Despicable Me: The Game (Wii, PSP, PlayStation 2)
common sense media says
Uneven game rewards you for being "despicable."
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Despicable Me: The Game focuses on Gru, the movie's protagonist, as a cartoonishly evil villain who thrives on being bad. The more despicable your behavior in the game, the higher your score will be. You should also know that the game can be extremely difficult in parts, which is why the developers had to include a feature that lets you skip the parts you can't get past -- though not until you've tried and failed ten times or so.
Educational value:
The puzzles in the game are quite challenging and require a good deal of analytical plotting to work through.
Positive role models:
As cartoonish and unrealistic as he is, Gru is still a villain in this game. He thrives on being naughty -- shooting enemies in the back, defacing works of art, etc. He also complains and mocks you, the player, if you do poorly (this is meant to be humorous).
Ease of play:
The difficulty level on this game is all over the place. Some of the puzzles seem so easy you may wonder if you missed something, while others seem almost impossible to figure out without using a hint (thankfully, you can pick up "hint tokens" along the way that can be used for just that purpose). Same goes for the platform jumping sections: Some parts are a breeze, while others will make you scream in frustration. There's a bit of a relief in the game's "Despicable Cheat" feature that lets you skip a section if you die ten times in a row.
Violence:
As the villainous Gru, you will shoot enemies with freeze rays, wind guns, and magnetic beams. Defeated enemies vanish. It's all rather cartoony, but made a bit worse by the guards not fighting back -- they all scream and run when they see Gru and you need to shoot them before they escape. Gru himself can be harmed by obstacles like laser walls and heated platforms. When harmed, Gru simply bounces off screen and you start over. The most violent part of the game is the two-player aerial dogfight mini-game, in which players attempt to shoot down one another's planes.
Sex:
Not applicable.
Language:
Not applicable.
Consumerism:
The game is tied-in to the animated film, Despicable Me.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Not applicable.
More on Despicable Me: The Game
Screenshots
Review It
Most useful reviews by all members
An independent voice for families
Advice on the big issues
Already played it? What do you think?
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
