360 version is rated Cero Z, which is the highest possible rating, because no one buys 360 games anyway. PS3 version is censored for a lighter rating in hopes of mainstream sales (
).
Same reason they took out the gore in Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. Hayashi can bullshit all he wants about a cleaner style, but they just wanted the lighter rating so they can avoid the "adult game" tag.
Haven't the standards always been tougher for 360 games in Japan?
I dunno about that. Most games that are rated Z on 360 have excessive violence, like Gears of War, Ninja Gaiden 2, Dead Rising, etc. I think publishers are just more conscious about the PS3 version because it might actually sell well to the casual audience that is nonexistent on 360. There's nothing that violent on PS3 off the top of my head, except God of War 3, which is rated Z.
The Japanese version of NMH on the Wii was censored too, wasn't it? I think they explode into coins or something.
And NMH is awesome. Best game on the Wii.