ESRB Rates Dark Souls

The ESRB finally released its official rating and statement for the PS3 exclusive Dark Souls. The statement tells things about the game that were already guessable just by watching videos on the game. Others make you wonder as to what the gameplay will be like when it says things such as “slicing multiple heads off a dragon” and “cutting off a gargoyle’s tail.” I had to laugh when it came to the part that stated “some bird-like humanoids are also depicted with ‘exposed buttocks’.” Anyway you can read the full statement below as to why Dark Souls got an M rating in the US and a 16+ in the EU.

“This is an adventure role-playing game in which players must battle monsters and collect souls to lift an undead curse across the land. Players use swords, axes, and magic arrows to kill zombies, demons, giant spiders, and other fantasy creatures in both ranged attacks and melee-style combat. Players can also use stealth attacks (e.g., stabbing) to dispatch enemies at close range. Battles are accompanied by slashing sounds, cries of pain, and large splashes of blood. Blood pools may also appear on the ground, and some environments depict flaming bodies impaled on spikes. Boss battles include instances of dismemberment and decapitation (e.g., cutting off a gargoyle’s tail, slicing multiple heads off a dragon). During the course of the game, one female enemy’s breasts are barely obscured by strands of hair; some bird-like humanoids are also depicted with “exposed buttocks”.