Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII grabs a Teen rating from the ESRB

With its Japanese release a little over a month away and its Western Release due early next year, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is now in a complete enough state that ratings boards can begin to look at it - and the first to weigh in is the North American ESRB, awarding the game a T for Teen - the typical rating for FF titles.

"Players use swords, axes, guns, and magical attacks (e.g., thunder/lightning, fireballs, energy blasts) to battle demons, dragons, elaborate robots, and other human-like characters," the rating notes. "Battles are highlighted by sword slashing sound effects, explosions, and occasional slow-motion effects."

Cutscenes are pulled up specifically as being a little more violent, with the ESRB listing some vague details that the spoiler sensitive may wish to avoid.

"Cutscenes occasionally depict characters being impaled by swords, and/or dissolving into particles," they report. "One element of the story concerns a cult-like group suspected of murdering several young girls who resemble Lightning. Corpses are depicted in a handful of scenes, some lying in pools of blood with notes pinned to their bodies."

One element of the game that has already caught the attention of fans and the press are some of the skimpy outfits that hero Lightning can be decked out in, including a tribute to FF14's catgirls, the Miqo'tes. 

"Female characters are occasionally depicted wearing revealing outfits (e.g., tops that show moderate amounts of cleavage), and one cutscene scene features camera angles that linger on a female character’s chest and buttocks as she discusses a performance with a male director."

The rating also pulls up Lightning Returns for featuring drunken characters, alcohol, and a quest where Lightning helps out a drunk by fetching high-end booze. She's also able to purchase beer and tequila from bars and drink it to replenish her health, which I can report most certainly doesn't work in real life. 

"The words 'ass,' and 'bastard' appear in the dialogue," the rating concludes. Naughty, naughty.