Criminal Girls: Invite Only
A risqué RPG that faced censorship in Western markets.
Criminal Girls: Invite Only is a role-playing video game developed by Imageepoch and published by Nippon Ichi Software. Originally released as Criminal Girls on November 18, 2010 for PlayStation Portable in Japan only, it later received an enhanced port for PlayStation Vita in Japan on November 28, 2013, and worldwide in February 2015, followed by a Steam release on January 11, 2017. The game is notable for its controversial censorship in Western releases, where it was described as an 'unabashedly risqué Japanese game' that had 'the sound stripped and the action obscured.'
- developer
- Imageepoch
- publisher
- Nippon Ichi Software
- original release
- November 18, 2010 (PSP, Japan)
- enhanced port (Vita)
- November 28, 2013 (Japan), February 2015 (worldwide)
- Steam release
- January 11, 2017
- genre
- Role-playing video game
- platforms
- PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Steam
Lore & Background
The game's plot follows a protagonist sent to hell and tasked with rehabilitating seven girls. Gameplay involves extensive dungeon crawling and other role-playing game elements. The PlayStation Vita and PC versions received 'mixed' reviews according to Metacritic, with GameSpot criticizing the combat for its 'tedious design' and 'perverse activities.' In Japan, Famitsu scored the PSP version 28 out of 40 and the Vita version 29 out of 40.
Reader's Guide
Criminal Girls: Invite Only holds significance as a controversial example of cultural adaptation in video game localization. Its Western release was censored by removing sound effects and obscuring visual content, sparking debate about censorship and artistic integrity. The game's mixed reception highlights the tension between its risqué content and traditional RPG mechanics. Its legacy includes a sequel, Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors, released in Japan on November 26, 2015, and worldwide in 2016. The title remains a reference point for discussions on how Japanese games are modified for international audiences, particularly regarding adult themes and censorship practices.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally released as Criminal Girls on November 18, 2010 for PlayStation Portable in Japan only.
- The Western release was censored by 'stripping the sound and obscuring the action.'
- Famitsu gave the PSP version a score of 28 out of 40 and the Vita version 29 out of 40.
- A sequel, Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors, was released in Japan on November 26, 2015.
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