Master Kokiri 9
The Dungeon Master
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2009
- Location
- My ship that sailed in the morning
Alright, I've decided to bring up the issue of SS's rating.
Recently, after watching a YouTube video on SS an idea struck me. "What about the rating?" I asked myself. So, I've decided to address each of the main ratings (E, T, and M to be precise) and give my opinions and thoughts on how well it would do, in addition to what rating I'd want.
Well, first of all let's talk about the M rating that people seem to want. Personally, I think an M rated Zelda game would do extremely badly. Firstly, Zelda is supposed to be a family friendly franchise, aimed at all ages, and that pretty much invalidates that whole thing. Zelda is supposed to be family friendly and to make it something that it's not is to pretty much clip the wings of the Zelda game. After all, look at Twilight Princess (just my opinion, no offense to you TP fanboys/girls out there). So, that makes it harder for fans to think well of the game.
And then there's the commercial aspect of the game. Sure, there are adult Zelda fans out there and I'm sure there are a few of you here at ZD too, but we can't forget the younger gamers. After all, Nintendo has tried very hard for the duration of the series to have Zelda be family friendly in order to introduce new fans as well as to try to appeal to their more long time fans and so far, in my eyes, has succeeded. Not only does this completely go against what they've been doing so far with the series, this completely alienates the majority of the Zelda fanbase that they've tried so hard to gain. Not to mention, I'd be pretty upset because I wouldn't be able to play the game. That'd make it a commercial flop as well.
Recently, after watching a YouTube video on SS an idea struck me. "What about the rating?" I asked myself. So, I've decided to address each of the main ratings (E, T, and M to be precise) and give my opinions and thoughts on how well it would do, in addition to what rating I'd want.
The M Rating
Well, first of all let's talk about the M rating that people seem to want. Personally, I think an M rated Zelda game would do extremely badly. Firstly, Zelda is supposed to be a family friendly franchise, aimed at all ages, and that pretty much invalidates that whole thing. Zelda is supposed to be family friendly and to make it something that it's not is to pretty much clip the wings of the Zelda game. After all, look at Twilight Princess (just my opinion, no offense to you TP fanboys/girls out there). So, that makes it harder for fans to think well of the game.
And then there's the commercial aspect of the game. Sure, there are adult Zelda fans out there and I'm sure there are a few of you here at ZD too, but we can't forget the younger gamers. After all, Nintendo has tried very hard for the duration of the series to have Zelda be family friendly in order to introduce new fans as well as to try to appeal to their more long time fans and so far, in my eyes, has succeeded. Not only does this completely go against what they've been doing so far with the series, this completely alienates the majority of the Zelda fanbase that they've tried so hard to gain. Not to mention, I'd be pretty upset because I wouldn't be able to play the game. That'd make it a commercial flop as well.
The T Rating
And now for the T rating. The T rating, I'm kinda more lenient with. An occasional T rated game is fine by me, after all we do get occasional over the top dark games so why not save the T ratings for them? But overall, a T rating for SS wouldn't be a good thing in my opinion.
This goes hand in hand with what I said addressing the M rating in which, a mature bloody game simply isn't what Zelda is supposed to be. It's had the essence of a fairy tale since the beginning, the only exception so far being TP, and it really detracts from that experience.
After all, like I said before, trying to make Zelda what it isn't detracts from the overall experience and quality as a Zelda game. So, probably not that great for ratings.
And now for the commercial aspect. Less of the audience is alienated, true, but remember that the fanbase is comprised mainly of kids. Some parents will be lenient with letting their kids play T rated games, but there is a good possibility that most parents won't let them play the game because of the rating.
The E Rating
The E rating is what I'm hoping for with SS, although I'll settle for an E10 rating.
The E rating really allows for the best overall success of a Zelda game in my opinion. Sure, some gamers will be disappointed by the fact that it's not a T or M rated game, but I'm pretty sure those Zelda fans are far and few (but if I'm wrong, go ahead and tell me).
The E rating allows for Zelda to truly flourish for what it is: a family friendly all ages game. Zelda is, in essence, a fairy tale and the E rating allows for that fairy tale feeling to blossom and flourish the most, ultimately helping the reviews and increasing the quality as a Zelda game.
As for the commercial aspect, everybody can play it. It isn't like the M rating where kids, the majority of the fanbase, can't play it and not like the T rating in which parents won't let their kids play it, and then there's the adult gamers who simply like Zelda for what it is and buy it. Sure, an odd gamer here and there will be disappointed in the rating, but those gamers don't really matter too much in the commercial aspect.
Personally, I'm hoping for an E rating or E10 rating. So, with that, what rating do you want for Skyward Sword? Tell me right here, right now.
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