Digimon All-Star Rumble ESRB Rating Mentions 'Moderate Amounts of Cleavage'

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) assigned its official rating to Digimon All-Star Rumble for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game received an E10+ (Everyone 10 and older), but a specific detail in the rating summary highlighted content beyond the expected cartoon violence: collectible cards featuring female characters with outfits showing “moderate amounts of cleavage.”

Gameplay Described by the ESRB

The board’s full description provides a clear overview of the game’s mechanics. It is categorized as an action game where players control Digimon creatures through both platforming environments and one-on-one battles. This structure points to a 3D arena fighter with exploration elements.

The combat summary details a variety of attacks. Digimon can throw fireballs, use physical strikes with tails and tongues, and deploy special moves to deplete an opponent’s health bar. The ESRB also noted the presence of “blaster guns and oversized missiles that explode upon impact,” confirming a mix of fantasy and projectile-based combat. The description of battling enemy creatures like “snails, giant apes” suggests a story or adventure mode that complements the primary player-versus-player fighting.

The Content Descriptor

The most specific part of the rating summary was the line: “Collectible cards include images of female characters wearing outfits that reveal moderate amounts of cleavage.” This content descriptor is intended to give parents and consumers a more complete understanding of a game’s content. While the E10+ rating covers the general tone and cartoon violence, this note provides specific information about character portrayal.

The descriptor clarifies that the content appears on in-game collectible cards, which often use detailed, static artwork that may differ from the dynamic in-game character models. Speculation at the time suggested that Angelwoman, a playable fighter in the game, was a likely reason for this note. Her established design in the Digimon franchise is characteristically revealing, which aligns with the ESRB’s description.

Release and Competition

Digimon All-Star Rumble was scheduled for release on November 11, 2014. This launch date placed it in a competitive market, as it was released in the same month as Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. As another mascot-based fighting game, Digimon All-Star Rumble was seen as a competitor, though it was for a different console generation. Both titles were vying for the attention of players seeking character-driven fighting games during the busy holiday season.