Saints Row 4 is out now; here’s our Saints Row 4 review.
Yesterday we learned that Saints Row 4 had been judged Too Rude For Retail by the Australian Classification Board, who cited drug use and, more disconcertingly, “sexual violence” as the key factors in their decision. Rather than talk particulars, they left us to speculate in a vaguely lude fashion they’d almost certainly disapprove of.
Kotaku AU have since recovered a copy of the ratings board’s full report, however, and can reveal the very specific source of their ire.
Anal probes.
The probe, of which Deep Silver and Volition were helpful enough to provide the board with a detailed description, is a weapon intended to be “shoved into enemy’s backsides”. Its lower half resembles a sword hilt, and its upper segment a series of “prong-like appendages” which, say the board with mounting horror, “circle around what appears to be a large dildo which runs down the centre of the weapon”.
In its proper use, the probe is thrust between the legs of a clothed victim from behind. The player then lifts them into the air before pulling the trigger, launching them some distance.
“After the probe has been implicitly inserted into the victim’s anus the area around their buttocks becomes pixelated highlighting that the aim of the weapon is to penetrate the victim’s anus,” note the board, astutely.
“In the Board’s opinion, a weapon designed to penetrate the anus of enemy characters and civilians constitutes a visual depiction of implied sexual violence that is interactive and not justified by context and as such the game should be Refused Classification.”
As for the drugs? An optional mission sees the player obtain and smoke “alien narcotics”, used to increase the potency of their abilities and complete their objectives more easily. Australia didn’t like that much either.
Volition are currently in the process of removing both offending elements from the game for Aussie release.
Thanks, games.on.net.