guessing that "gobsh*te" is said by Penguin.
Batman: Arkham Knight will launch on June 2 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
Does he look like a cop?