Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy (T)

Fast-paced action/fights like the Bourne films.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Played the game? Review it
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details
  • Publisher: Sierra
  • Genre: Video Games - Action/Adventure
  • Release Date: 06/03/2008
  • Platform(s): Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
  • Online Enabled: No
  • ESRB Rating: T
  • ESRB Explanation: Blood, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
  • Price: $59.99

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this third-person game has some blood, gun shooting, and hand-to-hand combat, but it doesn't feel excessive or out of the game's context. However, this Teen-rated game does have some graphic finishing moves: You can smash an enemy's head into a neon sign or into a wall, or throw an enemy off a ledge. There's also some drinking and smoking and product placement.

Families can talk about why most movie-based games are a disappointment, more often than not. Do Hollywood studios consider video games just one of many merchandising opportunities and care less about quality? Perhaps families can talk about how this game got it right and what other game companies can learn from it. Would anyone buy this game if it was based on an unknown character?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Some, including a huge Master Card billboard.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Some beer drinking and smoking.

Educational Value:

Violence

Like the book/movie series this is based on, there are fistfights and gunplay with some blood. Graphic finishing moves include smashing an enemy's head into things or pushing an enemy off a ledge.

Sex

Language

"God damn" and "God dammit."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Marc Saltzman

More often than not video games based on movie franchises are a shoddy disappointment -- and you needn't look any further than recent examples such as Iron Man and Jumper. There are exceptions, fortunately, and Sierra's THE BOURNE CONSPIRACY is one of them. Based on Robert Ludlum's popular novels and movies, this Teen-rated game serves as an action-packed tale of espionage that lets you step into the shoes of trained government assassin, Jason Bourne.

Without giving away too much of the story, The Bourne Conspiracy begins near a shipyard in Marseilles, France, shortly after Bourne's attempt to assassinate African dictator Wombosi. Within the first 15 minutes, players will learn most of the mechanics of the game, beginning with hand-to-hand combat that does a good job of recreating actor Matt Damon's moves from the films. On the PlayStation 3 version, players press the square button for a light attack, triangle for a heavy attack (but takes longer to execute), and X button to block. Combos can also be created by pressing buttons in a specific order. Later on, players will master special kicks, using items in the environment such as weapons (like a laptop over the head of an enemy) and finishing moves that result in a cinematic "takedown" (such as tossing the enemy off a ledge or twisting their arm behind their back before kicking them to the ground). These hand-to-hand combat sequences were choreographed by the films' fight coordinator and stuntman, Jeff Imada.

Is it any good?

4
Played from a third-person perspective, players will also learn how to draw and fire a pistol, stealthily hide behind objects for cover (or to eavesdrop for story info), and sprint while chasing a target or evading gunfire. Press the triangle button, which kicks in your "Bourne Instinct," and enemies and objective points are highlighted on a small radar map. Some timed sequences -- where the player must quickly press a specific button on the controller when prompted -- result in a non-interactive scene, such as Bourne jumping over a wide gap or diving away from an exploding device. Later on in the game players will also be able to drive vehicles, which will be handy in a remake of the famous Paris police car chase from 2002's The Bourne Identity movie.

This all might sound like standard fare for an action video game, but the developers at High Moon Studios did a "bang up" job creating the same kind of nonstop thrill ride as the films -- be it the shaky camera angles while Bourne is on the move, slow-motion sequences for dramatic effect, or believable, high-definition characters.

How to play

  • Playability: An intense movie-like thriller with plenty of action.
  • Reading Required: Light
  • Graphics: The game looks great on both the PS3 and Xbox 360.
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/28/08 by joshrob1995 Adult contributor
4


Posted on 07/28/08 by the action gamer Kid contributor, age 12

bourne to be fun

Even though it sometimes feels more like James Bond than Jason bourne, it is still one cool martial arts shooter. With top notch gunplay, evasive escapes, a fun racing level, and some of the best finishing moves in gaming, it's defenetly worth playing, maybe not at 60 bucks,but thats only for some. on the whole I'd rate this game 8.75 of 10 (7 being the average).
5


Posted on 07/02/08 by gamer4life Adult contributor

I was amazed

ok i got this game today and already beat it . and now i just keep on playing the game over and over again and it dosnt get boaring!!! i wish they had a better multiplayer mode but i rate it a 10 out of 10! i love the storyline its just like the movie and the books, and the controlls 4 this game are easy 4 x-box 360{the best!!!!} Y is how you kick X is how you punch and A is how you block, easy right. well im going 2 go play it now soooo ya!!!!!!!!!!! I totally recammend this game to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4


Posted on 07/01/08 by billionmax Kid contributor, age 11

nice game

this game is pretty good. the is no kissy stuff or anything thing like that. there is a lot of shooting but there is nothing really bloody or gory. in the game there are a lot of ways you can finnish a opponent such as slamming them into billboards, throwing them off ledges, atempting to drown them in a kitchen sink, breaking all there limbs or hitting them in the head with a shovel. really you just have to know your kid and think of how he would react.
4


Posted on 06/06/08 by whit13 Kid contributor, age 13

I got this 2 days ago game and already beat it it is a very fun game but its short.
4


Posted on 06/05/08 by jpiscool Kid contributor, age 13

WOW...

This game is amazing! people always say that movie games suck wll this is not a movie game or a book game it a mix of tons of stuff. story of the books fights and moves like the movies. This game is probally the most difficult game they have on the ps3 besides uncharted. Great detail and graphics sound okay i guess. But violent video games is my life ive played some of the most violent games made and this is acutally pretty bad. Graphic non-stop and bloddy shooting sucks and it honestly gets pretty boring after a while with all the killing. Language says mild but its not they use a^% and sh*t D**n hell god d alot b**ch and in the 8th level jason yes drops the f-bomber and its rated mild and the language is very freqent. But all in all good game makes u fell like u r jason bourne. Best on ps3 ps3 rocks! xbox 360 sucks!!!

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/28/08 by joshrob1995 Adult contributor
5


Posted on 07/02/08 by gamer4life Adult contributor

I was amazed

ok i got this game today and already beat it . and now i just keep on playing the game over and over again and it dosnt get boaring!!! i wish they had a better multiplayer mode but i rate it a 10 out of 10! i love the storyline its just like the movie and the books, and the controlls 4 this game are easy 4 x-box 360{the best!!!!} Y is how you kick X is how you punch and A is how you block, easy right. well im going 2 go play it now soooo ya!!!!!!!!!!! I totally recammend this game to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kids Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/28/08 by the action gamer Kid contributor, age 12

bourne to be fun

Even though it sometimes feels more like James Bond than Jason bourne, it is still one cool martial arts shooter. With top notch gunplay, evasive escapes, a fun racing level, and some of the best finishing moves in gaming, it's defenetly worth playing, maybe not at 60 bucks,but thats only for some. on the whole I'd rate this game 8.75 of 10 (7 being the average).
4


Posted on 07/01/08 by billionmax Kid contributor, age 11

nice game

this game is pretty good. the is no kissy stuff or anything thing like that. there is a lot of shooting but there is nothing really bloody or gory. in the game there are a lot of ways you can finnish a opponent such as slamming them into billboards, throwing them off ledges, atempting to drown them in a kitchen sink, breaking all there limbs or hitting them in the head with a shovel. really you just have to know your kid and think of how he would react.
4


Posted on 06/06/08 by whit13 Kid contributor, age 13

I got this 2 days ago game and already beat it it is a very fun game but its short.
4


Posted on 06/05/08 by jpiscool Kid contributor, age 13

WOW...

This game is amazing! people always say that movie games suck wll this is not a movie game or a book game it a mix of tons of stuff. story of the books fights and moves like the movies. This game is probally the most difficult game they have on the ps3 besides uncharted. Great detail and graphics sound okay i guess. But violent video games is my life ive played some of the most violent games made and this is acutally pretty bad. Graphic non-stop and bloddy shooting sucks and it honestly gets pretty boring after a while with all the killing. Language says mild but its not they use a^% and sh*t D**n hell god d alot b**ch and in the 8th level jason yes drops the f-bomber and its rated mild and the language is very freqent. But all in all good game makes u fell like u r jason bourne. Best on ps3 ps3 rocks! xbox 360 sucks!!!
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