We've already seen that the European version of Fire Emblem: Awakening has been subjected to alterations to remove "adult" content, but now it's the turn of the North American version of the game.
The recently-released DLC packs — Harvest Scramble, Summer Scramble and Hot Spring Scramble — were created as the result of a fan-vote in Japan. These light-hearted missions feature new conversations between fan-favourite characters, as well as exclusive artwork.
One of those pieces of artwork — found in Summer Scramble — has been censored for the North American release. It's an image of Tharja in a bathing costume, and while the Japanese original shows a full, unimpeded shot of her derrière, the Western equivalent covers up her rear-end with a piece of cloth.
Here's the original:
And here's the version that North American players get to see:
Predictably, fans are up in arms regarding this move, which many claim actually makes the image even more suggestive, as it's more about what you can't see than what you can.
What makes the whole thing even more confusing is that an image of Cordelia trying to cover her modesty as her bikini top slips off has been allowed to stand without any kind of censorship — we don't know about you, but this strikes us as a much racier picture.
Summer Scramble also features Chrom in his shorts — predictably, that image is deemed perfectly acceptable as well.
Summer Scramble costs $2.50, but you can pick up all three "Scramble" packs for $6.50. Have you already played this DLC? Do you think Nintendo was right to censor the image of Tharja, but allow the others to stand? Let us know your thoughts by posting a comment below.
[source technologytell.com]
Comments 115
Thank goodness Big Brother watches over us and thinks of the children. Ugh.
But there was nothing 'removed' from the European release. The European release just translated the Japanese text while the North American one went with something different.
I do agree the pic with the cloth inserted does actually look a lot worse.
The North American version makes it look even more explicit than the original.
Thank heavens they censured the sparkle! Our children will be safe now!
"Predictably, fans are up in arms regarding this move, which many claim actually makes the image even more suggestive, as it's more about what you can't see than what you can."
This was exactly my first thought as well.
Summer Scramble has yet to be released in Europe, so I imagine they'll take the same stance.
Also, I've got to say, I find it quite funny how Chrom has an emblem design on his plain grey briefs as well as that tattoo.
So is it fantastical RPG battles or some kinda pillow fighting/mud wrestling with bunny ears type of affair
The censored one makes it more look like Tharja isn't wearing anything or at the least a more exposed bottom and just covered up by a cape or curtain.
Its funny looking at IGN's comments as they suggest that curtain is actually Marth's cape.
When I saw the censored version it makes it look like she is wearing nothing at all. This is why censoring things can make things look worse.
Why censor it when the game rated T.
This is just stupid...
I love this game
I could do without the cheesecake pandering altogether. I already bought the Scramble bundle, so hopefully the map is fun.
thats pretty silly
love Nintendo so much, but i hate childish things like censoring..
I don't agree that it's the "what you don't see" that makes the NA image racier... as pointed out by people all over the web, it's the fact that it looks like a cape, as if someone is watching her undress and she's just realised. Regardless of whether it was the right or wrong thing to do, they've definitely made it worse!
i'm expecting that the europe version will be uncensored
I never thought Tharja would be the red bikini type...
Anyway I'm more surprised at Cordelia not being censored.
I am surprised anyone cares. Just look up the pictures online if you are desperate for scantily clad imaginary women.
(that's what i do)
Utterly ridiculous.
that fire emblem logo
They should sell the FE trunks. They'll be be a hit!
Why is this in a Fire Emblem in the first place. I'm kinda disappointed that the big N even put this stuff in. This isn't Dead or Alive and I'd like to keep it that way. Why does even Nintedo need to put this stuff in their games!? Can't we keep anything clean these days! I do agree that there is something just plan suggestive about the cloth cover up. If they are gonna change it they should have altered the actual picture so her bikini bottem is on right.
The cloth one is way hotter. Great stuff.
Knew I made the right choice marrying Tharja, Nice.
People constantly think the word "Censoring" I really don't think its much censoring because Nintendo is letting us believe she's wearing no shorts. And considering they were ok with Cordelia's picture I just think this was just a way to get players interested in the DLC.
Now on the whole DLC itself. Is this the only prize you win when beating the DLC?
Wouldn't think it would be this serious. I mean I love video games (and this game with 70+ hours in) but it is just a video game.
Thank goodness they caught that! We Nintendo fans don't need any of that naughty stuff!
Whee I love Tharja
welcome to censorship. where nothing has to make any sense at all
Ick. Put a shirt on Chrom. >:c
There is Gaius as well. ♥
@Jaz007 I was confused in the first place when this was announced for Japan.
They were probably experimenting to see if this would be profitable. If it was, I expect to see link topless in WWHD.
@Jaz007 The DLC packs are themed around seasons. This is the summer pack, so characters are in beach clothes. There's nothing 'dirty' about it. Do you visit the beach and complain that everyone there is dirty? It's bonkers when society is so much more okay with violence than seeing a bit of flesh on show.
This is hilarious, considering the censored image is actually uch more suggestive than the original. Still, that was a pretty tame image to censor. Let's not go down this route again, Nintendo.
@Hunter-D lol what you thought maybe black bikini? xD its the same o.O
but i agree the censored one makes it look more naughty then the original if the game is rated T it should of been ok maybe thats why you shouldnt have beach related stuff then? -.- but yeah dont think we even needed any censor jeez and this is why some say nintendo is childish
Why are people saying Nintendo are childish when it's actually NOA who has done this. Not the game company.
@Jaz007 It's optional DLC. Doesn't really compare to DoA, which uses sex appeal as a way to attract people.
for me in the uncensored picture, she looks like being trying re-adjust her bikini.
in the censored picture she looks like being trying to remove it
Who cares. If people want to find worse images it's only a click away on the internet
@SMEXIZELDAMAN
It's only a click away on the internet.... ON THEIR WII U! (I was going to use 3DS but that browser is crap).
I guess it's alright for season dlc but why on the lines of it pervish art work? couldn't just keep it cleaner.
Yeah can't have the Nintendo 2 year olds seeing this stuff.
@Peach64 These pictures are quite dirty. It's not just showing them in a swim suit. It's showing a girl pull down down her bikini bottem a bit and showing a girl just barley keeping her bikini top which has been taken off and is now being barley held there in a way that's lets you see more of her. These are of a pornographic nature. From when I looked at Chrom I didn't notice him pulling his pants down (hope something's not slipping by me here). That would be what you expect when you go to a beach, not a girl who is sorta holding her disconnected bikini on. Just showing them in their beach clothes normally a beach wouldn't have them standing there pulling their bottom down.
anyone who enjoys it that much as to be real upset about it well... they just saw it now.
for sure the new one looks worse. gives it the feeling that someone is standing there about to do something. Just the tip of the iceberg in terms of really twisted Japanese 'adult' material. It'd be nice if they could just refrain all together with hyper-sexualizing every image of every woman at every age in japanese games anyway, it's pretty old and gross.
@Jaz007 She's not pulling her bottoms down on the first bikini. Haven't you seen girls fix their bikinis on the beach before?
I've always found it stupid why NoA censor games, I mean what's the point? You can still find the same thing in different places even more easily and not only that people will tend to discard nintendo and its titles for being like this, example MK, I switched to Sega for being more loyal to the arcade because of the censorship.
This is silly.......While they're at it maybe they should censor the girl cupping her breasts in the Picdun2 art....lol.......
And Nintendo wonders why some 3rd party developers don't want to mess with them because of stuff like this!! All this kind friendly non-sence ofcourse their gonna think their M rated game is just not gonna sale on it.
Whatever just don't let me hear of you doing something like this again or you'll be sorry > Also maaaan that image was HOT but still didn't deserve to get censored like that.
That shot isn't there to depict everyday normal bikini adjusting on the beach. It's there to be atleast slightly provocative. Let us be honest here.
I mean, I'm very much against these pictures (I mean Chrom looks pretty spicy but...) I really don't think it's appropriate. After watching anime and things, I know that fan service like this happens often in Japan. I don't approve, probably because of my Christian values :3.
I'm still gonna play this game, but of course I'm not gonna buy the DLC :3.
But seriously, that cloth. It makes it look so much more sexy then the original already is >_<.
They could have censored it a little better, the giant curtain from nowhere is ridiculous.
@The_Joker
Exactly what I was thinking! Having the cape in the way seems even worse.
I don't think any of the pics are that big of a deal but Nintendo probably shouldn't of put them in the game in the first place.
I don't agree with the censoring. It's T rated.
Damn censorship. Stop treating people outside of Japan like children Nintendo.
I would really prefer if they had just left it alone. The first image was fine; the only thing that made it a little suggestive were her hands I guess, but really it just looks like she's adjusting the fabric. And her face makes her seem kind of annoyed, which makes the image cute and funny to me.
The "censored" picture is ugly with the cloth, doesn't really cover up much more of the girl, (only the bikini part really) and as others have mentioned, makes it appear as though she's not wearing anything. Good job, North America :/
I also don't understand why "girl standing in a bikini" is inappropriate while "girl's bikini top actually falling off" is not?
Go Tharja! That's my wife! XD
Well it is typical for America to censor this kind of stuff. America is way to afraid to let your children see some flesh. But give a 5 year old a deadly gun for his birthday seems fine. Until that 5 year old shoots his 2 year old little sister.
If you want to se a woman in a bikini just type bikini in the google picture search.
The game is rated T, I don't really see the problem with the original pictures for the intended demographic. It's weird they allowed the picture with Cordelia considering it's far more suggestive to me than Tharja's but even so the game is rated T. There is nothing here you don't see at the beach or the city pool.
Though I guess I'm a little confused, as isn't the game rated Teen, with a "Mild Suggestive Themes" warning? Shouldn't this have already been covered by the rating? I guess I'm not sure who they're trying to protect, exactly.
Although I understand some fans might be upset about Fire Emblem's characters being promoted in a somewhat promiscuous manner, (which I do understand, as it kind of devalues the experience a bit with blatant fanservice) but at least it's optional content. Though for once I would like to see swimsuit pictures that aren't intended to be provocative. I feel bad that these characters aren't allowed to go swimming without being sexualized, lol.
So hot. Want to touch the hiney. But I can't because someone's cloak is in the way...
@Harrison_Peter "I don't agree that it's the 'what you don't see' that makes the NA image racier... as pointed out by people all over the web, it's the fact that it looks like a cape, as if someone is watching her undress and she's just realised."
And that's exactly what is happening. She's changing into a bathing suit when Anna walks in on here and then a conversation about Tharja's body commences.
I've played the DLC, and it's more funny than anything. The conversations are silly in a fun way.
I always find it hilarious that this country freaks out over a little skin or the f-bomb, but is perfectly fine allowing TV shows and games show heads getting ripped off and endless blood and killing. Aw well.
Am I the only who noticed the part where it said these download packs had japanese fan influence?
@Morphtorok Nope, it's even mentioned in this article.
It's obviously fan service.
I assume each region has their own crew to make these decisions. It's kind of fascinating to see what each area thinks will cause our heads to explode.
One way or the other, I was raised in the 80ies and nudity never was something perverted but natural. None of those pictures shown would be a reason for me to hide them from my children. The more you make something a tabu yourself the worse it actually gets. No "interaction" between characters or really revealing shots are shown, basicly: theres nothing to see you can't also see at some public lake/ocean and if you're kids are not okay with that you're bad at parenting.
@Peach64
Not according to some people.
omfg are we really in 2013?
Okay, you've got our attention by your censorship, Nintendo. But for what, exactly? I mean, is this the kind of censorship that's really worth getting upset over-- some hypersexualized anime bimbo? This is the crap worth liberating from the dictatorial grasp of Big Brother N? Yeah, yeah, the hypocrisy of the West, allowing violence but censoring the sexual-- what else is new. YAWN. I'd like to see these fanboys get the guts to get off their keyboards and out in to Real Life to picket the Nintendo offices over this-- this, this... outrage! Just for the rights to view some animated girl's bikini ass. [Scoffs, shakes head]
Well, it's not like the FE series has been brought to a kind of smutty sensationalism, right? Not a drop in quality anywhere, just the same great drama of stories and characters in the tradition of the series' past. And hey, how about those microtransactions that will all round up with your initial purchase to double the cost of what you paid? Nothing to picket over there. So, be of good cheer then, children! You'll always have your dedicated hentai sites to make up for such a blunder. =)
@Rect_Pola Hey, 'Rect-Pola, has this made your head explode? Hahaha XD
It's funny because we got the "Boingy bits" But not a full shot of her Bikini. IMO it made me believe she was wearing like a thong style or something since that she felt it was gonna rip
Really amazing that some people are so uncomfortable with the human form. It's art, and we should have been able to see it (in-game).
Definitely a case of Unnecessary Censorship. Sort of relevant.
Well mateys, I be ABSOLUTELY amazed at this one. I come here for video game news or reviews and I get a feature article about butt cheeks.
Are the majority of you so INSANELY thick that you can't realize the point of the censorship was to keep the game classy enough so as not to show bare butt cheeks? If you think the cloak cover makes it look like something else, that's how you're dirty mind works. Use your brains for ONE time. Just ONCE. Please. If you watch a movie and see someone get shot off screen, can you still imagine the dude getting shot? Ya. But if they actually show the dude get shot and his head explodes in a bloody mess the kid watchin it is gonna get disturbed, desensitized to violence, and go on a shooting spree 8 years later.
It takes a little bit of inner strength, ya know, somethin heroes have, not overweight people that live in their mom's basement and talk on video game forums, to be able to stand for somethin. This game has the stance that we're not gonna show butt cheeks cause it ain't classy. Chrom's shorts don't show cheek so I have no idea why his pic is even in the article.
This is officially the last time I visit this site. It's coming off my bookmarks bar. Keep putting up pointless dirty articles on here. I think you're making a GREAT contribution to the world
They barely censored it all though....I was expecting her to be wearing a woolly jumper. Hardly seems worth their while.
@shinobi88 I would imagine that a movie that shows someone's head exploding in a bloody mess of gore would be rated 18+. So the kid shouldn't have been there, unless the parents decided that bloody gore is something their child is mature enough to be subjected to. That's what the rating is for.
Also, whether or not you find butt cheeks classy, the "censored" version still shows almost as much "cheek". People aren't arguing about whether the original image is classy as much as they are discussing whether the "censored" version really accomplished anything.
On a related note, I guess I can't go swimming anymore without a curtain over my rear end? Keep it classy?
Lucky Ricken! (I got Tharja and him married XD)
@shinobi88 "overweight people that live in their mom's basement"
Keep it classy.
So game is already T for Teen, so this extra censorship doesn't make sense.
@Rod64 I don't know about ESRB, but PEGI didn't give FE:A the "Sex" warning (which includes nudity and suggestive clothing), so maybe they'd have to remove it from any additional content.
@Waann
Hmmm, I guess you should double check that, cause in the Americas the game has these descriptions: "Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes."
Besides, detailed explanation of the ESRB says "a few characters also wear low-cut tops that reveal deep cleavage" and "During the course of the game, there is occasional suggestive dialogue/text."
@shinobi88 That implies the game had class to begin with, which, if the censorship is any primary indication, had none in the first place. (Play any of the earlier FE games in this series and you'll understand where I'm coming from.)
Myself, after having learned how to be master over my desires, I expect a modicum more maturity in this medium now, naïve an expectation as that may be. To quote Bill Sampson in the classic film All About Eve: "The one thing - what I go after, I want to go after. I don't want it to come after me."
So, they can keep their "suggestive themes." As a grown 29-year-old man, I expect better.
This is trifling, Nintendo.
But this is a T-rated game...
"Ohhhh, this girl's boobies are pretty yummy...and Chrom looks SEXY in those sho-- OH MY GOD!! WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?! WE CAN'T LET THIS GIRL SHOW SO MUCH BUTT!! censorcensorcensor"
@Rod64 I did check it, otherwise I wouldn't have said it. From the PEGI official website:
"Fire Emblem: Awakening [www.nintendo-europe.com.]
Nintendo of Europe GmbH
The content of this game is suitable for persons aged 12 years and over only.
It contains: Mild bad language - Violence causing minor injury only"
Wait- "minor injury only"? o__o
Should children not be allowed to go to the beach anymore or something? I've seen people less on than that at the beach.
@Rod64 Yeah, it's kinda funny, I don't know how Nintendo got away with Mild suggestive themes, I was joking about it when I saw the rating actually.
Well its kinda predictable. NOA tends to be strict at this matters...
Maybe the censor was put because its a game made by nintendo.
Imagine if Atlus had made FE:A
@DarkNinja9 No, I thought she'd be wearing purple
The game is rated Teen, does Nintendo America think teens would be ruined if they saw a bikini rump?
@Prof_Elvin_Gadd and @FOURSIDE_BOY
I imagine that's your reaction to that censored image of Tharja.
It's says "Suggestive Themes" for a reason y'know.
I don't really care either way. It's not like people (obviously) can't find these images online without having even shelled out for the DLC in the first place. If someone wants to see the original, there it is.
Honestly, if they are going to put in images like this, they might as well just have an AO rated dlc story and go all out.
@jedisquidward: lol good one!
Wait, you were serious? That's even funnier.
Nintendo making another stupid decision? Simply unheard of.
Lol! What I think is even more crazy is all the sexual stuff that seems to be in this instalment of Fire emblem! Is Fire emblem always that sexual?! Nintendo isn't really the sex/violence company! Or is this a exception?
@Henmii Nah, it's just this one. I think there's been the occasional reference before, but they don't usually go for this type of fanservice. I'm honestly disappointed.
Eh, I'd rather see Anna or Tiki in that...
Ahhh, I mean... the real problem here and why they censor this stuff is just because there are too many people in Murica that will get angry about it. I guess in Japan fan service is just something they don't really care about it? I don't really know, but the point is that Nintendo probably just doesn't want to risk making some kids mom upset. Ehhh, whatever. I don't really care...
Wow...
@Morphtorok Well, if they're going to put in these obviously suggestive pictures, they might as well just go all out.
@DeviousSnorlax Totally, now I don't regret my avatar marrying and nailing her.
Ironically, nintendolife censored my previous comment irrationally, just like the tharja image.
@CaptainSquid Anna and tiki are gorgeous, but Tharja and Cordelia, man.... they make your avatar feel like a man any day.
All of you guys in North America, just save the original picture to the Nintendo 3DS Camera, BOOM! Hot suggestive picture, just a few taps away
Anyway, it's completely OK to leave the pic alone, I mean, what if she didn't fix her bikini? It would sink into her butt crack! WAAAAY more mature and suggestive than the original picture...
@DeviousSnorlax Haha! +1 for you friend! I played in a touring band though, I've seen much more than this, mostly because of the music I'm not afraid to admit lol.
It's rated T, damnit. Parents should be aware of ESRB ratings. If it's that suggestive then people wouldn't take their kids to the beach.
@Peach64 From what I've read that's not true. There seems to be a lot of contradictory information going around about this.
I may be in the minority here, but what is this stuff doing in Fire Emblem anyway?
I'd expect it from any other japanese developer than Nintendo, but this stuff is so cliché crude animé pandering that it makes me not want to play the game in the first place.
@Pod Again, fan service. I don't think Nintendo would've added it in out of their own free will. Plus it's DLC so it's not like you have to actually see these pictures in the actual game.
Uhmerikans: We LOVE sex, but we're so damned ashamed of it for no good, damned reason.
@3dsFanatic4419
Well, it's not servicing me, but then I never did play Fire Emblem, so I won't demand they start worrying about my opinion too much.
The European version didn't censor Tharja.
@Lunario yay..good thing i have fire emblem as a download version.
Oh, Cordelia...
It's not like she was wearing a thong or anything, then I would understand why it would've been censored. But seriously, It looks like someone with a cape came when she was dressing (or undressing) and she's all surprised and trying to hide her buttocks. The fact there's that floating piece of fabric covering her bottoms makes it seem like she didn't have any, which worsens the image. This game is rated TEEN, not 3 and plus, for god's sake. And, first things first, I wouldn't give a game rated TEEN to a 5 years old. I think that Cordelia should've been censored, but I guess it would've been hard to have a random cape jump out of nowhere to cover her breasts. And also, I don't see parents hiding their kid's eyes at the beach when there's a woman in a bikini. Way to go, Nintendo.
Give us tha booty
I'm sure that we're all absolutely shocked by this situation. It's not like Nintendo of America has been making idiotic, pointless censors since the '80s or anything. No sir, this is completely out of character.
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