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Brave: A Warrior's Tale (Wii, Xbox 360)

common sense media says

Bad camera angles mar Native American adventure.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this action/adventure game let's kids assume the role of a young Native American warrior who is on a heroic quest to save his village. There is some fantasy violence in the game as you defeat enemies using bow and arrows and other weapons. Some enemies, like giant insects, will bleed. Unfortunately, most kids will be frustrated that camera angles block your vision of the environment in which you play.

Educational value: The game is based on Native American myths, but few specifics to any particular culture. For instance, you don’t really know what tribe the main character, Courage, belongs to. So you don’t get a real sense of history. You do hear about Wendigos, read cave paintings, and collect totems.
Positive messages: The message is that a young warrior needs patience, stealth, and needs to listen to learn. 
Positive role models: You look up to your elders, who are serene, commanding, and wise.
Ease of play: Easy, except for when the camera angles don’t work, which is nearly always. The game is very frustrating to play.
Violence: Fantasy violence where you will see animated blood when you kill something. As a Native American warrior, you use a bow and arrow, tomahawk, and other weapons to kill enemies which include skeletons, wolves, bears, and insects. When you kill giant insects, they will bleed green or purple blood. Your character will die a lot when you've lost your allotted health.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Brave: A Warrior's Tale

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what it would be like to be a Native American back in time.
  • What does the story of the ghostly Wendigo beast remind you of? Would you like to see a Wendigo in real life?
  • Do you find the camera angles to be intrusive to game play?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Native Americans are rarely represented in video games. But in BRAVE: A WARRIOR’S TALE, you assume the role of a Native American hero. It’s a game loosely based on Native American myth about a vicious Wendigo beast that tries to wreak havoc through a peaceful village. Throughout the stories of Brave, the elder, a young boy named Courage uses sticks, a longbow, and a tomahawk to vanuish his foes, everything from bears to ghosts to giant bees. You can even shape shift into an animal if you need that animal’s power and cast spells.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
While exploring Native American culture is admirable, and the game's music and graphics are good, there’s nothing more to admire here. The game feels unfinished. For example, when you first see a waterfall, it has no sound effects. Then, mysteriously, it does. When you’re stuck in a corner, the game jitters and shakes like there’s an earthquake. But there’s no quake: it’s bad software coding that makes you utterly dizzy. Once, the camera got stuck on a Native American blanket and you couldn't see anything at all even though you’re moving forward. And the camera frequently blocks your view with everything from rocks to blankets. Parts of the game are so dark, that you can’t see where you’re going. Another gripe is that the story needs editing. At one moment, Courage says he wants to listen to Brave’s stories; but within 30 seconds, he's distracted by picking at his toes. It is too bad that the publisher didn't take another six months to make this into a creditable platformer.

 

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Southpeak Interactive
Released on: August 4, 2009
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Screenshots
This review was written by Harold Goldberg
 
 

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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