Dawn of Discovery

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Civilization-style game teaches about life in 1400 A.D.
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

Not yet rated

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fun adventure game has a pirate theme, and thus there is rum and other alcohol references in the game. While it is about civilization-building, there is a gallows in your town and you'll see some bloodstains on it. Language such as 'damn' is employed, and you'll be exposed to cannonballs hitting ships and then sinking. When the credits roll, you'll hear someone talk about smoking hemp.

  • You are in control of this medieval world and you do good things like building cities and feeding people.
  • You play as a kindly prince who is a good role model because he wants to do well for the world.
  • This game has a learning curve to it. There's a lot to remember as far as building and taxing goes. Plus, your work is timed, which makes things harder. The story mode is easier with the continuous mode being much more challenging to play due to lack of a tutorial.
  • Mild violence includes using gallows in your town. You’ll see some
    bloodstains on it. Also, you'll use cannonballs to sink other ships. Fires can burn down your houses.
  • Pirates curse mildly, using 'damn' and 'hell.'
  • There are references to rum and, in the ending credits, to smoking hemp.

What's it about?

In DAWN OF DISCOVERY, just as in Civilization games, you'll learn a bit about history as you check out various civilizations and cultures. Here, you're the good son of England's King George. Your goal? Colonize the world and pack riches onto your ship to save the formerly merry ole England. The game’s graphics are presented as a graphic
novel, and sometimes, they really seem 3D. Your
first hours will include story mode missions featuring tutorials and banal, if
necessary, dialog. In the process, you will build farms, warehouses, and ships and send back food to the homeland’s starving waifs. You’ll upgrade your villages all the way up to elite metropolitan centers. Just don’t raise taxes too much: as in real life, your population moans and groans about it. The main goal here: a gentle balance so all kinds of people thrive.


Is it any good?

 

Dawn of Discovery is a multi-layered game, one that will keep you
occupied (and frantic) for hours upon hours. You can even play this game with friend using two Wii remotes. As you progress, you’re put in competition with
your evil brother, and your missions get harder and seem timed. You will be motivated to succeed because if you don’t grow enough food for your settlers,
they die with a sad smiley face. Despite some problems with graphics and poor drop-down menu placement, this is a fun strategy game to explore.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how video games can teach. Did this game show you what life would have been like if you
    existed in the 1400s? 

  • Do you think the Prince's behavior impacted the way you look at the world?


This review was written by Harold Goldberg
Teen, 14 years old
June 28, 2009
 
lelyte
taip

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This review was written by Harold Goldberg
Platforms:Nintendo Wii
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Action/Adventure
Developer:UbiSoft
Release date:June 23, 2009
Price:$29.99
ESRB rating:E10+ for Alcohol Reference, Mild Language, Mild Violence

This review was written by Harold Goldberg

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
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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