Battlefield 1943

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Downloadable shooter just as violent as its boxed brethren.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this game is an inexpensive download available through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, it is still a full-fledged first-person shooter set in a realistic 3-D world. Players spend their time attacking one another with a wide variety of weapons and vehicles. There is no blood, but soldiers scream and crumple to the ground when killed. Also note that this game supports open voice communication, which means players could be exposed to verbal abuse and inappropriate language and subject matter not intended by the game’s designers.

  • The politics of the Second World War aren’t discussed at all and there is no narrative, so it’s difficult for players to understand why they’re fighting. It’s not unreasonable to suggest that the game simply sensationalizes war violence.
  • Players take on the roles of both the Americans and the Japanese in the Second World War. The soldiers are nameless and have no real personality, which makes them hard to like or dislike. They simply kill their enemies or get killed by them.
  • Basic first-person shooter controls will be familiar to fans of the genre and should be easy to learn for newcomers.
  • Players shoot each other with rifles, machine guns, pistols, cannons, and bazookas. They can also drive over one another with tanks and jeeps, man emplaced anti-aircraft weapons, and use airplanes to strafe ground troops. There is no blood, but characters scream in pain before dying. The violence is near constant.  

What's it about?

Available only through Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, BATTLEFIELD 1943 is an inexpensive first-person shooter with 3-D graphics that looks every bit as realistic as those found in the franchise’s boxed games. Players select from three soldier classes -- rifleman, infantryman, and scout -- then set about navigating a trio of maps based on actual World War 2 battle locations, such as the island of Iwo Jima. At ready disposal are a wide variety of vehicles, including jeeps, tanks, boats, and planes. Players can also call in air raids and man emplaced machine guns and anti-aircraft turrets. The sole object of the game is to capture strategic control points and hold them, draining the enemy team’s life meter. Players gradually increase in military rank as they play, but ranks are for prestige only; there aren’t any unlockable items or character customization options that come with additional bars and stars.


Is it any good?

 

Battlefield 1943 is a return to the franchise’s roots. It offers players a game similar in many ways to what they experienced in earlier Battlefield games, only with more polished graphics and a few modern tweaks, such as a ranking system and squad performance tracking. It’s not particularly deep by modern standards, but the open world, do-anything-you-like style of play is as compelling as it ever was. What’s more, it’s far more polished and complex than the sort of games typically released through Sony and Microsoft’s download services, making its $15 price tag feel like a bargain. Just beware that, despite its cheapness and method of delivery, this is not a game for kids. The violence is just as graphic and intense as that of any other game in the Battlefield franchise which are best played by teens and older.

Online interaction: Players play in teams and can speak freely to one another using voice communication, which opens the door to potentially inappropriate language and discussion topics as well as verbal abuse.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how some military-themed games sensationalize war more than others. Did you feel as though the game’s makers attempted to accurately depict the Second World War? Do you think the game respects the soldiers who fought and died during the conflict? Do you think you have a better understanding of the politics behind the fighting, or the strategies employed in battle?


This review was written by Chad Sapieha
Kid, 13 years old
August 6, 2011
 
Amazing first-person shooter is great fun for teens!
I have to say I really enjoy this game. One reason is because there is no blood. I like first-person shooters, but I just can't stand the bloody ones, which are like almost all of them. So, it's kind of nice to play this kind of game with no blood. So, with no blood, it is a little more age appropriate for teens. With realistic environments and amazing combat action, this game deserves 5 stars!

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Kid, 13 years old
September 6, 2010
 
you are fighting for america

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Teen, 15 years old
January 1, 2011
 
Battlefeild:1943 isnt as violent as most WWll games.
Battlefield:1943 is a better choice for kids than games like World at War or Brothers in Arms, because its blood and language free, and its alot cheaper, too. The violence isnt super intense but its First Person, and another problem is that you can play as the Imperial Navy and kill american soilders. Its still a great game though, but there are still a few problems they could fix to make it easier.

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Parent of 13 year old
January 12, 2011
 
fine for 10 and up
It's a fantastic game my son loves it and its taught him a lot about world war 1. no online talking unless you have the bluetouth.

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Teen, 14 years old
August 28, 2010
 
good for teens+
Its not too violent, but it is an FPS, and you have chat.

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Teen, 15 years old
August 13, 2009
 
A lot of fun
This game is just awesome. you fight historical battles online with other people.So you can talk to people.but you dont have to. there is constant violence, but nothing you wouldnt see in a war movie. the graphics are top notch too.

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Teen, 16 years old
November 24, 2010
 
Not as violent as other shooting games, but not as good either.
Its OK, but on most islands you have to swim about 10 miles to get to the action, and theres no escape once someone starts shooting you, since you have VERY low health. But if they just fixed those two things, it would be great.

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Adult
July 15, 2009
 
Only for Kids 13+
I believe that this game does not promote violence. This is a remake of the original. The original briefed you on both sides of the war with basic facts. This is for those die hard Battlefield fans who would love to see the original remade onto next gen consoles. It also has easy gameplay fr the newcomers and first person shooter fan. Also on another note hardly anyone uses a microphone for voice chat. Even if they do it is either broken up or too quiet to hear. You can also mute players who are verbally abusing or just an annoyance. Respectively this game is mainly for those who want to re-live their favorite pacific battles of the original 1942.

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Adult
January 27, 2011
 
Battlefield 1943 shows hope for the future of downloadable video games
Battlefield 1943 is an exciting First-Person-Shooter in which the player is either Japanese or American soldier fighting on 1 of 5 Japanese islands during the course of WWII. The plotline focuses on the war itself, therefore it is needless of an additional storyline. (I.E: a soldier trying to survive in order to get back to his family) Players shoot, blast, slash and impale infantry as well as mow them to the ground with war tanks or cars. Additionally, every soldier has the opportunity to launch a bombing raid or simply hop in a plane then aim & fire at whatever vehicle or person they find scattered about the island. The goal of the game is simple: capture the flags and kill anyone who stands in your way. While there aren't spurts of blood when a soldier is shot or an arm flying half way across the screen when someone hurls a grenade, the combat isn't any less fun than that of a Call of Duty game. With realistic graphics and smooth gameplay at the low cost of $15.00, it's the ideal choice if you are in search of a good war game without the blood and gore or waste of gasoline on the trip to GameStop.

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Teen, 14 years old
August 20, 2010
 
Great Game for (almost) everyone
I started playing tis game's prequel at age 10, there is no blood and the gore is not excessive. My only concerns are nasty choking sounds that enemies make when they die, and the immorality of playing as the axis,which can be encouraged, because they have better weapons

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This review was written by Chad Sapieha
Platforms:Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
Available online?Available online
Genre:First Person Shooter
Developer:Electronic Arts
Release date:July 8, 2009
Price:$15
ESRB rating:T for Violence

This review was written by Chad Sapieha

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
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BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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