Dungeon Siege III

Review

Common Sense Media says

Easy-to-pick up RPG has lots of combat and mild language.
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

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Dungeon Siege III is a fantasy role-playing game that's built primarily around combat. Using melee weapons (such as swords) and ranged attacks (including magic) players fight against -- and kill -- all kinds of human and inhuman enemies. Gamers will usually see a plume of red blood when they're defeated. Like other games of this kind, woman are suggestively dressed and reveal a lot of cleavage. There is also some inappropriate language in this game, including words like "whore" and "damn." Parents should note that this game also supports online play for up to four players and that participants can engage in open voice and text chat, a feature Common Sense Media does not recommend for preteens.

  • Positive messages1
    The characters you control are the "good guys" who fight against evil, but combat is the core gameplay mechanic. The message is to defeat evil, but the means is by using violence.
  • Positive role models1
    The four protagonists -- each with their own skill, personality, and unique side to the story -- are determined to rid the world of an evil force, but all of them rely on violence to solve their problems. Many of the women are scantily clad and sexualized, and don't serve as good role models for young women.
  • Ease of play4
    This is an easy game to get into, especially if you've played these kinds of action role-playing games in the past. The PC version used for the purposes of this review was simple to control as moving around the world and attacking are both accomplished with simple mouse clicks. More skills are required later on, but it's a fairly easy game to play.
  • Violence3
    While not overly gory or bloody, this is a combat-heavy role-playing game in which players click the mouse (on the PC version) or tap buttons (on the console versions) to defeat enemies using weapons and magic, depending on the character. Combat results in some red blood, but there are no severed body parts or excessive gore. Also, the camera angle is high, which makes battles seem less graphic than they would otherwise.
  • Sex3
    Many of the female characters show their midriffs. Stomachs and upper-legs are often exposed, and players can see cleavage. This is typical for fantasy role-playing games, movies, and books.
  • Language2
    Expect to encounter some inappropriate language, including a reference to a "whore." Players will also hear or read words like "damn," "hell," and "bastard."
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    There is a reference to drinking alcohol, but the player's characters do not consume any.
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What's it about?

In DUNGEON SIEGE III, an action role-playing game (RPG) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PCs, players step into the boots of one of four heroes, each of whom has his or her own unique strengths. The heroes must protect the once-peaceful land of Ehb and its innocent civilians from a growing threat. Played from an angled, top-down "isometric" perspective, you'll traverse varied environments -- from deep dungeons to lush mountains -- accept missions from townsfolk, take on hoards of relentless enemies and big bosses, and make decisions that can change the course of the game, such as sparing the life of someone who may help you later on. You can play this game by yourself or with up to three other friends via online co-op play.

Is it any good?

 

Despite the somewhat trite storyline –- you're a member of the 10th Legion who vows to prevent Ehb from falling into darkness and despair -- there is some satisfying, combat-heavy RPG action here. Players wield all kinds of might and magic to defeat villains and demons. The A.I. (artificial intelligence of the computer-controlled characters) is decent, but teaming up with friends online is more fun than flying solo. Plus, gamers can drop in and out of battle without stopping the onscreen action. RPG fans should also appreciate the customizable character classes, which feature a vast range of abilities to choose from, and also that they can recruit companions with abilities to complement their own.

While it's unlikely this game will keep you glued to the television or computer monitor for several months -- its re-playability is questionable -- this first high-definition Dungeon Siege is a fun and frantic "RPG lite" with great co-op play. Note: All three versions of the game are the same.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about violence in fantasy games. Does blood need to be depicted? Do players need to kill humans? Do these elements have an impact on whether kids should play a game? Do you feel better about inflicting violence wolves, goblins, and skeletons rather than humans?

  • Families can also discuss online safety. How do you keep your kids safe while playing online? What should they do if they encounter other players who are abusive or ask for personal information?

This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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This review was written by Marc Saltzman
Platforms:Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Role Playing
Developer:Square Enix
Release date:June 21, 2011
Price:$59.99
ESRB rating:T for Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
This review was written by Marc Saltzman

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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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