Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has gotten its ESRB rating. This game is essentially a spiritual successor to the beloved Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and fans are understandably excited about the prospects. The game is expected to be making its way to PC and modern consoles sometime in 2019, and now we know that the Bloodstained ESRB rating has been set for Teen.
The Bloodstained ESRB rating is relatively straightforward and it gives us a few details on what we can expect from the game:
Rating Summary: This is an action role-playing game in which players assume the role of Miriam, a cursed orphan who must battle her way through a demon-infested castle. As players traverse side-scrolling environments, they use swords, spears, pistols, and whips to battle fantastical creatures (e.g., harpies; spiked armor; demon-like birds, rodents, dogs) in melee-style combat. In one sequence, players encounter a boss character emerging from a bathtub full of blood; her magic attacks can cause blood to rain down on players and stain the walls and ceilings. Another sequence depicts an impaled corpse, with blood flowing heavily into a large fountain pool. The game also depicts a topless female boss creature (no discernible nipples).
As you can see, there really isn't much in the way of surprises there. Castlevania has never shied away from a bit of blood, so it makes sense that this spiritual successor would do the same. The Bloodstained ESRB rating was mainly set to Teen for partial nudity, blood, and violence.
You can see the rating for yourself at the ESRB website. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will launch on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch sometime in 2019. Ratings generally happen when the game is nearing release, so news on a release date is probably not too far away. Unfortunately, you won't be able to get it on Linux or Mac.
What do you think of the Bloodstained ESRB rating? Are you disappointed that it wasn't rated M, or do you think a T rating is more in line with traditional Castlevania games? Let us know in the comments below!
