Here’s Why Aliens Vs Predator Was Refused Classification In Australia

Decapitation, dismemberment, locational damage, impalement, eye-gouging and the use of human heads as trophies: that’s why Aliens vs Predator was refused classification in Australia, as we reported this morning.

The official Classification Board report on the title says the Sega game is “unsuitable for a minor to see or play” because it “contains violence that is high in impact.”

Here’s the full description of the content in question:

“The game contains first-person perspective, close-up depictions of human characters being subjected to various types of violence, including explicit decapitation and dismemberment as well as location damage such as stabbing through the chest, throat, mouth or eyes.

Characters can be stabbed with a Predator’s wrist blade or an Alien’s tail in depictions reminiscent of impalement. The Predator collects “trophies” by explicitly ripping off human heads, their spinal columns dangling from severed necks.

Head can be twisted completely around in order to break a character’s neck. Eyes can be stabbed through or gouged, leaving empty, bloodied eye sockets.

It is noted that a player is able to combine manoeuvres together in quick succession, which further increases impact; for example, a Predator can stab a character through both eyes with its wrist blade and then rip off their head, with spinal column still attached. Extensive post mortem damage, including decapitation and dismemberment, is also possible.

Depictions of violence such as the above are accompanied by copious amounts of blood and gore, including ample wound details and visible skeleton.

In the opinion of the Board, the violence in the game causes a high playing impact due to its first-person, close-up perspective, conceptual nature and the level of explicit detail involved in the depictions. The game is therefore unsuitable for a minor to see or play and should be refused classification.”

In essence, similar to the situation with Left 4 Dead 2, it’s the human appearance of the victims of such high level violence that increases the impact.

Sega told us earlier today that they are considering all their options, including the possibility of an appeal. We’ll update you when we hear more.