 | 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. |
Eragon
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Windows
- Price: $49.99
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Movie tie-in is about the fighting, not the story.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the main focus of this game is combat. This is a fighting game of slashing and stabbing where fantasy characters die and blood is shown. Unlike the book by Christopher Paolini on which this game is based, the story line is pretty weak. In the middle of the melee, it's tough for kids to absorb any kind of message about good fighting evil. The game is more violent than the movie.
What's it about?
Since this is a game based on the movie depiction of Christopher Paolini's book Eragon, naturally, the game places you in the role of Eragon, a young dragon-rider entrusted with saving his native land from an evil sorcerer and his army. If you play with a friend, someone can assume the character of Eragon's mentor. The game's artificial intelligence takes control of this character if you're playing alone.
Is it any good?
Most video games based on movies, whether the film itself is a blockbuster or a box-office bomb, tend to be underwhelming. While ERAGON isn't exactly unplayable, it's not about to be nominated for game of the year. If you're not already familiar with the Eragon universe, expect to be lost or confused. The game starts off with a few tutorials about basic controls and the combat system. These tutorials leave the impression that there will be strategy involved and some type of intuitive combat system in place. Unfortunately, you can just about make your way through the entire game by mashing the A and B buttons.
One of the main draws of the Eragon story, which may excite die-hard fans of the franchise, is dragon-riding. Sadly, like many other aspects of the game, it is not executed well. But the game's biggest flaw is the crippling camera angles. In the middle of a battle you can find yourself hacking and slashing blindly because you can't see your character or the enemies swinging at you. All in all, Eragon can keep you entertained through a rental, but the bad camera, cheesy unlockables, and sheer lack of variety of gameplay will not sustain your interest.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how this game resembles or differs from the book and movie. When you read the book, is this depiction what you saw in your mind? What would you have done differently if you were in charge of bringing this literary work to life? Do you think video games need a story or just good action?
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AGE
Fun but violent
This is a very exciting game that is a bit violent. It is bloody and violent. It is also fun.
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AGE
A fun button smasher, but not really for eragon avists
Okay. Violent? Yes, blood, fire, falling. Swearing? A little. Storyline? Horrible. Eragon used magic arrows, when he passed out from one. He could light stuff oin fire. He can pull people. You slash like mad. The story is weak, mainly because you're trying to not get slaughtered. If you are a button masher, you could try it. If you are more of a storyline man, like me be really careful in the lack of mental energy in this thing.
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AGE
An absolutely useless pile of garbage
Parents, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. As an avid gamer, I found this game to be horrible (I also found the movie horrible, but I will not go into too much detail about that). In case you do not know, MOVIE SPIN-OFFS ARE BAD. Most of them are thrown together as a last minute way for movie producers to make money, and if there is a movie that needed last minute money, boy was it this one. Just give your child the book to read. It is by far an excellent novel, and it only costs $10 or so! Do not buy the game, do not even buy the movie, it just is not worth it.
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AGE
Perfect for 8+
Ive seen the movie and beaten the game in under 1h. The game is ok. There is some blood, maybe a little swearing (im not sure about the swearing i havent played it for years) and voilence.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Windows |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | Vivendi Universal Games |
| Release date: | November 15, 2006 |
| Price: | $49.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for blood, mild language, violence |
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