E-mail:
Password:
GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Close

ESRB rates unannounced retro games

Japanese Wii VC games get rated for the US, while Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts pops up on all the new consoles.
By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
Posted Feb 15, 2007 3:20 pm PT

Last September, a slate of previously unannounced Wii Virtual Console titles from Sega were spotted with fresh new ratings on the Entertainment Software Rating Board's Web site. Two months later, another round of apparent Virtual Console games received new ratings, these ones pulled primarily from the Nintendo Entertainment System's collection of classics.

So far, only about half of those games have found their way to release, but the ESRB site continues to hint at future releases in the form of ratings for unannounced games. The ESRB has recently rated Wii editions of older games Galaga, Mighty Bomb Jack, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire, none of which have been confirmed for a US release yet. As yet unreleased TurboGrafx-16 Virtual Console offerings New Adventure Island and Chew Man-Fu are also in the ESRB database, and Hudson has confirmed both games are scheduled for a US release this month.

In addition, the site has a listing for Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, introducing the possibility that Capcom's Super Nintendo side-scroller could be the first downloadable game to land on all three platforms. A Capcom representative told GameSpot that the Wii edition has been announced for release on the Japanese Virtual Console, but there has been no announcement about PS3 or Xbox 360 versions of the game.

The ESRB database also includes ratings for a few retro collections. EA Replay 2 on the PlayStation Portable--which hasn't been confirmed by the publisher but was spotted at online retailers earlier this year--received a T for Teen, with content descriptors for blood and violence. Meanwhile, the site also lists domestic ratings for Empire Interactive's Euro offerings Taito Legends 2 for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, as well as Taito Legends Power-Up for the PSP.

Finally, the site lists a rating for the Lumines Live Artist Pack: Madonna "Sorry" (originally seen in action at last year's E3). While this isn't the first bit of downloadable console content to receive a rating from the ESRB (The Knights of the Nine expansion for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion was rated), it appears to be the first time the additional content has received a different rating than the product for which it is intended. Lumines Live received a rating of E for Everyone, while the Madonna artist pack has been tagged as E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older. There are no listings for Lumines Live's previous downloadable content packs.

Sign up now to post a comment on this story!

73 Comments

First to Last Latest
1 2
« prevnext »
PixyMisao
PixyMisao
Despite what ya'll feel about the ESRB does or doesn't do for gaming, legally they are covering the video game industry's ass when it comes to time and money wasting lawsuits against games. Mortal Kombat games are coming to the Virtual Console, and most of that series' games were rated so I'd rather these games be rated and available. The fact that many of the pre-MK games had no need for ratings is unwhelming the larger issue, we should be glad that the video game industry is allowed to police itself rather than gavernment doing it for us. And I don't know about you but I think we've lost enough liberty and freedom in the US in the last several years don't you?!

Besides, nobody else is readily giving us any information about what's coming to the virtual console.
Posted Feb 18, 2007 1:17 am PT
theKSMM
theKSMM
Downloadble and retro games are going to go from being a cottage industry to a full-blown phenomenon one day...mark my words.

Just as you now see developers making multi-platform titles for the XBOX 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii, we'll soon hear about smaller projects being released for XBOX Live! Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Virtual Console. It could be the new era of "budget" games.
Posted Feb 17, 2007 11:42 pm PT
gertish
gertish
Thumbs up on Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts!
Posted Feb 17, 2007 8:37 pm PT
aRE-you-AFraid
aRE-you-AFraid
It looks alright
Posted Feb 17, 2007 1:39 pm PT
elozl
elozl
lol, good point Proust! ESRB is just one way to say, dont worry moms and dads, your kids are safe with us!
Posted Feb 17, 2007 8:43 am PT
Scorpion13497
Scorpion13497
sound good, but they need to bring back more of the classics: Super mario 3, super metroid, and EARTHBOUND!!!!
Posted Feb 17, 2007 8:42 am PT
n8berman
n8berman
ESRB thanks for the heads up. Now the console companies need to start porting some good old school PC games...Wolfenstein3d, R.O.T.T., Comander Keen, etc...ahhhhhhhh sweet sweet pipe dreams.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 11:25 pm PT
Proust
Proust
If ESRB had its way we would all be contained in a cocoon until we reached 18 at which point we would be sent to fight in Iraq.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:46 pm PT
interpolred
interpolred
Super Ghouls N Ghosts sounds good!
Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:45 pm PT
Mr_Saturn26
Mr_Saturn26
i love GandG, i have all 3
Posted Feb 16, 2007 6:19 pm PT
GreenGoblin2099
GreenGoblin2099
OMG!! How many versions of G&G; does the world need?? Capcom will turn that game into the next SFII
Posted Feb 16, 2007 2:57 pm PT
SpeedMan72
SpeedMan72
the esrb has gone nuts after thous school shootings years back.
i mean somethings need 2 be rated high cuz there bad but sometimes its just way 2 much.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:32 pm PT
marioman50
marioman50
based on this, little kids would not be able to play a game like street fighter
Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:28 pm PT
xtremeg4m3r
xtremeg4m3r
esrb ratings for classic games. Thats just stupid.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:06 pm PT
superjon6
superjon6
well isn't it a good thing that we can find out about new games earlier
Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:29 pm PT
FinishingTouch-
FinishingTouch-
They weren't rated then and they were fine to every audience, why rate them now?

Today's society is trying to block violence but children and teenagers will always find a way to expose themselves )))
Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:21 pm PT
gamerguy31315
gamerguy31315
true malelder but most games people give a da*n about, their future release has already been announced.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 11:40 am PT
Pete5506
Pete5506
"It doesn't really seem necessary to rate VC games..." true that
Posted Feb 16, 2007 11:32 am PT
CheddarLimbo
CheddarLimbo
Ugh. Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts made me break a GBA. Those games are so freaking hard...
Posted Feb 16, 2007 10:09 am PT
malelder235
malelder235
everybody whining about "wtf, who cares about ratings/slow news day" isn't getting the point....this is a story about getting advanced notice of releases by seeing what games have been sent to the ESRB for ratings. It's always good to see whats coming down the road (:
Posted Feb 16, 2007 10:01 am PT
LordelX
LordelX
Romance of the Three Kindoms IV: Wall of Fire...now there is a game that could convince me to buy a Wii. One of the SNES's best games.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:36 am PT
BWRoss79
BWRoss79
First the Crackdown Pic pack, now this??? Somebody hack a big company or something...let's get some news!! lol
Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:33 am PT
fartys
fartys
This is really important because kids and parents REALLY pay atention to the age ratings when they are buying games! COUGH!................
Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:07 am PT
Wolverine77
Wolverine77
This has been the best piece of news in days! This is really sad Gamespot. It's becoming a chore to log in every day. Who in the world cares if modonna got a e10 instead of e?
Posted Feb 16, 2007 8:36 am PT
MagusMaleficus
MagusMaleficus
All I got out of that was this: "Madonna? Ewwwww..."
Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:47 am PT
Jaeme
Jaeme
I hope they don`t let old controversies prevent the releases of some off the beaten track games. I want Caveman Games(NES, banned because of the wife tossing event, dispite the fact that you could toss your husband too), and Robocop VS Terminator(Genesis, banned for violence against female thugs).
Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:39 am PT
snarple_basic
snarple_basic
Lumines Live Artist Pack: Madonna?????? WHO ASK FOR THAT???

Glad to here super ghouls and ghost is going to be downloadable, and also New adventure island sounds interesting since i was very into the snes Super Adventure Island.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:31 am PT
dan_3
dan_3
Wow, this might be the most pointless piece of news gamespot has ever reported on, and I love gamespot, so apparently it must be a slow day in gaming news...
Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:25 am PT
SephirothSyZtem
SephirothSyZtem
lol, wut?
Posted Feb 16, 2007 6:03 am PT
CidStormwind
CidStormwind
Maybe its a remake of Ghouls n' Ghosts?
Posted Feb 16, 2007 5:47 am PT
NWA_31
NWA_31
[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
Posted Feb 16, 2007 5:25 am PT
nappan
nappan
[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
Posted Feb 16, 2007 5:02 am PT
CVGCShubert
CVGCShubert
Cross platform downloadable games? This is a very strange world we live in, indeed.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:42 am PT
Tranceplant
Tranceplant
Why rate downloadable games? It's just a waste of time, IMO.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:41 am PT
PixyMisao
PixyMisao
Doesn't PS2 and PSP already have all 3 games of the old G&G; series on it's Capcom Classics Collection? What a waste.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:53 am PT
muppen
muppen
[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]
Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:52 am PT
kenesu96
kenesu96
i would prefer the pc engine galaga 88 (or galaga 90 in the US) over famicom galaga, same with pc engine spae invaders, awesome games.


i thik its funny peple complain or debate about re rating games, it doesnt matter it has no need for discussion. if anything its a boon as it is a factual rumor mill for the first time ever.
Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:44 am PT
MasterAsh42
MasterAsh42
Now that's just creepy. . .

While wandering around Gamefaqs one day, curiosity hit and I checked out a Mighty Bomb Jack FAQ. I remembered renting the game when a child and not knowing what in the world to do.

And now, it may pop up in the Virtual Console. . .

Creepy. . .
Posted Feb 15, 2007 11:02 pm PT
PowerSwitchOff
PowerSwitchOff
I'm looking forward to Taito Legends 2, so as long as they cut the "certain games are exclusive to this version and that version to save sapce" crap like they did in the European version. I mean, can't they just split the games across two discs? I don't want to have to buy an Xbox just to play RayForce...

Hell, I'd be happy enough with a Taito compilation consisting of just the Darius and "Ray" games...
Posted Feb 15, 2007 9:23 pm PT
Talduras
Talduras
Considering some Super Nintendo games were pre-ESRB AND have valid reasons for being rated, it's a smart move on ESRB's part, if only to cover all their bases.

BTW, the game I was thinking, which, interestingly enough, is cited as the main reason for the creation of ESRB, is none other than Mortal Kombat. You'll note that the original Super Nintendo and Genesis versions are not listed in ESRB.com's ratings database. While it's a no-brainer M to all of us gamers, to those that aren't... well, lets just say that people have done and thought dumber things.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 8:57 pm PT
fury10
fury10
@comthitnuong
It doesn't really seem necessary to rate VC games...

It's the ESRB covering their bases. The concept of re-rating games is kinda lame but to be fair, some of these games were released before there was an ESRB ratings system in place. Still, it doesn't take an idiot to know that Super Mario Bros on VC is rated E for Everyone -- slap a KA (kids to adults) rating on it for all we care, the game is harmless.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 8:44 pm PT
santiago_gallo
santiago_gallo
Mario should be banned, he kills turtles, which are on the verge of extinction
Posted Feb 15, 2007 8:15 pm PT
105506
105506
Mario is violence koz u end goombas lifes by jumping in them and they suffer death.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 7:36 pm PT
Link_86_1
Link_86_1
I dunno... jumping on those Goombas is pretty violent... Makes me wanna go jump on someone.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 7:32 pm PT
slayer1090
slayer1090
nice but i don't think it's neccessary 2 rate Retro games because what violence do they have?
Posted Feb 15, 2007 7:20 pm PT
Riverwolf007
Riverwolf007
Lol, how long do you think it took to rate Galaga? Did they watch the first board and go " ok its E lets get some lunch."
Posted Feb 15, 2007 7:19 pm PT
comthitnuong
comthitnuong
It doesn't really seem necessary to rate VC games...
Posted Feb 15, 2007 7:12 pm PT
spidey008
spidey008
Super Ghouls and Ghost. Oh yes. This game is sooo good. It is really tough though.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 7:10 pm PT
theclaw135
theclaw135
Taito Legends 2 is finally coming out here? Silly guys, being a year behind Europe. Europe always gets the best PC games first or exclusively sold there.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 5:55 pm PT
mjc0961
mjc0961
Madonna should be rated DO; deaf people only.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 5:46 pm PT
1 2
« prevnext »
advertisement

Latest Entertainment Headlines

Story Tags

News Features

Featured Stories

Rewards coming for Gamerscores, offer extended

[UPDATE] Microsoft challenges gamers to increase their Gamerscores by 1,500 points in 63 days for prizes, including games. Competition now lasts until April 15.
Posted Feb 14, 2007 9:51 am PT

Newsmaker Q&A

Video Q&A;: Supreme Commander creator Chris Taylor

Gas Powered Games founder and creative force behind Supreme Commander talks to GameSpot's Curt Feldman--almost live, from San Francisco.
Posted Feb 15, 2007 5:01 pm PT

Related Companies

Related News Articles