• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Jack Black as funny rocker roadie, but expect gory violence.

Why We Rated This

The good stuff

• Ease of play:

  The game is fairly easy to control, but switching special powers (by using a spinning disc interface) takes a bit of getting used to.

What to watch out for

• Online interaction:

  This fantasy adventure is easy to connect to a central lobby from the main menu, then find people to play against in real-time strategy (RTS)-focused matches. You can chat, as well, therefore potentially hearing inappropriate words online.
• Messages:

  Because this game is deeply rooted in fantasy, the game's message -- about defending innocent people from evildoers, by defeating them with violence -- shouldn't be taken too seriously. The main character is likable, but he does use weapons gratuitously to accomplish his goals.

   

   

• Role models:

  Eddie is a hard-working roadie who takes pride in his work, and he tries to save the life of a band member at the beginning of the game. He performs other selfless acts in the game, such as trying to rescue his love interest and save enslaved "headbangers." Eddie, however, smokes a lot and uses weapons to defeat evil in gruesome ways.
• Violence:

  While it's very cartoon-like in its graphics and delivery, this fantasy action game features plenty of violence, including the ability to hack and slash demonic armies with your double-sided axe, reducing them to bloody "gibs." This dismemberment is sometimes shown in slow-motion with blood flowing. You can also drive over baddies, shock them with lightning, or command others to head-bang them to death, all shown in vivid detail.

   

   

• Sex:

  No sex is in the game, but there are strong verbal references to sex ("going down," "orgy" and sight gags such as gamers led to believe that Eddie is looking at someone's penis). Plus, many of the women in the game are scantily clad, showing legs, cleavage and partially revealing buttocks and breasts. Some have leather outfits -- implying bondage, perhaps.

   

   

• Language:

  At the start of the game players have the option to hear profanity, which includes the F- and S-words, as well as "hell," "damn," "d-ck, "and "bastard."
• Consumerism:

  The game's soundtrack features many heavy metal acts from yesterday and today but most of the game characters who resemble real-life rock stars (and who are voiced by them) have a slightly different name.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Eddie, the main character, can be seen smoking cigarettes quite a bit in this game, along with other characters who smoke, flick cigarette butts, blow smoke, and so on. You can also see women holding what appears to be beer and liquor bottles.

   

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Brutal Legend was written by Marc Saltzman

Families Can Talk About

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