When the ESRB tags a video game with an M rating, the purpose is to warn potential customers about suggestive and explicit content. These kinds of games have generated plenty of controversy, from titles like Night Trap to Manhunt 2. In recent years though, developers have started to put an innovative spin on the label. Games like Mortal Kombat and God of War are still out there, where excessive violence and gore are the main reason for an M rating. But some titles use it as a platform to tackle complex subject matter and explore new narrative boundaries. If this trend continues, it may be a huge stepping stone for the videogame medium. Here are just a few of the M-rated titles best representative of this new effort.
BioShock
The city of Rapture is often pointed out as the key highlight of 2007’s BioShock, and for good reason. This underwater utopia gone wrong featured Ayn Rand influences, genetically deformed citizens, and a distinctive art deco design. But the environment’s strongest asset was its unsettling and disturbing mood. This is due, in large part, to the game’s effective use of blood and violence. Watching a Big Daddy drill through a splicer at the beginning of the game is incredibly unnerving, and the encounter with Dr. Steinman just a short time later somehow manages to top that. At no point in the game do these elements feel excessive or tacked on. Rather, they perfectly compliment Rapture’s philosophical underpinnings and chaotic history.
Catherine
Catherine came out just last week, but it has made quite the impression in that short amount of time. The game’s strange premise and anime art style can be misleading, because at its core is a bold and distinctively mature story. Topics like love, commitment, and responsibility are featured throughout, making it a unique experience compared to most other games out there. Vincent’s swearing and the hyper-sexualized title character are largely responsible for the game’s M rating, but neither come off as inappropriate. The suggestive language lends a certain genuineness to the game considering Vincent’s situation, and Catherine’s sexual advances further heighten the tension in the protagonist’s complicated relationships.
Grand Theft Auto IV
The Grand Theft Auto franchise has had no problem earning M ratings for the past decade or so. Any time you buy a GTA game you know you’ll be getting plenty of swearing, violence, and drug references (just to name a few). But with Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar seemed to shift the focus from crazy fun to a surprisingly interesting and sincere narrative. The game tells the story of Niko Bellic, who moves to the US in search of the “American Dream.” Niko comes off as a genuinely good guy despite the situations he finds himself in over the course of the game. With this relatable protagonist taking the place of a drug kingpin or gang member, all of a sudden the explicit content in GTAIV doesn’t seem so egregious. Just like BioShock, it becomes the perfect compliment to the setting and story. In addition, it makes it easier to recognize the top notch writing that often reaches award-winning film quality.
Heavy Rain
On the back of the box for Heavy Rain is a simple question: How far would you go to stop a killer? After playing the game, it becomes obvious that the answer to that question is anything but simple. The story in Heavy Rain is an emotional rollercoaster, and for that to be achieved there must be some sense of believability. This means content such as nudity and sex, which isn’t often synonymous with video games, makes its way into Heavy Rain. But that’s because it suits the game, not because it may attract more curious consumers. In addition, this content is handled tastefully, making the case that video games can and should be treated with the same respect as film and television.
L.A. Noire
The groundbreaking facial technology has been L.A. Noire‘s biggest selling point, but even more impressive is its recreation of a true detective experience. Rockstar and Team Bondi managed to capture the realism behind that experience, and detectives often come across disturbing scenes in real life. Throughout the course of the game some grizzly murders are depicted, and there is no shortage of naked bodies with numerous cuts, bruises, and scars. But the nudity in this game isn’t about sneaking a peak, it’s about the cruel way in which each victim is killed. Not many games have attempted to confront that kind of subject matter in such a way, but hopefully more do in the future.
