Skyrim Age Classification

Rose_Gold

My DS is looking for this game for Xmas but I see it has an 18 classification on it and he is not 18. Can anyone who has played this game enlighten me as to what is in it that may not be suitable i.e. language/violence etc? Many thanks.

Mr E

Have a read through this thread - seems pretty safe for early teens. No sex and some spurts of blood (nothing they won't have seen if they've played a Call of Duty or Battlefield game)

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/user-reviews/adult

Digital Solitude

No bad language from what I recall, and I've a few hundred hours in it.

The core gameplay is violence, mainly swordplay. You hit someone with a sword and then the ground is stained a bit red, there's nothing overly gory in it, the occasional decapitation is as bad as I remember it.

It's just a silly fantasy game, I imagine any 12 or 13 year old would be fine with the violence.

Zero sexual themes iirc, as naked as the women cal possibly get is a loincloth and not very revealing boob tube essentially. I think there's a few statues with their tits out but thats pretty PG

Temptamperu

Just cartoon violence really, theirs no bad language or nudes (unless mods) my nephew played at about 11 we just lost him for a couple of hundred hours.

Shiminay

What is a DS?

Anyway, it's quite visceral and bloody with combat frequently featuring dismemberment and there are even "kill animations" when you take down the last of a gang of enemies to show you you've passed the wave.

Also potential for nudity and so on depending on the mods installed (no idea if the consoles support those sorts of mods, but the PC most assuredly does).

Flint Fredstone

What's a DS? Apart from the Nintendo thing obviously.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

There's a lot of skeleton/'zombie'/spider stuff in it, I can't play it when my friends' kids' are over because they get scared, but they're <10.

Can't think of anything in it that would really justify that rating, and like the posters above I've played for a couple hundred hours at least. COD or GTA would have way more mature content.

Wailin

Shiminay wrote: »

What is a DS?

Anyway, it's quite visceral and bloody with combat frequently featuring dismemberment and there are even "kill animations" when you take down the last of a gang of enemies to show you you've passed the wave.

Also potential for nudity and so on depending on the mods installed (no idea if the consoles support those sorts of mods, but the PC most assuredly does).

Seriously? The game is fine op for 13/14 yr olds. Its not grand theft auto. Get him the game and make him happy. My 14yr old is playing it at the moment and i played it before him.....nothing in it you should be worried about.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Shiminay wrote: »

Also potential for nudity and so on depending on the mods installed (no idea if the consoles support those sorts of mods, but the PC most assuredly does).

Mods do with Skyrim SE.

Shiminay

If it was fine for 13/14 year olds, it wouldn't have a PEGI 18 rating...

The Specialist

Wailin wrote: »

Seriously? The game is fine op for 13/14 yr olds. Its not grand theft auto. Get him the game and make him happy. My 14yr old is playing it at the moment and i played it before him.....nothing in it you should be worried about.

Really? I don't recall any GTA where I was able to sever individual limbs from a body. This is an 18's game for a reason. This crap of "sure its grand for a13/14 year old" is exactly what lets the media make gaming a scapegoat for every type of ****wittery it can put on it. Its an adults only product for adults only.

If you don't let your child watch 18 cert movies, then don't let them play 18's rated games. They are certified that way for a good reason.

Temptamperu

OSI wrote: »

Dearest Son in mumsnet/etc speak.

this needs to be banned

Digital Solitude

Jesus, I've seen more graphic stuff when I was 5 years old, can you imagine a 15 or 16 year old being traumatised by the horror of Skyrim? Talk about generation snowflake, that's only pandering to it.

There's no nudity on the PS4 or XONE versions, even with mods.

EoinHef

Skyrim is 18's?? News to me,maybe 15's at a push but i dont remember anything in the game that would need an 18's cert

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

The Specialist wrote: »

Really? I don't recall any GTA where I was able to sever individual limbs from a body. This is an 18's game for a reason. This crap of "sure its grand for a13/14 year old" is exactly what lets the media make gaming a scapegoat for every type of ****wittery it can put on it. Its an adults only product for adults only.

If you don't let your child watch 18 cert movies, then don't let them play 18's rated games. They are certified that way for a good reason.

OP, I suggest having a look a little bit more online about reviews, the rating system isn't perfect so use it more of a guidance. PEGi have rated this 18 based on the violence in the game. As far as games go, the violence is quite normal. The ratings board are over zealous when it comes to violence in my opinion.

There are some monster type characters in the game, but should be fine for a 13/14 year old, unless he is very sensitive to that sort of thing.

There's no nudity or sexual references that I can remember. There's also no swearing

Shiminay

"The violence is quite normal" - y'see that's a sign that we're all (and I very much include myself in this) quite desensitised to this sort of thing, but I have numerous friends (adults in their 30s) who would be utterly horrified by the violence in Skyrim and/or any other number of games I play. They're not snowflakes, they just don't like violence and don't engage with any media that presents it in so visceral a manner.

"I saw more graphic stuff when I was a kid" is only an indication of you having parents who didn't care enough, or most likely, didn't think enough to monitor what sort of content you were consuming and how.

People being graphically dismembered and blood flowing freely, even in a game, is very graphic stuff folks. That's not to say this particular kid shouldn't play, but maybe the OP will want to sit with him and talk about what's happening on the screen and make sure that it's not a problem or that they understand the almost cartoon nature of it because Skyrim is a mostly violent power fantasy stuff from start to finish.

[edit]
Well done you OP for being contientuous enough to want to check, too many parents simply wouldn't bother and would have bought the game already.

It really is a great game mind you, there's hundreds of hours of game play in it.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

The actual combat in Skyrim is very tame and bloodless, I would have said. There's more gore that you just come across after the fact though.

OP do you know any other games he plays and likes, or films? The Age classification is what it is but it might be easier to gauge his level.

Digital Solitude

That's quite alright for your friends, obviously the young fella does want to engage with the content, for someone who wishes to play the game, its not at all an adult game imo.

It wasn't games or cinema, it was real life when I was a child. Growing up on a farm you meet death quite regularly, I'm probably more desensitised than most because of it so perhaps my opinion that its fairly light stuff is unfair, I'd consider most things in games light. Infact I think Manhunt is the only game that ever shocked me.

I see where you're coming from Shim, but imo you're overplaying it. The OP has final call I guess, there aren't many facts when it comes to this, only opinions.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Shiminay wrote: »

"The violence is quite normal" - y'see that's a sign that we're all (and I very much include myself in this) quite desensitised to this sort of thing, but I have numerous friends (adults in their 30s) who would be utterly horrified by the violence in Skyrim and/or any other number of games I play. They're not snowflakes, they just don't like violence and don't engage with any media that presents it in so visceral a manner.

"I saw more graphic stuff when I was a kid" is only an indication of you having parents who didn't care enough, or most likely, didn't think enough to monitor what sort of content you were consuming and how.

People being graphically dismembered and blood flowing freely, even in a game, is very graphic stuff folks. That's not to say this particular kid shouldn't play, but maybe the OP will want to sit with him and talk about what's happening on the screen and make sure that it's not a problem or that they understand the almost cartoon nature of it because Skyrim is a mostly violent power fantasy stuff from start to finish.

[edit]
Well done you OP for being contientuous enough to want to check, too many parents simply wouldn't bother and would have bought the game already.

It really is a great game mind you, there's hundreds of hours of game play in it.

How very judgmental of you.

As far as games like this go, the violence is indeed very normal. The blood is not very detailed or plentiful really.

Toots

What age is your son OP? If he's early teens I'd be inclined to say no. If he's 16 he's probably seen worse already.

Dyr

OSI wrote: »

Dearest Son in mumsnet/etc speak.

Sweet mother of divine.

OP: Get out.

TerrorFirmer

Anyone who thinks Skyrim is too much for a 14 year old is somewhat leading a very sheltered life. There's no nudity, no profanity, and the violence isn't exactly extreme, not to mention it's also a fantasy setting.

Really? I don't recall any GTA where I was able to sever individual limbs from a body.

Then you might recall the GTA's that are full of profanity, drugs, glamorisation of murder, prosititutes, sex, et. all.

It's an individual choice but to paint Skyrim as some sort of hardcore adults only title full of extreme bloodletting and gore is ridiculously OTT. It's in no way, shape, or form comparable to the majority of 18-cert titles like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto in terms of content.

There's arguably more graphic violence in movies like Warcraft/Lord of the Rings, which do feature decapitation and blood letting at a 12A cert.

The Specialist

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Anyone who thinks Skyrim is too much for a 14 year old is somewhat leading a very sheltered life. There's no nudity, no profanity, and the violence isn't exactly extreme, not to mention it's also a fantasy setting.



Then you might recall the GTA's that are full of profanity, drugs, glamorisation of murder, prosititutes, sex, et. all.

It's an individual choice but to paint Skyrim as some sort of hardcore adults only title full of extreme bloodletting and gore is ridiculously OTT. It's in no way, shape, or form comparable to the majority of 18-cert titles like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto in terms of content.

There's arguably more graphic violence in movies like Warcraft/Lord of the Rings, which do feature decapitation and blood letting at a 12A cert.

You're missing my point.Gaming gets so much stick over children being able to play violent games as easy as picking up sweets. I point out that there is an age classification on games for a reason and people are suggesting to ignore that system? We can argue about the violence and how tame/brutal it is all day long but the cert is there for a reason.

A Serbian Film is rated 18's but I doubt anybody here would be recommending that to a 13/14 year old "cos they might have seen worse". An age rating is an age rating and if the medium is ever going to get respect, they need to be adhered to not ignored.

TerrorFirmer

You're taking a ridiculously black and white approach to it. Comparing 'A Serbian Film', which features babies being raped, people murdered, snuff films, violent incest and worse besides, to a game set in a fantasy world that's only excess is being able to cut off climbs during sword combat is recommended 18+ (but not actually rated by any statutory body) just compounds that narrow thinking.

GTA V features extreme profanity, with a plot that centres around gang activity, gang violence, murder, and more besides. Both are recommended 18+, despite the fact that Skyrim has zero profanity, zero nudity and only moderate violence in a fantasy setting. You're saying they're the exact same and zero discretion should be exercised by a parent?

The Specialist

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

You're taking a ridiculously black and white approach to it. Comparing 'A Serbian Film', which features babies being raped, people murdered, snuff films, violent incest and worse besides, to a game set in a fantasy world that's only excess is being able to cut off climbs during sword combat is recommended 18+ (but not actually rated by any statutory body) just compounds that narrow thinking.

GTA V features extreme profanity, with a plot that centres around gang activity, gang violence, murder, and more besides. Both are recommended 18+, despite the fact that Skyrim has zero profanity, zero nudity and only moderate violence in a fantasy setting. You're saying they're the exact same and zero discretion should be exercised by a parent?

What I'm saying is by actively advising someone to ignore the 18s cert, you open a rabbit hole of what might actually be behind that cert (and your post very adequately describes that). Skyrim is grand in that sense but GTA V is also there. What happens when DOP (sorry for robbing your trendy abbreviation OP) walks in on a virtual blowjob when they are expecting their child to be playing a nice but gritty fantasy like Skyrim? Sure it was grand the first time played an 18's game? That kind of **** let's people up on their high horse and on the phone to Joe Duffy whinging about it.

I'm by no means a hand wringer or think of the children type, but it pisses me off when gaming is striving to include "mature" storytelling and it gets brushed off as "sure it will be grand, he's probably seen worse". It makes a mockery of the medium and gives the media ammunition against it.

Wailin

The Specialist wrote: »

What I'm saying is by actively advising someone to ignore the 18s cert, you open a rabbit hole of what might actually be behind that cert (and your post very adequately describes that). Skyrim is grand in that sense but GTA V is also there. What happens when DOP (sorry for robbing your trendy abbreviation OP) walks in on a virtual blowjob when they are expecting their child to be playing a nice but gritty fantasy like Skyrim? Sure it was grand the first time played an 18's game? That kind of **** let's people up on their high horse and on the phone to Joe Duffy whinging about it.

I'm by no means a hand wringer or think of the children type, but it pisses me off when gaming is striving to include "mature" storytelling and it gets brushed off as "sure it will be grand, he's probably seem worse". It makes a mockery of the medium and gives the media ammunition against it.

They didn't ask about gta, they asked about skyrim. Get off your high judgmental horse and stop being so sensitive. Anyone old enough to remember Mary Whitehouse? Sheeesh.

Carlos Orange

You can view information from the rating body online but it is fairly limited.

http://www.pegi.info/en/index/global_id/505/?searchString=skyrim

I don't see the DS version listed but I presume they are all much the same. It says "It contains: Extreme violence - Violence towards defenceless people" and has the icon for violence.

http://www.pegi.info/en/index/id/33/

For 18+ it says "The adult classification is applied when the level of violence reaches a stage where it becomes a depiction of gross violence and/or includes elements of specific types of violence. Gross violence is the most difficult to define since it can be very subjective in many cases, but in general terms it can be classed as the depictions of violence that would make the viewer feel a sense of revulsion."
I tend to think video game ratings are a bit extreme compared to other medium but I think that may be related to the difference between doing something in games verses seeing something in a film.

OldGoat

Bambi wrote: »

Sweet mother of divine.

SMoD - abbreviated for your convenience.

OP, look for a few online reviews on Youtube and judge for yourself.

Rose_Gold

Bambi wrote: »

Sweet mother of divine.

OP: Get out.

:D

Rose_Gold

Shiminay wrote: »

What is a DS?

It's an abbreviation for Darling Son

Rose_Gold

Toots wrote: »

What age is your son OP? If he's early teens I'd be inclined to say no. If he's 16 he's probably seen worse already.

He's actually only 8 so I'm going to talk him out of it ... he's just mad into dragons and has seen his cousin playing this game and decided he wanted it.

Rose_Gold

Thank you all for the feedback and the information.

CiDeRmAn

My 13 year old has been playing it since he was 12!
There is violence but nothing they wouldn't have been exposed to in the Lord of the Rings or Hobbit movie franchises.
If you were comfortable with him watching those, Skyrim isn't too bad.
Best suggestion is to sit in with him as he plays it, to satisfy yourself that it is appropriate or take the necessary steps if it is not.

elfy4eva

If you'd be happy for him to watch the hobbit or Lord of the Rings movies. This is fine.

Mr E

8 is definitely a bit young, alright.
Glad we could help.

Shiminay

Can't blame any youngfella for wanting to get stuck into that dragon action!

The final boss of Minecraft is a dragon... Just sayin'...

Temptamperu

I let my 7 year old nephew play a bit... He massacred everyone in Whiterun and I was horrified.

Maximus Alexander

OSI wrote: »

Dearest Son in mumsnet/etc speak.

Sort of implies there's another second rate, less dear son on the scene. Poor chap. No Skyrim for him.

Rose_Gold

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Sort of implies there's another second rate, less dear son on the scene. Poor chap. No Skyrim for him.

Darling Son (one and only)

Kal El

OSI wrote: »

Dearest Son in mumsnet/etc speak.

Hahahahaahahaha thats hilarious. Im dying :pac:
Why not just use son for christ sakes

super_furry

Yeah I'd say eight is probably a little bit too young really. There are some darker themes in there that a kid of that age could have problems with.

Well fair play for asking OP , too many go out and blindly buy what ever their DS (couldn't resist using that :pac: ) asks for.

ShadowHearth

Hmm 8.... With all my gamer essence I want to say: "Just buy your DS ( still funny, sorry) Skyrim and let him lose"
I played mortal kombat when I was 8 and turned out pretty okay, I think anyway.

I got a 7 year old girl at home and if she would want to play Skyrim I most likely would let her, if she would want to play fallout 4 - no fing way!

I think best bet would be for op to look more at Skyrim footage and reviews. Decide for herself. Put a bit more Intrest in DS gaming. Its not that expensive. Buy it and let him play it. Watch how he plays it and what he does. If he actually interested in dragon's, lore, quests and world, I would say let hin lose! If he goes full on mode rampage on friendly village and killing everyone, then out away game in a cupboard for the next 8 years.

ED E

Last guardian came out today and is "Dragon-like" and not violent. From 15mins of gameplay it looks excellent. If he has a playstation.

Taylor365

I'd say get it. By the time he finishes it, he'll be 12!

Sand

Shiminay wrote: »

"The violence is quite normal" - y'see that's a sign that we're all (and I very much include myself in this) quite desensitised to this sort of thing

Ah come on. You'd be more traumatised watching the evening news. The violence is cartoonish, and not actually convincing with poor matching up of the animations. I'd be horrified if someone was stabbed or decapitated, but Skyrim is just a game, looks like a game, plays like game and is a game. Nobody suffers PTSD from playing Call of Duty.

And who actually melees in Skyrim anyway? That requires walking. Bound Bow, sneak attack, auto Soul Trap FTW.

aaronjumper

Sand wrote: »

And who actually melees in Skyrim anyway? That requires walking. Bound Bow, sneak attack, auto Soul Trap FTW.

My Vampire Lord Nord does. Even has vampiric drain on his Daedric sword and Spellbreaker in the other hand.
Bow is only for dragons that refuse to land

before you get dragonrend

and super stealthy assassinations.

This is all off topic but I wanted you to know.

Shiminay

I have never seen anyone getting cut up into pieces on the news, nor have I seen them being shot. I've seen the results of these actions, but not the actions themselves and I've certainly never had any agency over these actions when seeing their results on the news...

I'm not trying to be Helen Lovejoy or Mary Whitehouse here folks, I'm just reminding us all that our experiences are quite skewed from the norm and we'd be foolish to suggest it was a representative of the greater populace.

Also: my first playthrough character was a big Nord with a bigger battle-axe that eviscerated all of the things in melee combat (usually only took a couple of swings)

awec

Shiminay wrote: »

I have never seen anyone getting cut up into pieces on the news, nor have I seen them being shot. I've seen the results of these actions, but not the actions themselves and I've certainly never had any agency over these actions when seeing their results on the news...

I'm not trying to be Helen Lovejoy or Mary Whitehouse here folks, I'm just reminding us all that our experiences are quite skewed from the norm and we'd be foolish to suggest it was a representative of the greater populace.

Also: my first playthrough character was a big Nord with a bigger battle-axe that eviscerated all of the things in melee combat (usually only took a couple of swings)

I think it's you being foolish here if you're trying to tell us the greater populace would see something like Skyrim as notably violent.

Sand

For me I think the most disturbing game was Dying Light. You'd have infected people screaming and snarling and chasing you and naturally you'd have the 'Feck off, feck off, feck off, die, die, die!' reaction as you'd be beating them to death. Aggression being a natural response to being pursued.

And every now and again, the infected would suddenly revert back to their human persona and beg for their lives, cringing and huddling down. Of course, as soon as you turned your back the infection kicked back in and they attacked you. So you essentially had to beat someone to death as they begged for their life. That was weird - and thankfully rare. I could see Dying Light as a genuinely 18s game for that reason.

But nothing like that happens in Skyrim. Its PG 13 in my book.