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Content review for this game:
Pertaining to the ESRB rating.
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Intro - Missions - Blood/Intense violence - Strong language - Partial nudity/Strong sexual content - Use of drugs and alcohol - Closing comment |
Right from the start, the opening shows a man and woman in full bondage gear, with the woman slapping the man with a whip, while they both scream in a mix of pained, pleasurable tones. And as Niko (protagonist) gets off the boat, his cousin (who's there to pick him up) comes out of the car already drunk with a bottle in his hand, acting as such. As Niko drives them to their destination, his cousin asks if he's had two girls at once, and then says, "Four big t**ies to play with!" And later in says, about the varied ethnic groups of women in liberty city, "Thirty-six flavors of t**ies!" All of this is just in the first five minutes of the game—listed below are specific categories that pertain to the emboldened rating above (all content listed is optional).
Michelle: You are introduced to Michelle near the very beginning, and have the option of dating her by calling her on your cell phone and setting a date. At first she doesn't know anything about his criminal career, and seems pretty put-together compared to the other characters. This layout below is how I progressed with the dates:
- Date #1: Niko picks Michelle up, takes her to a bowling ally, and then drops her off at home and leaves—there is no option to sleep with her on the first date.
- Date #2: Niko picks up Michelle and takes her to play pool, and then takes her home. You now have the option to ask her if she will let you in. When she says yes (sometimes she won't on the second date), you enter her apartment. It will then fade to an outside view of the building for under a minute as the controller rumbles, and she says that Niko "is great." It then cuts to Niko back by his car.
- Date #3: Niko picks Michelle up and takes her to eat. He then takes her home (you still have the option to sleep with her).
Later in you find out that Michelle is actually working for the government; she's been secretly following his activities. She says Niko could be of some use to her boss, and says she will get in touch; so no more dates with Michelle.
Online Dating: To set up a date online, you drive to an internet cafe and log on. You then go to a dating website, search through available options and pick a girl. She will then email you with a yes or no reply in a couple of (game) days. If she says yes, she will tell you where to pick her up. Dates play out the same as with Michelle, including the option to sleeping with them—you can solicit gay males, but they'll turn you down every time, since Niko's profile says he's straight.
Stripclubs: This section constitutes the "Partial nudity," and while these women are a bit more than partially nude, no one in this game appears fully nude. If (or when) you enter a strip club, there are two platforms with a stripper in either a skimpy bikini, or bikini bottoms and pasties. There are more strippers walking around wearing similar attire and will approach and ask if you want to pay for a private dance. If you answer yes, she'll take you to a back room and dance erotically in a few looping animation as she makes some sexual references. While she dances, you can toggle between a few camera angles, and then it's over. You can also pay two strippers to dance with each other, and they will simulate a few sexual positions while dancing—there is no option to touch strippers. Your friends will also call you up on your cell infrequently and ask if you want to go to a strip club with them; you can decline.
Prostitutes: There are several prostitutes throughout the city. Find one on the street and honk your horn; she'll get in. Drive to a secluded place (like an alley or behind a building) and pay for any of three forms of sex (or more crudely, "handjobs," oral sex or penetration) You will then see the prostitute perform the act of your choice through the car window, with no specific detail, and both he and prostitutes are fully clothed; you will hear some dirty talk during the act. After she's done, you pay her and let her out. You can then kill her by running her over, shooting her, beating her to death (you get the point) in order to get your money back. But, you don't have to perform any of the above, or for that matter have sex; all is entirely optional.
None of the above listed are in any way appropriate for children—I'd like one good, sensible and fully justified reason why these activities need to be emulated in games. Other than the optional content above, the cutscenes have countless sexual innuendo, slang, some outright explicit dialog, and several references to gays, bisexuals, and a very gay character named Bernie. But no actual scenes of sex. Also worth mentioning is that there are countless ads on the internet, tv, radio and posters that make sexual references through innuendo (with heavy, crude language too).
Content review posted: 05/09/08
