25 years ago, Sega decided to release what will come to be as one of the most controversial video games in history. Did it have over the top violence? No. Did it have nudity or pornography? No. Did it have drug use or hate crimes? No. So why would this video game be the most controversial of all time and spawn the ESRB rating for every game going forward?
The game is composed of over 90 minutes of full-motion video (FMV) sequences, only possible with the storage capabilities of the new CD-ROM format. This took what was always a 8 or 16 bit graphical platform, and added in live action with real people. It is different seeing a graphic generated avatar getting beatup, than it is a real person… no matter how bad the acting.
The plot revolved around A group of young women staying at a house for the night. The family that lives there seems like a normal American family; however, odd things have been occurring at this house. Five girls who previously stayed there had disappeared, so the “Special Control Attack Team” (it was originally called Sega Control Attack Team) is called upon to protect the new guests and find out what happened. The SCAT (I know gross) team plants a spy in the slumber party to find out what is going on. As the new wave of girls arrive for a slumber party, the vampiric Augers begin to invade the house, and it’s up to the player to save the girls.
Night Trap was the lead for the 1990s Congressional hearings concerning violence in video games. You can also include Mortal Kombat, Lethal Enforcers and Doom to be primary factors in leading to the development of the ESRB game industry ratings system. Due to the controversy over the game, Night Trap only sold through an initial print run, but oddly enough was still considered financially successful.
Night Trap was cited in the 1990s Congressional hearings concerning violent video games. Night Trap, Mortal Kombat, Lethal Enforcers and Doom are considered to be primary factors in leading to the development of the ESRB game industry ratings system.
The idea of trapping, assaulting and trying to kill young women was uber offensive for the people of the 90’s, and with it being live action it made it even worse. The “Night Gown” scene was the one everyone referred to where a young woman looked to be getting ready for bed, was in a modest nightgown, and was then attacked by the Augurs. In today standards this is laughable, but back then it was a shock value people took to heart.
Night Trap creator James Riley announced that he was in talks to rerelease the game with improved resolution and gameplay. In August 2014 a Kickstarter campaign appeared for the game’s original creators. On April 25, 2017, a 25th anniversary release was announced for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A limited-edition physical release will be made available for the PlayStation 4, with three different cover arts available that will look like the packaging of the original Sega CD release.
So if that is your type of thing, look for it to be released soon.
