You learn a little about the time period and it's easy to play, but the language is filthy with strong violence and sexual dialouge.
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Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A violent and profane Western game with sexual allusions.
In this game kids can: battle others, improve hand-eye coordination, kill humans (with blood), play in a virtual world, play multiplayer games, play with others
Why We Rated This 
The good stuff
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Ease of play:
What to watch out for
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Online interaction:
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Role models:
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood was written by Chad Sapieha
Parents need to know that this Western-themed shooter is meant to be played only by mature players. It is laden with very strong profanity and crude sexual references, and the gunslinging violence, while perhaps not as graphic as that of some other shooters (there is blood, but no gore), is nearly non-stop. What’s more, the two playable characters are shady at best. Their solution to most every problem is to kill the person who happens to be at the root of it, and they have no qualms shooting law enforcement officers when they feel threatened by them. Online play with open voice chat is a further concern.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the continuing niche appeal of Western-themed stories. What is it about the Wild West that captures the imaginations of both storytellers and audiences? Do you think that our fascination with this era will slowly peter out? Do video games, which have an inherently modern look and feel, typically do a good job of capturing the Western vibe?
- Would this game have been as much fun without the violence?
More on Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
What’s the Story?
A Western-themed first-person shooter in the vein of HBO’s Deadwood television series, CALL OF JUAREZ: BOUND IN BLOOD is violent, profane, and features a heaping helping of crude sexual references, clearly making it a game for players 18 years of age and older. The story follows a trio of brothers -- two of whom are playable -- from the trenches of the Civil War all the way to Mexican back country as they search for a fabled stash of gold. The siblings under the player’s control are extremely hard men who live by their own moral code, which doesn’t seem to prohibit, say, the slaughtering of any lawmen unfortunate enough to get in their way. The older one is a strong, brutish, ambidextrous pistol shooter, while the younger is handy with ropes and rifles. Robust online functionality lets folks who cue to the game’s gritty Western vibe keep playing after they finish the 10-hour campaign.
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Is It Any Good?
Though it’s definitely not for kids, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is excellent entertainment for adults who enjoy a good Western. Though our protagonists are the sort of men who’d just as soon shoot you as look at you, they’re also strangely engaging. The expertly penned dialogue and terrific voice acting gives them real character, and, given the tribulations they suffer in the war at the game’s outset, it’s not hard to understand why they’ve become the men they are. An added bonus is the game’s art direction, which is wonderfully authentic despite not having the sort of visual polish given blockbuster titles. From the creaking, wooden towns through to the characters’ dusty coats and well-worn hats, everything in the game feels 150 years old despite being rendered with cutting edge modern technology. Simply put, it’s good fun for cowboy-loving grown-ups. Close
Publisher’s Details
Released on 6/30/2009, price $59.99, online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood, Strong Languages, Suggestive Themes, Violence)
ESRB rating: M (for Blood, Strong Languages, Suggestive Themes, Violence)
Our Members Say
See all 8 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Easy to play
Best for older kids
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
fine for 15 and up.
I know the positive messages part looks a little odd, but it will make sense if you play the game to the end, where character A becomes a priest after character C sacrifices himself to prevent character A from killing character B. hope that didn't give too much away. most of the characters are scumbags, murderers and thieves but the third brother balances out the other 2. the game emphasizes loyalty to family and tells a story of two brothers who come very close to tearing that bond apart. even the title "bound in blood" is proof of this. violence is bloody but certainly not nearly as graphic as other M rated fps games. as far as sexual content goes, it is fairly prevalent but isn't any worse than what you might find in a PG-13 movie and is limited strictly to dialogue. it is probably fine for kids 15 and up. the game itself is fantastic and tells an amazing wild west tale.
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Easy to play
The graphics are breathtaking and combat is tight as well, although the game has blood, it isnt very noticeable at all, blood doesnt stay on bodies and there isnt dismemberment. The only thing innapropriate is the frequent swearing ("Sh*t" "Son of a b*tch") and the sexual references and names ("Sl*t" "Wh*re"). Otherwise, a minor issue is the fact that the two controllable characters are basically outlaws who kill many enemies (cant harm innocents) and even murder a US marshall. Very educational, you fight as a confederate soldier and explore mexico and the south of the US. Some historical information during mission loading such as a brief description of some of the battles of the Civil War.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
can you turn content (language sexual ext.) off for xbox 360 if not how bad is the content
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
A Great Shooter
There is a difference between a good parent and a bad parent.I'm not a bad parent because I let my kids watch violent shows and play violent video games.This game is amazing.The first one was good but this game is better.See teach your kid the relisem from real life and a video game and they will not be ifluenced by violence.The story is alright.Controlls are like the easiest thing you can get in this game.The online is pretty good and it's a pretty basic online shooter.This is the game to own right now.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 67% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 50% | of parents say kids find it easy to play |
| 33% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 33% | of parents say it's educational |
| 33% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
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For Your Family
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openmindeddad recommends:
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
for kids age 14
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
for kids age 14
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