14 DAY TRIAL // Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes has landed a Mature 17+ rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, a feat not entirely surprising.
The game received four content warnings in the ESRB Rating Information, for blood and gore, intense violence, strong language and marking a first in the franchise's history, sexual violence.
“The game includes an audio file in which a female character is sexually assaulted by male characters; while there is no visual depiction, sounds of ripped clothing and struggle can be heard,” the ESRB said.
The inclusion of sexual violence would normally instantly earn an 18+ badge, but in this case the violence is only suggested, not actually depicted.
The rest is pretty much run-off-the-mill shooter stuff, realistic gunfire, large blood splatter effects, use of firearms, choking and stabbing, the ability to kill non-adversary characters and some depictions of gore.
Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes serves as a prologue for the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain and is slated for a March release for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.