Top 5: Controversial Videogames of The 1990s

Opponents of video games seemed to have a field-day, not only was there graphic violence popping up in videogames, but the light gun genre put firearm-inspired controllers in the hands of impressionable youth.

In fact, it allowed any kid roaming the arcade to pick up the “Konami Justifier” pistol, step into the role of a cop and clean-up the streets through the use of deadly force.

Not just raising eyebrows, Midway’s comically gory beat-em up “Mortal Kombat” went further then any game had ever dared take its violence.

As a result, its over-the-top inclusion of blood, gore and extremely graphic finishing moves not only alerted the full attention of the national press, but caused the US Congress to begin developing the ESRB ratings system. This system would later set age classifications that would restrict underage players from purchasing certain titles.

Not content to continue pushing the boundaries just a little, Id Software then released two back-to-back first-person shooters that would together redefine the term ‘extreme.’

As you might expect, “Wolfenstein 3D” blasted past acceptable taste when it unloaded numerous references to Nazism and the swastika. The game was so shocking that the German government confiscated its PC version, which included the Nazi Party’s musical anthem.

And if that title didn’t completely upset parents and media watchdogs, the increasingly detailed graphical carnage of its follow-up “Doom” pushed the envelope by introducing Satanic themes.

You wouldn’t think that a few scantly-clad hotties and B-movie violence would cause a major stir, but back in 1992 this kind of content caused massive waves and made headline news. Plus, it caused congress to hold extensive hearings on the subject of offensive video game material.

Released on the Sega CD, 32X and PC platforms in 1992, Night Trap featured actual video and was based on allowing gamers to control hidden cameras during a co-ed sleepover.

Throughout the game players took on the role of a member of SCAT, the “Special Control Attack Team”, and were charged with ensuring the safety of the girls, as several have gone missing in the past. Throughout the game players set traps for vampire-like invaders who sought to capture and murder the girls, through draining their blood.

Despite the violence never being depicted on camera, it was labeled “sick” and “shameful” by congress, and the title was pulled from shelves following its initial release.

By 1997, gamers were starting to get used to violent video games, and then without warning they were hit head-on by depictions of vehicular violence that targeted pedestrians with extreme prejudice.

That’s right, RockStar games rounded out the decade with the penultimate title that brought rape, violence against civilians, and outright criminal behavior to the finger tips of consumers.

The game was so controversial that it has retained the title of ‘Terrorism Simulator.”

By now we’re all used to the controversial elements that arrived with those earlier games, however the following decade continued to shock us all unexpected ways.