Spike Chunsoft’s upcoming Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness action RPG video game has been given a CERO Z rating in Japan.
Beginning as a Japanese manga in 2012 and later a 2017 anime; the series follows orphaned girl Riko. Her mother had ventured deep into the Abyss; a giant hole next to the town where the treasures of an ancient civilization are said to dwell. However, the deeper one goes, the worse the “Curse of the Abyss” will be when they try to ascend.
Riko seeks to become a White Whistle; those who have become legendary cave raiders. She finds a robot resembling a human boy in the Abyss, whom she names Reg, and soon after a balloon drifts up from the depths of the Abyss.
Containing pages from Lyza’s discoveries, it also tells Riko that she is waiting for her at the bottom of the Abyss. Riko and Reg begin their dangerous and horrifying adventure to the depths.
The series is well known for its gore and horror elements- especially body horror and dark themes- and how it was a surprising considering the cutsey character designs of the main characters. It seems the game has honored this, with Game Watch (translation: DeepL) reporting the game has received a CERO Z rating by the Japanese ratings board.
In CERO (the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization), A is for all ages, B is for 12 and older, C is for 15 and older, and D is for 17 and older without parental consent. However, Z makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy the game.
Game Watch asked Spike Chunsoft if the “Cartridges” would appear in the game. Spike Chunsoft simply stated “We respect the original work, and with the cooperation and understanding of the people involved, we are developing this game to satisfy the fans of the original work.”
A worldwide release was previously announced, with the European physical version handled by Numskull Games. The anime received a TV-MA for the DVD release in the United States, a 15 in the United Kingdom, a 12 in Germany (it should be noted some nations had censored versions of the show), and 16 in Spain.
As the manga and anime has been sold in the west, it is unlikely the game will be banned from sale; except from maybe Germany or Australia. The game may see a similar 18+ or mature rating in many western countries. The Japanese rating may also imply trailers or a more firm release date announcement will come soon.
You can find the rundown (via Spike Chunsoft) below.
Made in Abyss is a fantasy manga by Akihito Tsukushi, published on WEB Comic Gamma (Takeshobo) since 2012. The unique juxtaposition of its gentle art style with a dark, brutal storyline captured the hearts of many fans. A TV anime version aired in 2017 followed by a compilation movie in 2019 and a completely new theatrical movie in January 2020. A sequel to the anime series was also announced in January 2020, promising to provide fans with more exciting content in addition to the manga series.
In the 3D Action RPG, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness, the player descends into the world of the Abyss and grows through their experience in its depths. The player can relive the experience of the anime in story mode as well as explore an original story supervised by the series author, Akihito Tsukushi. Fans are sure to enjoy the dark fantasy elements that remain true to the unique flavor of the original work. Many characters from Made in Abyss appear as well, and event scenes are fully voiced by the cast from the anime.
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness’ original story takes place many days after Riko and Reg depart for the Abyss. The world’s sole remaining, unconquered chasm, the Abyss, is the stage where many adventures are born…and disappear.
Those who appear in these stories are mesmerized by the power of the Abyss and aim for the bottom of the netherworld.
The story about to be told is of the adventures of a nameless Cave Raider in the Abyss…
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness launches 2022 for Windows PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4.
