 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Black
- PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Price: $39.99
- Genre: First Person Shooter
Common Sense Media says
Explosive action burns out quick -- adults only.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a first-person shooter in which players kill hundreds of enemies with a variety of guns and explosives. The game's graphics are very realistic, although there is no blood during gameplay. The story revolves around terrorism and includes some quick video of bloody victims and implied torture. The game also includes swearing and cigarette smoking in some cut scenes.
What's it about?
BLACK follows the terrorist-busting exploits of a special operation soldier, but this game isn't really about narrative: Black is about shooting people and blowing things up. Players float through eight game missions, holding a series of guns in the familiar first-person-shooter style. The goal of each mission is to essentially move from point A through the level to point B. There are some shallow secondary objectives, like collecting notebooks and destroying safes hidden throughout the missions.
Is it any good?
The game is graphically gorgeous. Action takes place in a range of environments, including a forest at night and a dilapidated insane asylum. And firefights are exciting, with shrapnel and bullet shells flying through the smoke, and rocket-propelled grenades and muzzle flashes exploding all around. Parents may be surprised by the lack of blood and gore, although enemies will scream and flail when shot.
Even at its short length -- most gamers will finish the game in around seven hours -- Black has seemingly given all it has to give by the halfway point. Then the game's problems -- players aren't really required to use strategy, nor are they able to save mission progress part-way through an hour-long level -- start to become apparent.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about this game's marketing materials, which celebrated the game as "gun porn." What does this term mean? Do you find this campaign, with its association between sex and violence, troubling? Does that make the game more appealing? Is superficial violence more appealing -- and less damaging -- than realistic violence? Or do you believe the opposite?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Cool, but.....
This game has to be one of the best shooters out there. The action is over the top. Parents shouldn't freak out. The worst aspect of the game is it's language. It ranges from the little ones to the big nasty ones. That's the worst part. This game is a shooter, and it's surprizing that there is no blood. None at all. Just guns and more guns. You can shoot anything and everything, including cars, walls, and explosive barrels. There are cutscenes where there is language and two guys smoking. That's all. If your kid knows that he's not allowed to say these words and that videogames aren't real, he/she will be fine.
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AGE
explosions everywhere the most intense game ever
this game is amazing the most intense shooter ever played says i the only reason i'm giving it 4 stars is because of the difficuly and how long those darn levels are u should defenetly pick it up for xbox or ps2
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AGE
I'm here to make sense.
Wow.
Really there are some really die-hard people here wanting to take videogames out of the hands of well...
Everyone.
When are Americans finally going to pick one over the other or abolish both.
We just can't seem to figure out which is worse, sex, drugs, or violence.
"OMG I SEE A NIPPLE, ADULTS ONLY! But those guns sure are educational."
"My son is not going to play a game where he is mindlessly rampaging about killing people...Though the sex scenes might teach him/her something he/she should know."
I don't get it...
All in all, this is a good game. The game is one BIG action sequence. Non-stop action. Though replayability is nilch. Heck, the game itself is around 9 hours long if you take your time. There's no way to play with your friends. So...Yeah. This game is definitely not for kids. But there's no way I can see anyone 20 or above appreciating this kind of mindless gameplay. 14-19.
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AGE
it was fun
if u like shooting up games it is not a problem it curses alot but ijust some times i put it on mute and listen to my ipod nano
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AGE
AWESOME!!!!!!
OK it doesnt swear as much as you may think,theres no blood at all and is an AWESOME game..although some parents may not allow because of excessive and intence violence,but im telling you its not as bad as the say. it's the best game i tell u!!! but the publishers are not i mean are definately not looking for the younger audience.its more for teens or 12+.And it only swears a bit but it isnt just minor swears so thats why it says "strong language".
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AGE
Its not bad at all...
Black is just like any other war game that is rated teen, except there is strong language. I didn't care for the game that much, it was extremely short and the gameplay repeated itself. Anyway, the only thing objectionable to 13+ is the language.
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| Platforms: | PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | First Person Shooter |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | March 20, 2006 |
| Price: | $39.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Strong language, violence |
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