Tools for this page
Print

Fairytale Fights

(2009, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated M, Play it on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fairytale heroes as serial killers in farcical bloodbath.

In this game kids can:   become a hero, kill humans (with blood), kill non-humans (with blood), play multiplayer games, solve puzzles

Why We Rated This not for kids

The good stuff

  • Ease of play:

    You use the right stick to attack your foes and the left stick to aim. It's easy to learn, but the left stick is sometimes inaccurate and there's no function to 'lock on' your enemies.

  • Educational value:

    You do learn about various fairytale heroes and heroines in the games, which may make some want to pick up the original Brothers Grimm to find out more.

  • Online interaction:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Cartoon-y fairytale characters will stop at nothing to regain lost fame, and that includes massive amounts of killing.

  • Role models:

    The game's characters might be cute, recognizable little fairytale creatures, but they don't behave like the ones with which kids are familiar. There's little to recommend their actions, which mainly involve mindless and repetitive slicing, cutting, and general bloodletting.

  • Violence:

    Kids should not play this game. There is blood in many moments of the game and it splashes and oozes everywhere. You slice and dismember everything from cute bunnies, birds, rats and cows -- along with more human-like enemies -- as you plow through the game. A split screen function shows exactly how you have sliced up your enemy. There is also occasional vomiting. It's all presented in a cartoon-like atmosphere, and the violence never seems real, but there sure is a lot of it.

  • Sex:

    One character shows most of his buttocks, and his privates are covered only by a fig leaf.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Fairytale Fights was written by Harold Goldberg

Parents need to know that, despite the cute appearance of Fairytale Fights' familiar characters, it is not meant for kids. There are buckets of blood in this extremely violent hack 'n' slash platforming game. There's nothing real about the game, but the concept of fairytale characters becoming serial killer-like murderers would probably disturb anyone under the age of 17. What's more, there's a feature in the game that shows exactly how you butcher and slice up an enemy into sections. Plus, a character called Naked Emperor appears nearly nude, though his privates are covered by a fig leaf.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about which character they enjoy playing the most, Snow White, The Naked Emperor, Little Red Riding Hood or Beanstalk Jack. Would you have enjoyed playing another character from fairytale lore? Which one?
  • Does the violence seem realistic to you or does it seem cartoon-like and inoffensive?
  • Do you think the boss battles, like the one with the giant beaver, are hard enough? Or are they feel too repetitive?
Did this review help you decide?
Do you play it? Review It!

More on Fairytale Fights

What’s the Story?

FAIRYTALE FIGHTS is not for kids, but many of the original tales of the Brothers Grimm aren't, either. Here, you’re a fairytale character who’s lost your fame. You’ve become forgotten. You’ve got to reclaim your notoriety by hacking and slashing through a magical, cartoon-y world as Snow White, Beanstalk Jack, Little Red Riding Hood or the Naked Emperor. As you move through beautiful, Candyland-like environments, you slice and dice through hundreds of enemies to proceed. But beware: blood flows everywhere, spilling slowly like honey. Close

Is It Any Good?

Clearly, Fairytale Fights will confuse or scare children who've been weaned on edited versions of Grimm. This is a game with such over-the-top violence that the blood its characters spill actually seems to be a character. It can completely cover your immediate environment like something out of a Devil May Cry game. There's even a split screen that shows exactly how you've cut up an enemy, slice by slice.

But while it may disturb kids, any adult who plays will see that the slicing and dicing becomes tedious quickly. While there’s a variety of humorous weapons beyond hacksaws and axes (like a shark skeleton), most seem to cut in the same way. There are camera issues in the game, too: when four or more angry lumberjacks gang up on you, you can’t see what you’re doing from the birds-eye perspective in the game. The developers have created a mood that’s light in the face of a lot of killing. It’s too bad they didn’t make time to design a game that gives you more diversity in play.

Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 10/27/2009, price $59.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: M (for Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Violence)

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Do you play it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Fairytale Fights?

  •  I think this game is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • New in Theaters

    Age 7+
    Fantastic Mr. Fox

    Fantastic Mr. Fox

    Offbeat family adventure may charm adults more than kids.

  • Advice for Parents

    Are Your Kids Obsessed with Twilight & New Moon?

    Are Your Kids Obsessed with Twilight & New Moon?

    Discussion pointers for parents of "twilighters."

  • Must See TV

    Age 7+
    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Zany adventures are low on depth but high on imagination.

  • Pick of the Week

    Bestselling Books

    Bestselling Books

    Popular new reads kids are buying today.

  • Download This

    Age 3+
    "Wash Your Hands" (CD single)

    "Wash Your Hands" (CD single)

    "Acccchhhoooo!" A funny reminder to help kids fight the flu.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
(It's free!)

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.