Adventure Gamers - Forums

Given the other thread and its discussion of censorship, I thought it would be worthwhile to create a thread that simply lists all the censorship that has been done to adventure games for various reasons over the years so people can try to find whatever version suits them best. This is a rather incomplete list at the moment but together we can make it better. If you know of any examples not listed please contribute. If there are any errors on the list, please point them out.

1979 Revolution: Black Friday: Banned in Iran for political reasons

Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None: The game perpetuates the censorship of the original novel “Ten Little Niggers”, both in name and content. All versions censored.

Amerzone: Nudity censored in some versions. Uncensored: German PS1 [SLES-02348], Spanish PC CD & the French, German, Italian & Spanish GOG.com releases. Censored: UK PS1 [SLES-02347], US Boxed PC CD [Casterman], English GOG.com.

Another Code: Two Memories: Name changed in US to “Trace Memory” for IP reasons. See: https://tcrf.net/Trace_Memory

Beneath a Steel Sky: Some versions of the game have removed the Fosters beer logo in the intro due to IP issues. English GOG.com version is uncensored (and free!).

Beyond: Two Souls: Uncensored in Russia & US. Censored in Europe for violence. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=892274

Broken Sword 1: Blood removed from several scenes in Director’s Cut version and many death scenes removed. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=254238

Broken Sword 2: Censoring in Remastered Edition end scene. A glow is added that conceals the melting skin.

Culpa Innata: Steam version has missing content.

Deja Vu: International NES version has drug, alcohol, hooker references and blood removed. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=3925. Also see: https://tcrf.net/Deja_Vu_(NES). Japanese NES version is uncensored.

Dreamweb: Nudity censored in Australian version. Original version was banned there.

Elvira 2: The Jaws of Cerberus: C64 version has pin-up girls replaced with pin-up guys, some profanity is removed and there is less blood. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=909294

Fahrenheit (aka Indigo Prophecy): Sex scenes/nudity censored in original PC, Xbox, PS2 US and Japanese versions. English GOG.com version is uncensored. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5975613

Gobliiins: Nudity censored in some versions. GOG.com’s version is censored.

Harvester: Banned in Germany and censored in the UK. Not available from GOG.com for German customers. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=363639

Heavy Rain: Nudity and sex scenes censored in Japanese version. Banned in Saudi Arabia & U.A.E.

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream: Nimdok scenes removed in German and French versions due to Nazi references. Those two languages are censored from GOG.com, but the English version is uncut.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Nazi swastikas and things like Mein Kampf altered/removed from German edition

King’s Quest 5: NES version has violence and religous themes censored: See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King’s_Quest_V#NES

Kronolog: The Nazi Paradox: In Germany the game name was changed to Red Hell and the story was completely altered so that it was about the Soviets instead of the Nazis. All artwork pertaining to Nazis was altered to match the change.

L.A. Noire: Nudity censored in Japan. Banned in Saudi Arabia.

Leisure Suit Larry 3: Censored if one can’t answer all the trivia questions at the beginning of the game. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5975615

Loom: Missing blood in FM Towns and PC-CD versions. GOG.com version censored. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=378995. Also at http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=802320

Lucius: Banned on GOG.com for German customers.

Maniac Mansion: NES version has language and provocative artwork censored. See: http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/maniac.html. Also at http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=3819

Martin Mystere (aka Crime Stories): Nudity censored in US version.

Monkey Island 1: In-game Sam & Max references removed from Special Edition for IP reasons. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=649414

Monkey Island 2: In-game Sam & Max references removed from Special Edition for IP reasons. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=472381

Monkey Island 3: The Curse of Monkey Island: The song “A Pirate I Was Meant to Be” and its puzzle were removed due to translation difficulty in the International versions.

Night Trap: Temporarily banned in US.

Overclocked: Nudity censored in intro in US and UK boxed versions of the game published by Lighthouse Interactive/TAC, the English version on GOG.com and also on Steam. Russian and German versions uncensored.

Phantasmagoria 1: Banned in Australia because of rape scene and nudity.

Phantasmagoria 2: Various versions censored for violence. English GOG.com version is uncut, but not sold to German customers. More details at http://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/SCI/Phantasmagoria_2_Censorship. Also at http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=3990

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Nationality of gay restaurant chef changed from French to Lebanese in French version. See: https://tcrf.net/Phoenix_Wright:_Ace_Attorney#Regional_Differences

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for All: A piece of background art was altered in the NDS version for resembling a penis. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=90387

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations: Nationality of gay restaurant chef changed from French to Italian in French version.

Policenauts: Groping mechanic toned down in console versions.

Quest for Glory: Originally called Hero’s Quest, but the name was changed due to an IP conflict with a board game company.

Rise of the Dragon: Sex scene and some other stuff removed from SegaCD version. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=788401

Roberta Williams Anthology: Banned in Australia for including Phantasmagoria demo.

Shady Brook (2016 Remake): iOS and Android versions censored. PC version uncut.

Snatcher: Nudity, gore, sexual content and more censored in PS1, Saturn and SegaCD versions. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=958309

Space Quest 1: “Droids R Us” was changed to “Droids B Us” in later releases due to IP conflict with the retailer Toys R Us. The band ZZ Top was depicted in the game but removed in later versions due to an IP conflict. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5975599. Also: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5975600

Space Quest 4: Radio Shock parody store removed in CD version due to IP conflict. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5975600

Tender Loving Care: Banned in Australia as a game for nudity and sexual references, but later allowed when submitted as a movie instead. iOS version is censored as well.

Uninvited: In the US NES version, the address of the house is changed to make it less Satanic, artwork such as pentagrams are altered, and some death descriptions are changed to be less graphic. See: http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=3892. Also see: https://tcrf.net/Uninvited_(NES). Japanese NES version is uncensored.

Voyeur: Banned in Australia for discussion of incest plus other sexually explicit topics.

Walking Dead Season 1: Violence censored in Japan.

Walking Dead Season 2: Violence censored in Japan.

Yesterday: Nudity censored in some editions. Russian version is uncensored.

Great list, will try to contribute.
The PW one is hilarious

Karlok - 02 August 2016 05:41 PM

How about Night Trap, the mother of all censored games.

I added it to the list, but I’ll have to read up more on it. I don’t know anything other than that it was temporarily banned and helped spark congressional hysteria over games at the time.

On an unrelated note, I just checked and Amerzone is censored on GOG.com and in the US boxed version. I’ve updated the list. I also added that the Russian version of Yesterday is uncensored. I forgot to mention that the first time around.

If anyone has any information about Steam versions of games it would be helpful as I don’t shop there and hence have no way of knowing what versions they sell. I would imagine they sell the same versions as GOG, but who knows?

Lady Kestrel - 02 August 2016 07:42 PM

D - 02 August 2016 07:13 PM

On an unrelated note, I just checked and Amerzone is censored on GOG.com and in the US boxed version. I’ve updated the list.

Why?  Is it because they don’t want to offend any S. American dictators or because of the priest being killed?

I’m not really the person to ask about why people are so afraid of nudity. It’s just completely irrational and I simply can’t comprehend it no matter how hard I try. Quantum physics is a cakewalk by comparison.

And again, on an unrelated note, I just checked and can confirm that Beneath a Steel Sky is uncensored (and free) on GOG.com. OTOH, Overclocked is censored on GOG.com. The list has been updated.

D - 02 August 2016 08:04 PM

Overclocked is censored on GOG.com. The list has been updated.

Also censored on Steam

wilco - 02 August 2016 08:42 PM

D - 02 August 2016 08:04 PM

Overclocked is censored on GOG.com. The list has been updated.

Also censored on Steam

Thanks! Updated.

I also added a screenshot comparison for Martin Mystere above.

As the US version (Crime Stories) is less buggy than the European version from what I recall, but has censorship, I’ve figured out how to modify one with the other.

Download the uncensored files from here: https://www.sendspace.com/file/mw7309

Then copy the files into the Crime Stories install directory named media and overwrite. You now have the best (English) version of the game.

http://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/SCI/Phantasmagoria_2_Censorship

So many variants,

I guess Phantasmagoria 1 was censored too?

I’m surprised neither The 7th Guest not The 11th Hour are on the list.

Beyond: Two Souls seems to have been censored in Europe - some scenes of violence were edited out

http://kotaku.com/beyond-two-souls-is-slightly-censored-for-europe-1438768122

Philips cdi ver of Vouyer series is more graphic in nudity

I never get why many people don’t mind watching people do the most horrible things to each other but as soon as a nipple comes into view everybody panicks and total hell breaks loose. As D says: Quantum physics is much easier to understand.

Interesting list D!