Ninja Gaiden Censored For European Release

Thanks to GamesIndustry.Biz for its article confirming that Tecmo's Xbox title Ninja Gaiden has been censored for European release, seemingly "to remove certain violent aspects such as decapitations." According to the piece, these changes "have been removed apparently at the request of European censors, and the final PAL code for the game has been granted a 16 rating by pan-European ratings body PEGI, which rates games for a wide range of European countries (including the notoriously censorious German market)." However, it seems "the actual impact of the change to the game is minor... and does little to detract from the well-received game - which was the best selling single-platform title in the USA last month." Update: 04/22 14:42 GMT by S : Simon Vivien explains what commenters also mention: "Germany still uses USK, which is another rating board dedicated to their market. The rest of Europe indeeds use PEGI. A 16+ PEGI rating doesn't especially mean a 16+ USK rating - as was witnessed in our latest shooter, Painkiller, who received a 16+ PEGI rating but was banned in Germany."

Not altogether scandalous

[wizarddc]

This is the equivilant of movie producers removing blood, titties and cursing after they get a NC-17, trying to at least sneak in an R. It just so happens that the Euros are censoring this when the US isn't. I don't see anything that big a deal about this, except for the fact that this might be the first major time this has happened.

Re:Slashdot censors too. Watch this.

[MCC-SMART]

It exists no cencoring in Europe. What in Europe exists is legal protection for children and young persons. When you are 18+ it's no problem to buy your non-defused version at retailer which imports the game's US-Version. Costs some Euros more, but so what? P.S. It is not Europe, which established an Gestapo with a law called Patriot Act I+II...

Re:bah censorship...

[GregChant]

Obviously, the EU hasn't discovered the real ultimate power [realultimatepower.net] yet...

Re:GAH!

[WormholeFiend]

you dont know what "fo shizzle" means, do you?

Re:bah censorship...

[Singletoned]

Europe is (as always) more liberal than America in these respects. It's just (as always) Germany ruining it for the rest of us.

Re:Great Game

[Xzzy]

My only complaint with the game was the long recycle time when you died, it seemed completely unneccessary.

And considering the steep learning curve of the game, many people die a LOT.

Playing that boring death animation, fading to the game over, selecting "yes", then waiting for a reload translates to a lot of wasted time. Even worse if you're stuck on a fight that leads in with a cutscene.. ugh.

Re:Great Game

[j.bellone]

Did you ever notice that you absolutely cannot quit to the title screen once you're in a game? I've tired several ways, the damn exit thing on the menu just exits the menus.

Re:All your nazi are belong to us

[MCC-SMART]

You can't import a Wolf3D-guide, because it contains illegal signs. It is not allowed in Germany to show things like the SS-sign or the swastika. These signs had been used by the Nazis and where often used by the Neonazi-groups to identificate thmselves. In Germany it is not allowed to rush against minorities, jews or foreigners in a brainless way (like the Noenazis ones). So these organisations and groups are forbidden, and so their signs are forbidden. Medias (books, films, magazines, games etc.) which contain these signs for non-artistic way, are forbidden too. The Wolf3D-Guide contains SS-signs and swastikas.