25 to Life - M

Lock this crude game up and throw away the key. Adults only.

Publisher: Eidos Interactive Category/Genre: Video Games - Third-person shooter Platform: Xbox Price: $39.99 Online Enabled: Yes Graphics: Low. Blocky characters and lack-luster environments. Playability: Medium. Linear, repetitive action, but better online. Reading Level: Medium Release Date: 02/07/2006 ESRB Rating: M for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language

Common Sense Note

Parents should be aware that 25 TO LIFE is set in a violent world of drug dealers and crooked cops. As criminals, players shoot scores of police, and as police, players shoot scores of criminals. The violence includes some gore and plenty of blood. The game also features swearing, references to drinking and drug use, robbery, graffiti tagging, and in-game advertising. Parents should also note that the game is designed for online play, which can expose players to creative streams of obscenity.

Families who buy this game may wish to discuss the violent content. What is appealing about this content -- and when do game makers cross the line? How might constant exposure to violent games impact kids? Does violence make the games realistic or more exciting, or just attract attention in a crowded marketplace?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Chris Jozefowicz

Months before this Eidos Interactive's new cops-and-robbers game reached store shelves, politicians and community groups were decrying the game. One Senator said it "makes Grand Theft Auto look like Romper Room."

To be honest, the content of 25 to Life is comparable to the GTA games in terms of antisocial violence. However, 25 to Life also features non-stop tedious gameplay.

The plot features interlocking stories involving a family-man criminal attempting to go straight, a violent drug dealer, and the police (both crooked and upstanding) who try to stop them. The game's levels are short, repetitive, and ugly. Each of the 12 story chapters consists of a march along a linear path gunning down pretty much everyone in sight. With an assortment of guns and explosives, players blow away police, thugs, and civilians, spraying blood against walls and bits of brains on the ground.

Characters swear profusely -- in English and Spanish -- in the dialogue, and the soundtrack of licensed songs is filled with profane boasting.

The single-player game offers little surprise or excitement, just shoot, shoot, shoot. Spraypaint a wall. Use a body as a human shield. Shoot, shoot, shoot.

The online action is more engaging than the single-player game: Gamers participate in 16-player, team-based matches, and can customize their characters with scores of unlockable clothing and appearance options. Even so, the action is nothing special and includes such staples as deathmatch- and capture-the-flag-type play.

In the end, 25 to Life is overly-gritty and badly executed. Even adult players should skip this one.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content The soundtrack lyrics include some profane sexual language.
Violence Lots of realistic violence, including gunplay with a variety of weapons, and some beating with melee weapons. Lots of blood and some gore (heads get blown off).
Language Constant swearing from characters and on the soundtrack. F--k, b---h, etc.
Message
	Social Behavior Players will kill police officers and prison guards, use hostages as human shields, rob banks and casinos, spray graffiti, and participate in drug smuggling. The game features crooked cops and other anti-heroes.
	Commercialism In game ads for energy drinks and other Eidos games. Game soundtrack features licensed songs with on-screen reminders about artist and song name.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Some action in bars and drug dens. Players get involved in drug dealing both as the dealers and the crooked cops who steal from them. Song lyrics highlight drug use.
	Educational Value