| 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. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that the level of fear, blood, gore, and violence makes this game a poor choice for kids of all ages.
The story isn't really an essential part of DOOM 3, although it does work to enhance the sense of foreboding and fear. Problem-solving skills or puzzles are limited to simple "find the correct computer screen" or "listen to audio files that contain codes or passwords" types of things.
It's difficult to see, making it easier for monsters to leap out of hiding places and sneak up behind players. The artificial intelligence of the game is also very sophisticated, with monsters working in teams to trap and ambush players. Blood is everywhere: It stains the floors, it sprays wildly as demons are shot, and is smeared across the screen when the player is injured. And the graphics of this game are designed to be the most realistic ever -- even to improve with the capabilities of computers not yet designed.
It should be obvious based on the amount of blood alone that Doom 3 is not a kid-friendly game. However, on top of being bloody, Doom 3 is outright terrifying. The darkness and the artificial intelligence keep the player on the edge of his seat, as attacks are almost always a surprise. The game only really shines in what it was designed to do -- kill or be killed. Doom 3 is not a good choice for kids of any age.
Families can talk about gore in games and movies. Which is creepier in this game -- what you see, or what you don't see? Does piling on the blood make media scarier in general?
| Platforms: | Windows |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | First Person Shooter |
| Developer: | ID Software |
| Release date: | July 5, 2003 |
| Price: | $50 |
| ESRB rating: | M |
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