Censorship

Censorship refers to the suppression of material that may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by governments, media outlets, authorities or other groups or institutions. In video games, things are sometimes censored due to ratings concerns. The Final Fantasy series games have seen some changes from their original versions due to sensitivities towards profanity, religious imagery, sexual imagery, and violence and gory content.
== Appearances ==
=== Final Fantasy ===
The 1990 North American localization was essentially identical to the original Japanese game. However, technical limitations, and the censorship policies of Nintendo of America, resulted in a few minor changes to certain elements. Nintendo of America policy prohibited games from featuring any overt Judeo-Christian imagery or reference to death. Some graphics were modified so that, for instance, churches—renamed "clinics"—no longer featured crosses. This is also probably why the Kill spell was renamed as "Rub".
In the original Japanese Famicom version, the MEDUSA and GrMEDUSA are topless. This was changed for the American NES localization and all subsequent releases.
FF Japanese - Church.png|A church (Famicom).
FF - Clinic.png|Clinic (NES).
FFI Medusa NES Japanese.png|MEDUSA (Famicom).
Medusa-ff1-nes.png|MEDUSA (NES).
GrMEDUSA from FFI Famicom sprite.png |GrMEDUSA (Famicom).
GrMEDUSA from FFI NES sprite.png |GrMEDUSA (NES).
=== Final Fantasy II ===
Following the successful release of the original Final Fantasy by Nintendo in 1990, Square Soft, Square's North American subsidiary, began work on an English language localization of Final Fantasy II. Although a beta version was produced, and the game was advertised in several Square Soft trade publications, the age of the original Japanese game and the arrival of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the NES's successor console, led Square Soft to cancel work on the Final Fantasy II localization in favor of the recently released Final Fantasy IV (which, to avoid confusing North American gamers, was retitled Final Fantasy II).
Even at the prototype stage changes had been made from the original version due to the religious imagery policies Nintendo had at the time: the Star of David used in a dungeon design was replaced with a triangle, and the cross that replaces a character's face on the pause screen at death was replaced with a gravestone.
Star-of-David-FFII-JPN-NES.png|Star of David on a floor (Japanese).
Triangle-FFII-NES-NA.png|Triangle on a floor in the North American prototype.
KO-Icon-JPN-FFII-NES.png|Japanese KO icon.
KO-Icon-NA-FFII-NES.png|North American prototype KO icon.
=== Final Fantasy IV ===
In one cutscene in the original version, Rosa is rescued at the last moment from being executed by a giant scythe. The scythe was replaced with a giant metal ball in the North American version. Religious imagery was removed, such as "Holy" being renamed "White" (though one use of the word "Holy" was still present when the Elder of Mysidia instructs Cecil on how to be a Paladin). The Tower of Prayers in Mysidia was renamed the Tower of Wishes (though one instance of "pray" was still left in, uttered by the Black Mage in the tower). Textual edits removed references to death and violence, partially to adhere to Nintendo's family friendly content guidelines.
In the original Japanese SNES release, the dancing girl that appears in pubs removes her red dress to reveal a bikini underneath before dancing and getting dressed again. The segment of her undressing was removed from the North American and Easy Type releases. It can be seen in the PlayStation release, but is censored again in the Game Boy Advance and PlayStation Portable versions for North America and Europe.
FFIV-Censorship-SNES.png|The scythe has been changed to a metal ball.
FFIV SNES - Dancing Girl 1.png|Dancing girl (SNES).
FFIV SNES - Dancing Girl 2.png|Dancing girl in a bikini (SNES).
Dancing_Girl_FFIV_JP.png|The Dancing girl's strip scene (Japanese PSP).
==== Final Fantasy IV: The After Years ====
The artworks of Rydia, Porom, and Ursula have been altered to be less revealing for the overseas releases and more "cartoony".
=== Final Fantasy V ===
The sprite of the boss Melusine was changed for the remastered version, depicting her with sheer stockings and sleeves like seen in Yoshitaka Amano's artwork . Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster uses a sprite more like the original SFC version.
Mellusion-ffv.gif|Melusine (Super Famicom).
Melusine-ffv-ios.png|Melusine (2013).
=== Final Fantasy VI ===
In the original North American SNES version the spell Holy was renamed "Pearl", the summon "Jihad" was renamed to "Crusader", and Hell's Rider to "Rider". Many sprites were also censored. Overly revealing sprites, such as Siren, Lakshmi (Starlet), Alluring Rider (Critic), Chadarnook (woman), Goddess, Power (Hit), Magic, Lady (Girl), and another untargetable part on the final boss, were censored. The smoke for Misty and her palette-swaps was removed. Pub signs were changed to cafe signs.
The PlayStation version uses all uncensored sprites from the original Japanese release. Siren's sprite was changed in the localized GBA versions, giving her a strip of cloth to cover her behind. Her sprite in the 2014 Matrix Software and Pixel Remaster versions build on the western version of the GBA sprite, where she wears a microskirt with a slit. Chadarnook's Goddess sprite was also changed for the localized GBA, covering some of her nudity, which would be reused for all newer versions of the game.
Due to Nintendo's policies regarding religious content in games at the time, the Devil enemy ("Satan" in Japanese) was called "Goblin" in the SNES release.
In the Pixel Remaster version, the flashback scene where Gestahl gives his speech was altered so that the audience raises their arms instead of giving a military salute, likely because of the potential for comparisons with Nazism.
During the scene where Locke sees Celes imprisoned in South Figaro, she is no longer being beaten by the guards in the GBA version, and they merely taunt her. The censoring of Celes's beating is not from the localization; this is also present in the Japanese GBA version. The scene where Celes is being tortured by the Gestahlian Empire was removed because the original Final Fantasy VI was created before the Japanese ratings board, CERO, existed. Violence is rated strictly in Japan, and Square wanted a CERO A rating for the Game Boy Advance version, which would have been impossible if a game depicts violence against a restrained human.
The conversation between Edgar and Relm during their first meeting in Thamasa was changed. In the Japanese version, after Edgar learned about Relm's age (10), he said to himself: "I need to get a hold of myself... or it's going to be a crime." In the English GBA and 2014 Matrix Software releases, Edgar says: "Not even a lady yet. Here's hoping you're still around in eight years, kid." This is changed once more in the English release of the Pixel Remaster to "You'll break a few hearts when you're older, kid." 
In the Japanese versions, Relm used harsh language, especially for someone her age. The overseas versions toned down the dialogue so that, while still biting, her words are overall clean.
When climbing the Cultists' Tower, in the original version, members of the cult of Kefka are said to be "praying" to him. In the SNES version, this was changed to "thinking" about him.
FFIIIUS Siren Censored.png|Siren (SNES).
Siren-ffvi-gba.png|Siren (GBA).
FFVI Starlet.png|Uncensored sprite of Lakshmi (Super Famicom/PS).
Starlet-ffvi-snes.png|Censored sprite of Lakshmi (SNES).
Critic.PNG|Alluring Rider (SNES).
AllureRiderBare.PNG|Alluring Rider (Super Famicom/PS).
Chadarnook (FF6).png|Chadarnook (Super Famicom JPN).
Chadarnook.PNG|Chadarnook (SNES).
Chadarnook-ffvi-gba.png|Chadarnook (GBA localized).
Goddess.PNG|Goddess (SNES).
FF6Goddess.PNG|Goddess (Super Famicom/PS).
Dahling.PNG|Misty (SNES).
FF6MistySmoking.PNG|Misty (Super Famicom/PS).
===Final Fantasy VII===
The concept art for Corel Prison shows the billboard for Shinra Electric Power Company spray-painted over with the word "Fuck". In the final game, the word is further painted over turning it into "Pyck". The brothel Honey Bee Inn initially had more content, but these were removed early, their remains only existing as dummied content in the original Japanese version.
Cloud Strife, Cid Highwind, and Barret Wallace's use of the word "shit" and Tifa Lockhart's use of the word "wench" were replaced with symbols for the original 1998 PC release and subsequent versions, although one instance of it was missed: if the player examines the blue lights in the Forgotten Capital with Cid as party leader, his reaction still uses the word. Exclusive to the original PC release, Cid's use of the word "shit" in the final FMV is censored as well.
Corel Prison FF7 Art.jpg|Corel Prison concept art.
Corel prison.png|Corel Prison in the final game.
====Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- ====
In the Japanese version, the "Minerva Statue" in the Banora Underground resembles depictions of the Virgin Mary. The statue was likely redesigned for overseas releases to reduce ties to Christianity.
GoddessStatue-ccvii.png|The Japanese Goddess Statue.
MinervaStatue-ccvii.png|The localized Goddess Statue.
====Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion====
Various aspects of the Crisis Core remaster have been altered in consideration of heightened sensibilities from its release into the 2020s:
*Tifa's appearance is slightly altered from how she looked in a flashback scene from Final Fantasy VII Remake with minor changes to hairstyle and eyes, and having a black slip under her corset that covers her cleavage.
*Jenova's appearance has been altered. Her head is now fully covered in a metal helmet, probably to avoid showing a decapitated head.
*The little girl next to the sector 6 slums, who originally said Don Corneo promised to marry her, now says he will make her work for him.
*When Zack chooses the name for the future Seventh Heaven bar, the carpenter no longer talks about having a busty girl with long legs as the bartender, instead talking about how the name feels.
===Final Fantasy VIII===
In the original Japanese version, the boss Gerogero's organs were red. The change to blue for the localized versions was probably made because the red makes the organs protruding from the creature look more realistic. The red version of Gerogero can also be seen in both the BradyGames and Piggyback Interactive official strategy guides for Final Fantasy VIII.
The Ultimecia Castle's armory originally had red blood on the wall, but in the localized versions it has turned green.
The weapon Selphie wields is called nunchaku in the NTSC versions and "shinobou" in the English PAL version, due to nunchaku's status as an illegal weapon in the UK. The Scan spell can be used to rotate the enemy or teammate in 360 degrees, except for Selphie (likely for modesty reasons).
Caraway has a red armband in the Japanese versions, but this is changed to blue in overseas versions to avoid association with Nazi uniforms.
Siren has a feathered sarong in Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. The change is likely due to CERO regulations, as the Remastered could not use the old rating granted for the Ultimate Hits version back when the ratings board was first established. As depictions of nudity (e.g. expression of genitals and parts thereof) have become banned as part of the board's code of ethics, Siren's nudity needed to be toned down. Siren's Triple Triad card still uses the original model, however.
Rinoa's updated character model in the Remastered version, which resembles her appearance in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, depicts her tank top and sweater shifted further upwards, although this may be simply to unify her appearance with how she appears in FMVs .
When the player uses the Devour command they get a "Censored...please stand by" message while eating sounds play on the background. Nothing is actually censored; the scene is in every version and is included for humor.
Gerogero-ffviii-jpn.png|Gerogero (Japanese).
FF8 Gerogero.png|Gerogero in the localized versions.
Ultimecia castle armory.png|Ultimecia Castle Armory (Japanese).
UltimeciaCastle-Armory-ffviii.png|Ultimecia Castle Armory in the localized versions.
Caraway in Japanese Final Fantasy VIII.png|Caraway (Japanese).
Caraway in overseas Final Fantasy VIII comparison shot.png|Caraway (overseas).
Siren silent voice.png|Siren in the original.
Siren in FFVIII Remastered.png|Siren in Remastered.
===Final Fantasy XII===
The scene where Penelo is tied up in Ba'Gamnan's Lhusu Mines hideout was cut from the original Japanese version to get a lower rating. Producer Akitoshi Kawazu has explained the decision to do this thusly: "[...] at the time right before the Japanese release there were various incidents in the real world which...basically there were some similarities there that would have made it a difficult thing to release at the lower age rating that we wanted."
This is a rare case of a Final Fantasy game being censored for Japan, but not for overseas versions. The "incidents in the real world" Kawazu refers to, but does not specify, may refer to Tsutomu Miyazaki, a Japanese serial killer who abducted and murdered four young girls in Saitama and Tokyo Prefectures from August 1988 to June 1989. His death sentence was upheld by the Japanese supreme court in January 2006, two months before Final Fantasy XII came out. Penelo's hostage scene has been included in all Japanese releases since the International Zodiac Job System version.
===Final Fantasy XIV===
Haurchefant Greystone's personality is different in the English, French, and German versions. According to John Crow, the English localization lead, Haurchefant is intended to be received as a good and true ally, but some of his comments directed at the player could—if rendered in English as written in Japanese—provoke a negative reaction. This was not a concern for the Japanese version, as Haurchefant's characterization played to the Japanese archetype of a "lovable debauchee". In the Japanese version, regardless of player character gender, Haurchefant makes comments that may be perceived by a western audience as sexual harassment, greeting players with "Have you come to show me the development of your chiseled body?" and ending conversations with, "...but this area has become increasingly cold, hasn't it? A warm bed will be waiting for you!"
===Final Fantasy XV===
The Chinese version has an altered model for Shiva with a skin-tight shiny outfit rather than appearing almost nude, and less pale skin. Skeletons and liches were also altered for the Chinese version, as it is considered blasphemous to desecrate the remains of the deceased in Taoist familial worship.
Early material for Final Fantasy Versus XIII had the kingdom of Lucis worship the Grim Reaper more prominently. This was toned down when the game became Final Fantasy XV due to ratings concerns in certain countries.
Prompto Argentum's vest had a tag that read "It's a beautiful day now watch some bastard fuck it up" in the earlier renders for his character, and in the Final Fantasy XV Episode Duscae demo. This is an actual tag available from the clothing company Roen that collaborated to design the main cast's outfits for the game. In the final game the message is changed to "It's a beautiful day now watch some bastard mess it up", although in the Windows Edition it still says "fuck it up" in the highest settings.
The Chadarnook enemy is based on the enemy of the same name from Final Fantasy VI, and is largely similar in appearance as a nude woman with clouds covering her privates. It is the target of a quest from Vyv Dorden, who tasks the party with photographing the famous daemon for his magazine. When he receives the photograph, he remarks that the picture is too risqué for his magazine, lampshading the enemy's previous censorship in VI.
In the bestiary, the 3D models of Shiva, Chadarnook, and Melusine are locked from free-rotation, unlike other creature models. In the Dossiers, it is possible to rotate and zoom in on the male characters but not the female ones. Shiva's backside may be seen on her giant form when viewing the map when in Ghorovas Rift.
Skeleton-Global-vs-Chinese-FFXV.png|Skeleton global vs Chinese.
Lich-Global-vs-Chinese-FFXV.png|Lich global vs. Chinese.
Prompto's-Vest-Closeup-FFXV.png|Close-up of Prompto's vest.
===Final Fantasy XVI===
Jill Warrick's rant to Imreann about the years of abuse she had to put up under the fanatical Iron Kingdom priest just before fighting him was toned down in the English localization to simply mention that he chained up various children and then murdered them. In the Japanese version, she specified that the children were female, and that Imreann had "violated" them prior to murdering them. This is consistent with the French script, which is based on the Japanese script (noted as such when selecting that language option in the settings menu).
===Final Fantasy Type-0===
In the HD version, Kazusa's swimsuit model and Emina's lingerie model are removed from the Historical Personae. They were viewable as alternate outfits in the Rubicus after completing the characters' sidequests in the PlayStation Portable version. Female characters' skirts are also more rigid, and less prone to revealing their underwear.
Kazusa-type0-psp-model-swimsuit.png|Kazusa's swimsuit model.
Emina-type0-psp-model-swimsuit.png|Emina's lingerie model.
===Final Fantasy Tactics===
The final battle with Wiegraf Folles is different depending on the version played. Ramza Beoulve and Wiegraf converse numerous times, but a line that is missing in Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions port is Wiegraf stating how religion is perceived in the world in response to Ramza calling him a hypocrite for taking the sides that he has. This was likely removed as it might be offensive to people in the newer version.
===Final Fantasy Tactics Advance===
In the Japanese version, a scene at the beginning of the game was modified for the English release: the death of his wife, Remedi, caused Cid to fall into a drunken stupor. His depression was downplayed in the English version, where Mewt and his friends catch him cringing before his superiors at work.
===Final Fantasy Mystic Quest===
The Holy spell was censored to White.
===Final Fantasy Adventure===
Mr. Lee's script in the Japanese Seiken Densetsu originally had him lusting after virgins, but this was rewritten for international audiences so as to be far less suggestive. The cross symbols on various coffins throughout the game were edited to display a V-shaped glyph. By the same token, the coffins were again redesigned in Adventures of Mana, where they sport white bars resembling the nameplates found on some real-world caskets.
The magic circle in Wendel was a hexagram (Star of David) in the original Japanese version. It was changed to an octagram for the North American and European versions, and would further be replaced by a fractal pictogram in Adventures of Mana. Sumo and Amanda are looking for Medusa's blood in the Japanese version, not her tears. A compromise was later struck in the localization for the aforementioned 2016 remake, in which an NPC refers to the "blood-red tears of a gorgon" being able to lift curses.
FFA Magic Circle.png|Magic Circle.
FFA Japan Magic Circle.png|The Magic Circle in the Japanese version.
Wendel Shrine sigil from AoM (FFA 2016).png|The Magic Circle in the modern remake.
===The Final Fantasy Legend===
God was changed to Creator due to the Video Game Content Guidelines set by Nintendo of America.
In the Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend repackage, the monster RedBull was renamed RedHorn. It is rumored that this change was made to avoid confusion with the Red Bull brand of energy drinks, though the monster was named well before said trademark was established.
===Final Fantasy Legend II===
On Edo World, the bananas mentioned in the story were originally opium in the Japanese version.
===Final Fantasy Legend III===
The word Holy was censored to White; this affects the white magic Holy and the Holy Lance. The Holy Swords were renamed to Mystic Swords.
===Final Fantasy Dimensions II===
The Signet artworks for many female summons have been altered to be less revealing in the localization. Examples include Sylph's default appearance being changed into a leotard and stockings being added to the Mind Flayer summon.
File:FFLTnS Mindflayer Alt.png|Mind Flayer (Original).
File:FFDII Mind Flayer Wrieg Rank 1.png|Mind Flayer (Censored).
File:FFLTnS Sylph.png|Sylph (Original).
File:FFDII Sylph Morrow Rank 1.png|Sylph (Censored).
===Mobius Final Fantasy===
Wol was designed with a lightweight costume for his initial "Onion Knight" gear, seeing that it was intended as a "bare bones" job. In response to player feedback, however, the design was changed to cover up more.
Wal-outfit-comparison.png|Comparison.
Mobius Censored.png|Comparison.
===Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia===
One of Kefka's stickers was censored in the global version. The texts in the image of "Chikushou!" (ちくしょう!, damn it!) sticker was changed to "Son of a sub!" However, the game shares the same voice overs with the Japanese version. The Japanese sticker can also be considered censored, since it's not exactly what Kefka said in Final Fantasy VI script (kusso, くっそ). Despite being a foul language, chikushou means "damn it", while kusso has various meanings, including "damn it", "scum", and "shit". The voice actor also voiced this sticker as "Chikushaaaaa!" instead of saying the word directly.
During the animation for Balthier's Wake Damage FR Ability, his assist Cid says, "Better be <expletive> ready for it!" and is censored with random symbols just as he would be in Final Fantasy VII.
In Quina's FR ability animation for Way of Gourmand, the screen momentarily blanks while Quina eats the morphed target of what is presumably Toad cast by Fusoya. As with other iterations of Eat/Devour, this seems to be for humor and little else.
===War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius===
Dialogue exchanged in chat is subject to censorship based on the use of specific strings of text, creating a Scunthorpe problem wherein any word with the forbidden text is likely to be overwritten with asterisks, despite such words not being offensive. Inversely, the system does not correctly isolate offensive language. Thus, the following are illegal at present: "line" and "notification". Because offensive language is not properly parsed, screen names may contain expletives and other derogatory words that would otherwise be censored. Chat text discussing specific strategies may be rejected and blocked with a warning message to the user.
Salire's Sweetheart variant was censored for the global version, her legs now fully clothed, with a larger dress and covering her exposed navel and cleavage.
===Final Fantasy: Unlimited===
Promotional materials for the North American release censored instances of Lisa Pacifist's nipples visible from beneath her clothing via removing shading and rounding edges. The official ADV DVD show site had a hidden page that showed two uncensored artworks and titled them "Lisa is Chilly", jokingly rationalizing her protruding nipples being a physiological reaction to Wonderland being cold.
Party promo art for Final Fantasy Unlimited.jpg|Uncensored artwork
Final Fantasy Unlimited Complete Collection box cover.JPG|Complete Collection cover with shading removed
Characters and cactuars promo art for Final Fantasy Unlimited.jpg|Uncensored artwork
FFU DVD 03.png|Phase 3 DVD art with protruding nipple removed
==Citations==
Category:Recurring