• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Highly provocative expansion with drugs, sex, and killing.

Why We Rated This

The good stuff

• Ease of play:

  This third-person adventure is very easy to pick up, plus fans of GTA IV will be able to hit the ground running.
• Educational value:

  None.

What to watch out for

• Online interaction:

  GTA IV offers multiplayer online modes but this expansion pack lets you unlock new weapons and use them in a head-to-head mode. Interaction with strangers is unpredictable.
• Messages:

  This game doesn't send positive messages to players -- because of its lawlessness, violence, language and portrayal of women.
• Role models:

  Luis, the protagonist, isn't a good role model, as he resorts to violence and intimidation to accomplish the many missions. He is a gangster who lives outside of the law.
• Violence:

  As with GTA IV, this downloadable episode allows players to shoot police and innocent civilians, beat up or kill criminals, and use helicopters and tanks on targets, too. The violence isn't over-the-top in the gore department, but it's frequent and ruthless.
• Sex:

  While there is no nudity in the game, players can see the players in a simulated sex act with a woman up against the wall (with his body thrusting up and down) and another scene that implies he's receiving oral sex. There are also prostitutes in the game (one of the lead character's "weaknesses").
• Language:

  Expect to hear the F-bomb plenty of times in this game, including "f--k," "f--king," "f--kin' A" and "mother-f--ker." You'll also hear s--t," "p--sy," c--k," and others.
• Consumerism:

  Not an issue.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Players will see drinking, smoking, and drug use in this game. Much of the time you'll be visiting nightclubs, plus some of the characters will have drugs in their possession. There's also a drinking mini-game.

   

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony was written by Marc Saltzman

Families Can Talk About

More on Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony