With Australia's new R18+ rating in effect, the country is finally open to play games chock full of virtual blood n' guts.
The first game to earn the country's new R18+ rating is none other than the Wii U exclusive Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, for its "violence that is high in impact because of its frequency, high definition graphics, and emphasis on blood effects," according to Australia's Classification Board Director Lesley O'Brien
The game received similar ratings in both the United States and Europe.
The original version that premiered for PS3 and Xbox 360 wasn't too well received critically. Playstation Official Magazine Australia gave it a 70 out of 100, warning, "For those expecting a Tarantino-like exploration of the consequences of being a bad person, you're looking at the wrong series. It didn't take long for us to realise that Ninja Gaiden 3 has more cheese than a fondue party, but it works in the favour of this frantic over-the-top hack-and-slash title."
Razor's Edge comes with all the DLC released so far for Ninja Gaiden 3, to date as well new features not previously seen in the original. Players can now use the Wii U GamePad's touchscreen to select different weapons, perform Ninpo, view additional game information and more. Additional features include new exclusive weapons such as the Lunar Staff and Dual Katanas, improved AI, and new enemy types and battle areas. Despite these additions, Razor's Edge has received similar reviews to the original. While "it is a clear step ahead of the mediocre Ninja Gaiden 3...the final result is pretty good. Not awesome, but still good enough," according to Eurogamer Italy.
For good or for bad that such a game seems to set the standard for more "mature" games, at least Australian gamers finally have the option.