Over the past couple of years, we’ve heard time and time again that video games aren’t “mature” enough. According to former Irrational Games lead Ken Levine, video games aren’t violent enough; they need to feature depictions of real-world damages of war. In an interview with Quantic Dream’s David Cage last week, the creative mind behind Heavy Rain stated that the current library of video games “focus on simple themes and target a teenage audience”. Cage thinks that the current trend of story-telling is nowhere near “a good film in terms of narrative or characterization”.
The general consensus from the “definitive voices of the gaming industry” is that video games are just somehow not mature enough…Is this really the case, or are these opinions walking the line of absurdity?
Going by ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) standards, games with the “M – Mature” rating often feature sexual references, a large amount of profanity, [sometimes disturbing] depictions of violence, and socially questionable actions- say, theft or drug-use. Going by the standard for video game ratings, that should be enough to classify a video game as being “mature”, right? After all, it says so on the bottom-left corner of the case. However, even with all of these labels that clearly state what content is in the title at hand, that might not necessarily mean that the game’s presentation itself is of mature stature. Several M-rating games, despite copious amounts of violence and language, are for morbidly comical enjoyment- almost relishing in their own, self-aware stupidity. Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z and the Duke Nukem franchises are obvious examples of this. Yaiba is simply a game that cannot be taken seriously, nor does it have any kind of serious undertones in the plot. The premise is simply this: Resurrected cyborg ninja goes on zombie-killing spree, while tracking down his killer. It’s a game with a bathroom-humor plot, only to be played for a good laugh. As we all should know, as he’s been around for two decades, Duke Nukem is an over-emphasized characature of a manly 80’s action hero. Babes, guns, booze, one-liners, swearing- Duke loves it all.
These are select cases where the content may be targeted towards an older audience, but the subject matter says otherwise.
Onechanbara Z Kagura
If I were to break apart and analyze some of the elements from Bayonetta, I would end up with the sultry Umbran Witch herself, the twisted representation of angelic forces, some of the most unique finishing-moves of last-gen, and a somewhat loose plot that revolves around the last survivors of warring clans. After removing all of the flash and sexual flair, we’re left with just the plot- the core experience of the game. With the proper amount of adjustments, the plot- just by itself- could be worked to fit in with some other overall setting. In the most basic sense, the plot is simply as follows; “The last survivors of two rival clans are at war”…Fill the holes in with literally anything, and we have ourselves a new game.
Sometimes it’s just the icing that makes a game “mature”, and not the cake underneath.
Of course, there are plenty of M-rated games on the other side of the spectrum with much more serious overtones. Taking a look back at one of my favorite games, Deus Ex: Human Revolution could be considered to be one such title. Adam Jensen’s cybernetic romp features plenty of substance abuse, violence and language, but it’s the underlying themes within the world that Human Revolution apart from other M-rated games. Within the first three hours- depending on how it’s played- we’re given a taste of real-world issues present within the game. The first “post-augmented” mission begins with a briefing from David Sarif, head of the private human-augmentation and cybernetic enhancement company Sarif Industries. Depending on what questions the player chooses to ask Sarif before the mission begins, Jensen may ask about the hostage situation. Sarif’s remark is somewhat cold; to him, the Sarif Industries tech held within is more valuable than the lives of those held hostage. As the game progresses, players are shown more examples of corporate greed, along with social prejudices and the ethics behind cybernetic enhancement.
“The technology designed at Sarif Industries is created for the purpose of improving the human body, but why should anyone bother to alter God’s gift?” This question is never given a direct answer; it’s left in an ongoing debate for the citizens of Human Revolution, as well as within the player’s own head. Throughout the entire game, players see “Augs” persecuted and cast-out by unaltered humans, and vice-versa. However, it isn’t just on a social level- the conflict extends between corporations, and even political figures.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution explores corporate and political motivations, along with social prejudices
Despite what some may say about the current state of video games and their subject matter, this is something I would easily stamp as a mature title. While the concept of social prejudice towards cybernetic enhancement is something that’s reserved for video games and other media right now, the idea of social inequality is very real- some individuals deal with it on a daily basis. If games were aimed solely at teenagers and childish audiences, would we have games like Deus Ex: HR and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, where they go so far as to include political motives and conflicts? These are concepts that older audiences will pick up on with ease, while younger gamers may fail to grasp on the first playthrough. It’s the integration of these personal themes that really allow video games to deliver their own level of maturity.
To say that the video game catalog as a whole fails to deliver mature experiences to various audiences is a bit of a stretch. When it’s all said and done, there are games out there that dive into social conflicts, political and corporate corruption, prejudice, personal growth…real-world, first-hand problems. Games can offer a thought-provoking, and often emotional, mature experience. They do exist….You may just have to dig through a giant pool of cleavage and blood to find them.