Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game presents an uncomfortable family situation. The mom (whose nipples are visible under her tight top) has kicked the father out of the bedroom. During the game, she eventually asks for a divorce. The little daughter is so upset that she only speaks in frog language. The mother and father also represent extreme gender sterotyping, which, if you're older, you may find amusing.
Families can talk about why the developers of this otherwise kid-appealing game would decide to set it in such an disconcerting, unstable family environment. Who is this game actually for? While the environment allows Chibi-Robo to save the day, how does the player feel about being part of the game's family?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jinny Gudmundsen
At first glance, CHIBI-ROBO, a new Nintendo GameCube game from Japan, has all the makings of an outstanding kids' video game.
Players take on the role of Chibi-Robo, a 4-inch robot, in a house inhabited by 8-year-old Jenny Sanderson, her parents, and their dog. Your goal is to spread happiness, and, as you do, you earn cool new robotic items. At night, quirky toys come alive and need your help to solve problems within their toy world. Gentle aliens also land in your backyard and befriend you.
Unfortunately, this fascinating puzzle adventure is set in a world fraught with problems that are better dealt with by adults than children. Early on, Chibi-Robo discovers that the Sanderson family is having problems. Mr. Sanderson is unemployed, and Mrs. Sanderson doesn't work outside of the home, so family finances are tight. Mrs. Sanderson has kicked her husband out of the bedroom. As the game progresses, Mrs. Sanderson gets angrier with her husband's spending habits and announces that she wants a divorce.
Throughout the game, Jenny is upset and only speaks as if she were a frog. While the game ends with family reconciliation, in large part with the help of Chibi-Robo, this uncomfortable family representation mars what could have been a charming kids' game.
Because the player sees the world from the viewpoint of a tiny robot, it takes logic, creativity, and planning to move around. Players quickly learn to climb up electrical cords and even hop on drawer knobs.
While Chibi-Robo can earn happiness points by cleaning the house, the best way to earn them is to accomplish quests or tasks such as crawling into the drain to retrieve Dad's wedding ring or finding a toy pirate's missing ship.
The player must periodically fight menacing Spydorz, spider-shaped robots that, when defeated, provide scrap metal to build Utilibots. These bots form ladders, bridges, and even warp drives to help Chibi-Robo get around the house more quickly.
Players must learn to use their time efficiently because Chibi-Robo runs on a rechargeable battery, which requires him to plug himself into an electrical outlet on a regular basis. Additionally, at the end of each day or night, no matter where Chibi-Robo has roamed, he is magically transported back to the living room and must restart from there.
While exploring a house as a little robot would appeal to kids ages 6 to 12, the dysfunctional family issues present in the game could prove disconcerting. This title is best for teens and adults who enjoy puzzle adventures and can better handle the interpersonal problems the game presents.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentThe mother's top is so tight that the outline of her nipples can be seen. |
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ViolenceChibi-Robo uses a blaster to wipe out spider-shaped robots. |
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Social BehaviorKids are exposed to a family in which the mother asks for a divorce. The mother and father both represent negative gender sterotyping. |
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Educational ValueIt takes logic, creativity, and planning to move around. |
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