good game but it is very gory so watch out and the language is pretty bad but over all good game
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The Punisher
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Intriguing but extremely violent shooter.
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Punisher was written by Raffi Kevorkian
Parents need to know that the extreme violence makes this game a poor choice for kids and younger teens, and warrants a discussion for older players. The star rating given this game is based on quality of gameplay within this genre and is not an endorsement of the violence in the game.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about vengeance. Do you understand Frank's anger? Is violence-as-vengeance ever appropriate? What is appealing about Frank's method? What do you do when you're feeling mad?
More on The Punisher
What’s the Story?
THE PUNISHER shares a storyline with the comic book series and films based on the main character: Former government agent Frank Castle becomes a vigilante after his family is murdered by the mob. Muscle-bound Frank uses an assortment of weapons to exact revenge on all kinds of criminals from Japanese Yakuza to Russian mercenaries. The point of the game is simple: Kill as many of the bad guys as possible.
The Punisher's vast armory includes pistols, shotguns, machine guns, sniper rifle, and grenades, as well as the odd crowbar, baseball bat, hatchet, and the ever-ready knives he uses to stab and twist in opponents' faces or cut their throats. Players are guided through a number of scenarios where they carry out missions to blow up boats and rescue hostages, for example, all the while gathering information that leads Frank closer to a showdown with Jigsaw, the crook responsible for his family's deaths.
CloseIs It Any Good?
Deaths number roughly 70 to 100 people per mission by way of shooting, explosions, knife work, strangulation, and any number of creative deaths. There is also "slaughter mode," which allows the character to enter a psychotic haze of violence to get out of tricky situations. Victims gurgle, scream, whimper, and whine, especially when being interrogated. Interrogation is particularly disturbing because the player has an active hand in how much torture to inflict.
Violence aside, The Punisher has an intriguing storyline that overshadows the rather average graphics. There is a great deal of dialogue between the characters as well as the Punisher's inner monologue, which includes flashbacks to Vietnam, the death of his family, his attempt to lead a normal life, and so on. Even in easy mode, the game requires serious problem-solving skills to advance, but the challenges aren't unreasonable and the patterns are consistent. Overall the game is intriguing, but the violence overwhelms all.
ClosePublisher’s Details
Released on 01/17/2005, price $49.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M
ESRB rating: M
Our Members Say
See all 8 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
what to watch out for
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Punisher game extremely violent
holy crap! this game is the most violent game (aside from Prototype) that i have ever played!!!! it is gory, bloody and literally spine tingling in it's violence! the player has the ability to push someone's head into a knife, a shark tank, a saw, a car tire while it's moving, the leg of a chair, a glass table and more! you can also kill men with a flamethrower, chop them up with a knife and shoot the crap out of them with an automatic gun!! HOLY CRAP!!!
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
bye
this game rocks!!! the shooting is soo fun!! this game is easy! not for ages under 17
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
its a great game but one example of language is when you enter a room you hear someone scream "you little prick" and then he shoots him
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's educational |
| 100% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 100% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
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