As standard, game reviews are divided into two types: a platform review, and a review by an organisation called "CERO". Let's take a closer look at the events that led to these reviews being implemented, and what they entail.
The genesis of platform reviews came with the Family Computer (Famicom), a home console that was a big hit in the 1980s. Riding along on this unprecedented boom, some companies with low morals began churning out low-quality software without obtaining the permission of Nintendo. Games containing depictions of a sexual nature aimed at adults also appeared on the market. This spurred Nintendo to propose a condition that game makers must submit to a review of their games' content by Nintendo.
Following on from this, not just Nintendo but also other hardware makers began to establish their own unique review standards. However, since there were many problems with each maker having their own review criteria, an organisation called "CERO" was created to review the entire gaming industry uniformly, including depictions of sex and violence.
What is the difference between these two systems? Scenario writer Yokoyama explains. "Basically, all CERO do is conduct a general content review and publicise the results. They didn't ask us to change anything in the game. On the other hand, in the platform review we were given pointers like, 'What was the intention behind the way this scene is shown? Can you change it?' So SCE's screening was tougher than CERO's. But because SCE's Kitagawa looked over it so carefully, we got important clues as to how the average player and women would feel about it."