Super Danganronpa 2: Rated T for Teens

Game ratings are an interesting subject. Which is funny, as on its face, it would seem rather boring. Its intriguing history aside, something that comes with this concept is the fact that different nations have different qualifications in what they deem "mature". For example, while the Danganronpa series is rated M (17+) across the board by the North American ESRB, in Europe, Pegi rates every game - yes, even Another Episode - at just 16+.

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So, in this case, why am I singling out SDR2? After all, just as I said, every Danganronpa game rated by Pegi sits at 16+, equivical to the ESRB's "T for Teens" rating. This would hardly make SDR2 unique.

While this is correct, I am not speaking about Pegi's ratings. Rather, I want to focus on Japan.

Every single country, regardless if they deemed Danganronpa a "Teen" or "Mature" game series, is consistant in their ratings. All games are given that same rating across the board. Which then makes Japan, with CERO, and exception. Every Danganronpa game in Japan was rated a D by CERO, which is equivilant to the aforementioned M rating.

All except for Super Danganronpa 2.

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For whatever reason, SDR2 was the only game in the line up to recieve a lower score of C (15+). No Danganronpa game in Japan before or since has gone below D.

It's such a small detail, but one that I regard with a mild level of interest. After all, what about SDR2 possibly seemed less "mature" than DR1, according to CERO? Less enough to the point it warranted an entire letter downgrade. This question becomes even more pressing when you review the warning labels on the respective games' boxes.

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While DR1 comes with two specificed content warnings, SDR2 has an extra two more, resulting in four. By all means, would this not point to the game being in the same ballpark as its predecessor, at the very least? Unless they regarded DR1 as simply more violent, which I can agree in certain cases, but when put up to scrutiny against SDR2's Chapter 5...I feel they are about the same level.

Since there is no real "answer" to this, we're left with mere speculation. Personally, I assume it has something to do with the fact SDR2 is much more quirky and absurdist than DR1 in many ways, and perhaps this tone shift influenced the lower rating, but this is just a guess. I doubt we'll ever get an official answer, so for now, it remains a simple, quirky fact.