Destroy All Humans! (T)

Kitschy romp is naughty fun, but wears thin.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Played the game? Review it
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details
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Genre: Video Games - Action/Adventure
  • Release Date: 06/20/2005
  • Platform(s): PlayStation 2
  • ESRB Rating: T
  • Price: $49.99

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this game features plenty of killing: killing innocents, police officers, soldiers, government agents, the president, and even cows. But the game's mischievous, playful tone defuses much of the impact of the violence. While blowing the brains out of a victim's head through overzealous use of an anal probe sounds horrific, it's played for laughs and presented with the kitschy sheen of 1950s alien invasion movies.

Families can talk about whether comic relief and a playful spirit make the violence in this game more palatable. Can a game that keeps track of the number of buildings you raze and humans you slaughter ever qualify as good clean fun? In an era when threats of terrorism dominate the news, is there anything unseemly about being able to destroy a digital model of Washington, D.C.?

Message

Social Behavior:

Represents rural residents as hicks. Also, humans are shown thinking about things like adultery and lust; police are even shown thinking about bribes and brutality.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Mind reading reveals humans thinking about heavy drinking and Valium use.

Educational Value:

Violence

Exploding human heads, an anal probe gun, a presidential assassination and an exploding nuclear device. Yet the game presentation is firmly rooted in 1950s sci-fi, making it more silly than serious.

Sex

Some humans are suggestively "probed," including a beauty queen, and there are discussions about the difference between Furon and Human reproductive systems.

Language

A handful of playground obscenities, but nothing persistent or gratuitous

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Aaron Lazenby

Earth (specifically America) in the 1950s looks pretty harmless from space in DESTROY ALL HUMANS!, the latest third-person sci-fi shooter from THQ. Perhaps that's why the warlike Furon race has decided to invade the planet and enslave its human inhabitants. It might also have to do with collecting human DNA to revitalize the fading alien race, or maybe the Furon scout that was accidentally shot down over a military test site. Whatever the reason, the people of Earth aren't going to stand idly by as aliens turn the sun's third planet into an intergalactic war zone and genetic harvesting ground.

Players control Cryptosporidium, the sarcastic and mean Furon solider leading the invasion. Crypto has to solve some minor puzzles -- such as impersonating a small-town mayor to convince locals that recent alien activity is actually the work of Soviet spies, or hypnotizing a TV personality. But most of the gameplay focuses on street-level battles between Crypto and human forces, or saucer-bound aerial assaults where buildings are destroyed, people are vaporized, and cars are sent to the junk heap.

Is it any good?

3

It's a fun premise, but while these battles can be thrilling, they get repetitive. Every building starts to look the same, all the humans explode in the same burst of flames, and the thrill begins to wane. Add to that the unending quest for DNA and boring mini-missions, and you've got a game that makes a great immediate impact but offers little replay appeal.

There is one unsettlingly realistic segment where players can destroy the White House, the Capitol, and other familiar Washington, D.C., monuments. Parents may want to think twice about buying this for kids who might find the destruction of such iconic structures unsettling, especially in a time when the threat of terrorism has many on edge. This is a playful, kitschy, but ultimately unsubstantial game experience.

How to play

  • Playability: Easy. Simple controls and straightforward game play.
  • Reading Required: 10+. Audio instructions, but text descriptions of new weapons and powers.
  • Graphics: Medium. Atmosphere, details, and cut scenes are generally well done, but could use better explosions.
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 15 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/05/08 by Mainmaines Kid contributor, age 13

Violent fun sexully

5


Posted on 05/27/08 by hire mon Kid contributor, age 10

I ALWAYS FELT THIS GAME WAS EVEN COOLER THEN ICE!!!

THE FLYING BRAINS IS O.K BUT DIS GUISING YOURSELF AS AN ALIEN IS JUST BRILLIANT.POX THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING!!
5


Posted on 03/05/08 by rickydoo85 Adult contributor
3


Posted on 10/17/07 by daddysfavlilgirl Kid contributor, age 12

I've been brain damaged

I loved this game i beat the whole thing in like two days but after the victory i relized "i'm only 12 years old and i have a little brother that is 2 and another brother that is 10 what valuble lesson is this game teaching my brothers that its alright to go around snooping in peoples bizness and goin around shooting people because it's fun I don't think soi don't whant my brother going around shooting people when he grows up and my two year old brother he should be playing games like leap frog or somthing and my oldest broter he's vilent enough from other vilent games he's playing and he doesn't need a game that is pritty much telling him that is is ok to go around shooting people... my youngest brother he can't play the game but he sure can pick up on stuff really fast he has a water gun and he already goes around saying bang bang pointing it at people so i just don't think it's right!! DOWN WITH VIOLENT VIDIO GAMES!
5


Posted on 10/12/07 by bustamove123 Kid contributor, age 11
2

Posted on 03/08/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

uuuuuh

this was a weird game. i'm still not sure if i really liked it. I liked the whole making stuff float but the probing and stuff was overboard. I wish they had toned down violence too. they could have had a way cool game but...
4


Posted on 01/06/07 by brunofish Kid contributor, age 13

probing humans has never been so fun!

in this game you play as crypto the alien sent to earth to harvest brain stems. when you do collect brain stems the humans head's explode. it's kinda gross, but it actually looks really funny. language- no f-words, pretty much all the other swear words. This game is really fun. You have a jetpack, a flying saucer, you have telekinisis (so you can make stuff float around). the telekinesis is especially fun. Probably don't buy it. but deffinately RENT IT!!!
4


Posted on 11/02/06 by klaymanbill Kid contributor, age 13

Oh my, 2 is better by the way

this is a good game, but, seriously, the probe is very diaherea-y- which goes under potty humor, constant ex references, and minor drug mentiong, in 2, the drugs and sex talk is everywhere being in the 60's, other than that, this is a very fun game
3


Posted on 09/20/06 by LessZoa Adult contributor
2


Posted on 08/31/05 by Stephy Kid contributor, age 16

My age but 6 & 7 years olds? NOT!

Just look at the title "Destroy all Humans" That sounds nice. NOT! Do you want your child to know how to be a destructive alien and annulate innocent human beings? From shooting to bombing the U.S Government. Sounds like terrorism to me and to a young mind. This destoys a child's mind to think these events are real. I think kids under 14 should not play this. You should understand the concept of this game before you play it.

See all 15 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/05/08 by rickydoo85 Adult contributor
3


Posted on 09/20/06 by LessZoa Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 13 reviews.

5


Posted on 07/05/08 by Mainmaines Kid contributor, age 13

Violent fun sexully

5


Posted on 05/27/08 by hire mon Kid contributor, age 10

I ALWAYS FELT THIS GAME WAS EVEN COOLER THEN ICE!!!

THE FLYING BRAINS IS O.K BUT DIS GUISING YOURSELF AS AN ALIEN IS JUST BRILLIANT.POX THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING!!
3


Posted on 10/17/07 by daddysfavlilgirl Kid contributor, age 12

I've been brain damaged

I loved this game i beat the whole thing in like two days but after the victory i relized "i'm only 12 years old and i have a little brother that is 2 and another brother that is 10 what valuble lesson is this game teaching my brothers that its alright to go around snooping in peoples bizness and goin around shooting people because it's fun I don't think soi don't whant my brother going around shooting people when he grows up and my two year old brother he should be playing games like leap frog or somthing and my oldest broter he's vilent enough from other vilent games he's playing and he doesn't need a game that is pritty much telling him that is is ok to go around shooting people... my youngest brother he can't play the game but he sure can pick up on stuff really fast he has a water gun and he already goes around saying bang bang pointing it at people so i just don't think it's right!! DOWN WITH VIOLENT VIDIO GAMES!
5


Posted on 10/12/07 by bustamove123 Kid contributor, age 11
2

Posted on 03/08/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

uuuuuh

this was a weird game. i'm still not sure if i really liked it. I liked the whole making stuff float but the probing and stuff was overboard. I wish they had toned down violence too. they could have had a way cool game but...
4


Posted on 01/06/07 by brunofish Kid contributor, age 13

probing humans has never been so fun!

in this game you play as crypto the alien sent to earth to harvest brain stems. when you do collect brain stems the humans head's explode. it's kinda gross, but it actually looks really funny. language- no f-words, pretty much all the other swear words. This game is really fun. You have a jetpack, a flying saucer, you have telekinisis (so you can make stuff float around). the telekinesis is especially fun. Probably don't buy it. but deffinately RENT IT!!!
4


Posted on 11/02/06 by klaymanbill Kid contributor, age 13

Oh my, 2 is better by the way

this is a good game, but, seriously, the probe is very diaherea-y- which goes under potty humor, constant ex references, and minor drug mentiong, in 2, the drugs and sex talk is everywhere being in the 60's, other than that, this is a very fun game
2


Posted on 08/31/05 by Stephy Kid contributor, age 16

My age but 6 & 7 years olds? NOT!

Just look at the title "Destroy all Humans" That sounds nice. NOT! Do you want your child to know how to be a destructive alien and annulate innocent human beings? From shooting to bombing the U.S Government. Sounds like terrorism to me and to a young mind. This destoys a child's mind to think these events are real. I think kids under 14 should not play this. You should understand the concept of this game before you play it.
5


Posted on 08/02/05 by movielover Kid contributor, age 13
4

Posted on 08/01/05 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Great but risky game

The game was so fun it still is in my PS2 but it is not for the 10 year olds at all. Ridiculous ammounts of violence and bad words make it more of an adult experience. Great to play if you like movies like War of the Worlds (orginal and remake), Day the Earth Stood Still, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
See all 13 kids reviews >
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