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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.

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.

82 Comments

  • Hyper-Peon

    Posted Sep 29, 2009 11:12 am GMT

    @Toalnika...

    Super Mario RPG is already up for download on the Wii Virtual Console...

  • GamerErman2001

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 8:23 pm GMT

    I hope that this Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts actually comes out for the 360 and PS3.

  • wavebrid

    Posted Feb 20, 2007 7:12 am GMT

    guys like it or not its part of a gaming site so this is gameing news get a grip there hasnt been any news in awhile

  • bVorkitup

    Posted Feb 19, 2007 10:06 pm GMT

    Wait, Taito Legends 2 for all three platforms? Interesting... only the PS2 one has been confirmed for an NA release so far.

  • ddt88

    Posted Feb 19, 2007 9:25 pm GMT

    Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts on Xbox 360 would be sweet...

  • ToaInikaJaller

    Posted Feb 19, 2007 8:18 pm GMT

    Here's what i'd like on VC:

    -Dr.Mario
    -Mario bros
    -Super Mario RPG
    -More Final Fantasy
    -Diddy Kong Racing
    -More N64 Games

  • vatterott

    Posted Feb 19, 2007 5:07 pm GMT

    Cool/

  • cfamgcn

    Posted Feb 19, 2007 3:20 pm GMT

    Good news...

  • menmau

    Posted Feb 19, 2007 12:01 pm GMT

    Thats good to hear...

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Feb 19, 2007 7:33 am GMT

    i want a purchaseable hard copy nintendo collection, how about a mario compilation, a zelda compilation, a metriod compilation, DK compilation, and a mixer, with super mario cart, mario cart 64, some other less know but equelly great games.

  • greystone227

    Posted Feb 18, 2007 4:47 pm GMT

    Nintendo really needs to get some real games up for Virtual Console. Where's Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid, and Ocarina of TIme? I mean, I don't expect all of these to be released at once, but I'm surprised that the best games released so far are Mario 64 and Link to the Past.

  • Going666

    Posted Feb 18, 2007 12:53 pm GMT

    Emulator + S-Video cord = Same crap you can download but you get it free.

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Feb 18, 2007 1:17 am GMT

    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.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Feb 17, 2007 11:42 pm GMT

    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.

  • gertish

    Posted Feb 17, 2007 8:37 pm GMT

    Thumbs up on Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts!

  • aRE-you-AFraid

    Posted Feb 17, 2007 1:39 pm GMT

    It looks alright

  • elozl

    Posted Feb 17, 2007 8:43 am GMT

    lol, good point Proust! ESRB is just one way to say, dont worry moms and dads, your kids are safe with us!

  • Scorpion13497

    Posted Feb 17, 2007 8:42 am GMT

    sound good, but they need to bring back more of the classics: Super mario 3, super metroid, and EARTHBOUND!!!!

  • n8berman

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 11:25 pm GMT

    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.

  • Proust

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:46 pm GMT

    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.

  • interpolred

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:45 pm GMT

    Super Ghouls N Ghosts sounds good!

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 6:19 pm GMT

    i love GandG, i have all 3

  • GreenGoblin2099

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 2:57 pm GMT

    OMG!! How many versions of G&G does the world need?? Capcom will turn that game into the next SFII

  • SpeedMan72

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:32 pm GMT

    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.

  • marioman50

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:28 pm GMT

    based on this, little kids would not be able to play a game like street fighter

  • xtremeg4m3r

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:06 pm GMT

    esrb ratings for classic games. Thats just stupid.

  • superjon6

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:29 pm GMT

    well isn't it a good thing that we can find out about new games earlier

  • FinishingTouch-

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:21 pm GMT

    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 )))

  • gamerguy31315

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 11:40 am GMT

    true malelder but most games people give a da*n about, their future release has already been announced.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 11:32 am GMT

    "It doesn't really seem necessary to rate VC games..." true that

  • CheddarLimbo

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 10:09 am GMT

    Ugh. Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts made me break a GBA. Those games are so freaking hard...

  • malelder235

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 10:01 am GMT

    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 (:

  • LordelX

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:36 am GMT

    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.

  • BWRoss79

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:33 am GMT

    First the Crackdown Pic pack, now this??? Somebody hack a big company or something...let's get some news!! lol

  • fartys

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 9:07 am GMT

    This is really important because kids and parents REALLY pay atention to the age ratings when they are buying games! COUGH!................

  • Wolverine77

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 8:36 am GMT

    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?

  • MagusMaleficus

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:47 am GMT

    All I got out of that was this: "Madonna? Ewwwww..."

  • Jaeme

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:39 am GMT

    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).

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:31 am GMT

    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.

  • dan_3

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 7:25 am GMT

    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...

  • SephirothSyZtem

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 6:03 am GMT

    lol, wut?

  • CidStormwind

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 5:47 am GMT

    Maybe its a remake of Ghouls n' Ghosts?

  • CVGCShubert

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:42 am GMT

    Cross platform downloadable games? This is a very strange world we live in, indeed.

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 1:41 am GMT

    Why rate downloadable games? It's just a waste of time, IMO.

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:53 am GMT

    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.

  • kenesu96

    Posted Feb 16, 2007 12:44 am GMT

    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.

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Feb 15, 2007 11:02 pm GMT

    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. . .

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