The Australian Classification has refused to give an age rating to the upcoming 2D fighting game Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact due to its story content depicting suggestions of sexual violence against minors. Since the game has been denied a classification, this decision automatically prevents it from being released in the country. While the game primarily focuses on fighting and chaining combos, it has a story mode that features iconic moments from the manga series.
If you don’t know, Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact is based on the popular Shonen manga series Hunter x Hunter. The story is set in a fantasy world with a unique power system. Our protagonist is a young boy named Gon, who encounters loyal friends and dangerous people. Among them is a Hunter named Hisoka, who has questionable intentions toward the protagonist.
The Australian Classification likely doesn’t approve of Hisoka’s lecherous actions toward the young boys in Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact. While there is no outright sexual assault, he has acted rather disgustingly when interacting with Gon and Killua. For example, when the man accompanies the two young boys on a trip, he keeps staring at their backside. This creeps out the two boys, and they order the man to walk in front instead of behind them.
Thankfully, Hisoka never truly assaults any character in the story. However, these scenes are often portrayed with comedic undertones. According to Automaton, the Australian Classification deems these scenes unacceptable since they suggest “sexual violence against characters under the age of 18 by an adult male character.” They also stated that there is no context within the story that would justify the existence of this kind of scene in the game.
As of now, Eighting and Bushiroad have yet to announce a response to this decision. One way to allow Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact to be published in Australia is by removing or revising the scenes from the story mode. They may also try to provide supplementary explanations that convince the Australian Classification to give their game an age rating.
