Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this game earns its M-rating by requiring your character to rip heads off of mutated bodies in order to steal them and place them on your own headless dead body. You can also set the other mutated bodies on fire. The game is quite graphic in showing the bloody body parts found throughout a mad scientist's facilities. This is a mystery about solving why your character died, and in the process you must find and put on nine other dead heads. It's a bizarre premise, with gruesome details including blood spurting out of bodies, but it's meant to be comical for mature players.
Families can talk about how this game is very over-the-top in its violence and gore, coupled with a silly premise, as it stars a person with no head. Since this game is meant to be a comedy, would it have been as equally comical with less of the extreme violence, blood, and foul language? Did those aspects of the game contribute to the gameplay or the humor?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Marc Saltzman
DEAD HEAD FRED is a unique adventure because you step into the shoes of private eye Fred Neuman, who awakens at the beginning of the game to find out he has been murdered. Neuman has been brought back to life by a mad scientist. There's one small catch, however: Neuman's head is missing. In its place is a jar full of fluid and his floating brain.
And so Neuman goes on a mission to solve his own murder and get his head (and memory) back from those responsible for his death -- namely, a deranged mob boss and his mutant henchmen.
In order to solve the mystery of his death, Neuman must use special powers associated with different "heads" he can put on, which are removed from enemies (it sounds gruesome, sure, but it's quite comical). One head gives Neuman extra strength to "head butt" into objects to break them open, while another sucks in fluids (such as water or gasoline) until it fills up like a balloon and then releases the fluids wherever needed. The game hides nine such heads, each with a unique ability. You can also collect money, which is used to buy upgrades for each of the heads.
Dead Head Fred is played from a third-person perspective and offers impressive camera controls and visual effects -- especially for a handheld game. The only problem, however, is frequent loading screens that can take away from the fun. These load times gets better once Neuman ventures outside for the first time. Overall, this mature game is bizarre, funny, and fresh.
Other recommended mature action/adventure games for the PSP include Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. For a more kid-friendly game on the PSP check out LocoRoco.
Rate It!
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Sexual Content |
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ViolenceQuite graphic, as players rip heads off enemies; blood spurts out and the bodies fall to the ground. |
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LanguageMany instances of swearing, including frequent uses of "f--k." |
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Message |
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Social Behavior |
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Commercialism |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoYou can consume alcohol in the game, which impairs your vision and actions. |
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Educational Value |
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