ESRB Rating Search App
© 2002 ESRB
It's pretty obvious that a video game that comes with a 'Mature' rating and a title like Assassin's Creed is probably pretty full of violence. But just how violent is it? ESRB Rating Search App (Free), for Android or iPhone makes it easier to find out by way of your cell phone's camera. After you start the app, you pick up the game, snap a photo and count to ten. The title comes comes up, along with a concise 200 word description of the worrisome content. We tried it on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, an excellent game that has plenty of violent themes. Here's what came up (in December 2010). Platform: Windows PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Rating: Mature; Content descriptors: Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence; Rating summary: This is an action-adventure game in which players assume the role of Desmond, a test subject who exacts revenge upon conspirators, politicians, and rivals by reliving the life of his ancestor Ezio. Players can engage in brawls or sword fights with soldiers; most missions require Ezio to find, stalk, and kill enemies by using a variety of weapons (e.g., daggers, concealed blades, crossbows, gun-like artillery). Combat includes blood-splatter effects and screams of pain from injured targets; blood stains sometimes appear on streets or on characters' clothing. One cut scene includes a close-up depiction of a character getting his throat slit. The game contains some sexual themes: One cut scene depicts a man and a woman (stripped to her underwear) kissing and caressing each other in bed; in another sequence, a prostitute shakes her breasts at a guard to distract him. The dialogue contains several sexual references (e.g., "[W]hen do you think was the last time their wives opened their legs for their cuckold, impotent husbands?" "Don't get me started on your father's sexual preferences," "After his wedding, he sent a letter to the Pope explicitly describing the intercourse on his wedding night," and "I did hear your wife was having orgies with your squad . . ."). The game also contains the words "f**k," "a*shole," "sh*t," and several Italian equivalents (e.g., "c*zzo" [f**k], "cogl**ne" [a*shole], "m*rda" [sh*t]). For more information, visit www.esrb.org.
iPhone, iPad, Android
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