I'm trying to work up a list with games that have curious ESRB ratings. I'm trying to think of games that are:

+ Completely mis-rated
+ Have ESRB descriptors that overlook certain things
+ Were censored to receive a lower rating
+ Have multiple versions with conflicting ratings
+ Ratings that are actually justified
+ Ratings bumped up by something idiotic and unnecessary
+ Ratings that were changed before release
+ Ratings that seem silly in today's world due to newer, more realistic games
+ Ratings that just seem interesting for one reason or another

So far the games I can think of that are in my own collection that are ripe for conversation are:

+ The 3rd Birthday (PSP, M)
- the fact that Aya clothes tear off as she takes damage was stupid, pointless and pretty much betrays the essence of the character.
+ Battle Arena Toshinden (PS1, T)
- fighting games are usually slapped with Teen regardless, but I can't help but think Toshinden could have gotten away with E+10 if it existed then.
+ Breath of Fire II (GBA, E)
- can't help but think the church scene with Tiga should have made this a E+10.
+ Breath of Fire IV (PS1, T)
- about five scenes were censored outside of Japan to get a T, I think the game could have still gotten it with them.
+ Castlevania: Bloodlines (GEN, GA)
- the ratings descriptor doesn't mention the few uses of blood in this one.
+ Castlevania: Lament of Innocence (PS2, M)
- anyone think this game could have gotten away with a T if the optional Forgotten One battle wasn't in it...?
+ Castlevania: Mirror of Fate (3DS, M)
- I see why this got a M but a handheld CV getting a M instead of a T is kind of noteworthy.
+ Capcom Classics Mini Mix (GBA, T)
- Mighty Final Fight is so cartoony and Final Fight One is more realistic but it gets an E on the GBA. Also Strider has a small amount of blood when enemies die.
+ Cave Story 3D (3DS, E10)
- Kind of agree with this being E+10... has a lot of death in it...
+ Doom (GBA, T)
- the blood was turned green and gibs removed to get T, but at point this was released Doom in unaltered form seemed kind of tame.
+ Doom II (GBA, T)
- the blood was turned green and gibs removed to get T, but at point this was released Doom in unaltered form seemed kind of tame.
+ Dr. Mario (GBA, E)
- Glad this got an E, but the whole game is a giant drug reference and it was once controversal.
+ Final Fantasy Origins (PS1, T), Final Fantasy (PSP, E10), Final Fantasy II (PSP, T)
- Seriously, these games are SO tame I'd let younger people play them.
+ Final Fight One (GBA, E)
- Seriously? Capcom Classic Mini Mix gets a Teen and this gets an E? WTF?
+ Killer Instinct (SNES, T)
- Basically got a T because the fatalities suck. It would probably be bumped up if re-released today.
+ Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES, KA), Kirby's Dream Collection (Wii, E10)
- I don't think I need to explain this one... Zero is pretty famous.
+ Legend of Legaia (PS1, E)
- not to be a prude but I think a T at most. Some of the arts moves can be pretty visceral.
+ Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (PSP, T)
- while some will disagree, the Bromides and hot springs scenes are kinda pointless. If I wanted something like this I'd go on the internet.
+ Mega Man 8 (PS1/SAT, KA)
- anyone think the Mega Man getting nearly electrocuted to death is kind of torturous?
+ Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X (PSP, E10)
- Day of Sigma video is probably responsible for higher rating.
+ Mega Man V (GB, example of old Nintendo religion rules), Mega Man X3 (SNES, example of Nintendo post ESRB)
- Basically just an example of not being to refer to God before ESRB and it being cool after it.
+ Mega Man X4 (PS1/SAT, KA)
- A few scenes of blood without getting a Teen. I still agree with the rating however as it's not splashed through the game.
+ Mega Man Zero Collection (NDS, E)
- if you want to get technical they couldn't remove all the blood from the game and it was a pretty stupid addition to begin with.
+ Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (pre ESRB non censored cinematics), Ninja Gaiden Trilogy (censored cinematics)
- kind of funny how the Nintendo original is kind of superior since the cinematics weren't censored. Ninja Gaiden Trilogy is one overrated cart IMO.
+ Parasite Eve (PS1, M)
- original slated to be rated T, was bumped up to M before release.
+ SaGa Frontier (PS1, T)
- missing alcohol use descriptor. Gen's sprite drinks after battle and their is a neon budwiser sign in the game.
+ Star Ocean: The Second Story (PS1, E), Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP, T)
- bumped up in rating a generation later. SO2 isn't very violent but I would think more E+10
+ Syphon Filter (PS1, T), Syphon Filter 2/3 (PS1, M)
- I guess I can see why the rating was increased but one game doesn't really stick out in front of another as far as the violence goes.
+ TimeStalkers (DC, T)
- I seriously can't remember anything that violent in this one... I remember it being very tame.
+ Tomb Raider II (PS1, T)
- No Suggestive Themes or Sexual Content listed in descriptors which pretty much describes the hilarious, sexist ending to a tee.
+ Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (PS1, T), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (N64, E)
- Basically the music was edited to remove swearing. SO glad Sony didn't stoop to this as I hate the N64 rendition for this.
+ Twisted Metal (PS1, T)
- Twisted Metal would have gotten a M IF they had actually used the ending movies they produced for the game. The movies weren't included in the final product.
+ Twisted Metal Small Brawl (PS1, T)
- Just bought this game and it getting a T pretty much defeats the ENTIRE purpose of the product as it was aimed at a young audience.
+ Wild Arms: Alter code: F (PS2, T), Wild Arms (PS1, KA)
- I think E+10 at most since you do not see anything gruesome during the two moments of bloodletting.
+ Wild Arms 3 (PS2, T)
- Can't remember anything that wanted a T with this one.... but it's been so long since I played it. I say E+10 at most.
+ Wild Arms 4 (PS2, T)
- I guess I can agree with T on this one more than a lot of other RPGs
+ Worms 3D (PS2/NGC, T)
- kind of disagree with this one... yeah, the worms do use realistic weapons but I think people over think it.
+ X-Men Destiny (PS3/Wii/360, T)
- Kind of agree with this one... there are some strangely dark points to the story.
+ Xenosaga I, II, III (PS2, T)
- Were edited to get T... but I think that is still too low in some respects. I would have rather have had them be M and less altered.

If you are wondering why I'm including any of the above feel free to ask as the conversation may help me out.

Still, I'm certain there are more games out there others have encountered that they'd place on such a list. What are they...?

I just see these and think how happy I am that Gore/Lieberman probably lost the 2000 election because of pissed off videogamers and CD buyers. Congratulations guys, we got Bush for 8 years because you wanted to stick your nose in people's business. If Gore/Lieberman had won in 2000, they'd probably be putting chips in people to make sure we don't buy material they deem inappropriate.

Er, yeah...I don't pay this nonsense any mind.

some games are rated M for extreme Gore

If nothing else Parasite Eve is most certainly deserving of that M. It's quite freaky even by today's standards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNL8b6Sm3SE
(If you dare)

I'm not going to argue if Parasite Eve deserves the M rating; the reason it's on the list was it was originally going to receive a T but it was bumped up to a M at the last minute which is pretty interesting.

That's one of the things with your list - you haven't yet given any indication of why each game is on the list. Kind of hard to talk about without that starting point.

Yeah, I thought about that... I'll edit it and add some notes.

Edit:

Okay, I explained them a bit.

Thanks, I get a far better sense of what you're thinking now. With many, it seems they come down to violence and in some case violence vs gore. I can't claim to understand the specifics of some of the ratings - I think they have to be quite subjective hence not always seeming consistent. One thing that often strikes me as weird is the idea that reduced gore or sanitisation should always mean lower ratings when the same violent acts remain intact. If anything, not showing the consequences of those acts and making them seem clean would sometimes feel more damaging to me. It makes the violence easier.

Regardless, if the violent acts are there we're going to have a certain rating level so I wouldn't in any way expect Doom, for example, to get anything less than a T rating even with green blood and no gibs.

I don't get the discrepancy in the Final Fight ratings though. Was the first GBA release heavily censored while the other one wasn't?

Yeah, I'm really puzzled with the Final Fight games myself. If I remember correctly I think the only thing that was really censored in Final Fight One is that Poison (the transgender member of the Mad Gear gang that's in SFIV and kind of exposed her mid-drift when hit) is still replaced by Billy and Sid like in the SNES version. However, I just got the game and it's on my list to replay since I originally played it back when it came out. Also, there is the continue screen to consider since you get blown up by dynamite if you don't continue... but the screen just goes white when you run out of time. However, I'm curious if the final boss' has his wheelchair back in One since it was redrawn into a recliner on the SNES.

I should probably mention however that Final Fight One got really good reviews back when it came out and people seem to consistently rate it pretty high even today. If it was heavily censored I don't think that would be the case... people would totally knock it down a bit.

As for Mighty Final Fight I've played/own the NES version and I can't imagine what they would censor in that one. Poison is actually in that one but given that it is so cartoony the issues with her in the original obviously don't exist.

That Mini Mix also contained Strider and Bionic Commando apparently so the difference is likely due to one of those games rather than Mighty Final Fight.

I don't understand why people give a damn about ESRB ratings. Aside from horror games, the only game I wouldn't advice a young child to play is Witcher 2.

Well, I don't really care about ESRB ratings... and parents apparently don't care either (which is why the government wanting to make them legally binding to stores that already *try* to enforce them is just plain silly)... but I just find them interesting.

And I'm sorry if I come off as a prude but there are significantly more games out now that, personally, I don't think I'd let my non-existent child play these days. Yeah, I know I had MK3 and Resi 2 when I was younger but when you compare those to something like GTAV, well...

...HOWEVER unlike the stupid IDIOTIC "father" I ran into at the gamestore one day I don't blame the "damn" game companies for making these games. I wanted to explain that the average age of gamers has dramatically risen in the last decade or so and game companies are going to target that demographic. I didn't do it as I figured the argument would be completely lost on him yet I really felt no sorrow when he was bitching that GTAV made his son swear.

Ratings are important and, yes, it's true that many don't care but they should. Two main reasons for this. Firstly because media does has an effect on all of us and especially children who are still forming (as we all are but kids are becoming who they will be as adults) and not always fully able to process what they take in. It's not an easily identifiable direct cause and effect and how could it be with the amount of media and information that we take in throughout our lives but it does go towards forming our world view just as real life events do. This has been shown and backed up year on year since pretty much the earliest testing of TV effects in the '50s and it comes with the good news that the effect can also be positive. One way or another, content matters and media impacts kids.

The second reason is that, knowing the above, if ratings don't work then eventually what we're likely to see (and actually we have already seen and we have the Daily Mail crowd over here) are people hyping things up and using scare tactics to get censorship all across the board. If ratings on games for adults don't work and are being played by kids, the solution will be to censor all games for adults - few of us gamers would be in favour of that, right? As adult game players, it is important to us that the rating systems actually work and are enforced. Then we can happily play whatever the hell we like and that is a good result.

I haven't checked GTA V out yet, but from my experience with earlier games in the series I'd say the perfect age to play them is around 14.

Mai's buttcheeks in KoF 95 on GameBoy has a Kids to Adults rating. Would definitely get a Teen rating now.

Personally from what everyone tells me GTAV really pushes the boundaries of the M rating. Personally I just wish that the big three would allow A rated games on their consoles already (especially Microsoft and Sony) but I don't think they want to open the door for hentai games.