 | 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. |
Halo 3: ODST
- Xbox 360
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: First Person Shooter
Common Sense Media says
Impressive prequel focuses on co-op tactics to shoot aliens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this first-person shooter is rated "Mature" for its graphic depiction of violence. This is a futuristic science fiction game where most of the enemies you're shooting at are alien creatures bent on Earth's destruction. Players will use a variety of weapons to take out the baddies, and some blood is shown. While an "M" rated game, this one is less violent than others like the Grand Theft Auto series. The game offers many options for playing with others including online where open voice chat is available so there's the potential of hearing cursing.
What's it about?
In HALO 3: ODST, a futuristic sci-fi shooter that takes place between the events of Halo 2 and Halo 3, players take on the role of an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper, part of an elite group of space marines dropped into hostile areas. This time you're deployed to Earth, in the African port city of New Mombasa, to ward off an invasion from the nasty Covenant alien race and find out the motivation for their invasion. While the action is still seen from an immersive first-person perspective, Halo 3: ODST is more of a close-quartered game than previous adventures, with much of the fighting taking place in smaller urban spaces, and focuses heavily on cooperative tactics with your ODST teammates (nicknamed "Helljumpers") rather than destroying aliens by yourself.
Is it any good?
Though the single-player story is a relatively short 8-hour campaign, the game-play is intense and worth playing multiple times. The new Heads-Up Display (HUD) gives players lots of info on their surroundings, plus new weapons, maps, and some surprises make this game a memorable one. But Halo 3: ODST also introduces the awesome "Firefight" mode, a new cooperative multiplayer option where up to four ODST fighters can take on increasingly challenging waves of Covenant invaders. Also included in the box is a second DVD with three new Halo 3 multiplayer maps for online play (via the Xbox Live service), as well as all original Halo 3 maps and downloadable map packs, totalling 24 in all.
Online interaction: The game is even more fun when you add online friends, but as with past Halo games, you might hear cursing from other players in your headset. This is true for most online games, and many Halo players use the headsets to talk tactics while working together as soldiers towards a common goal.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the appeal of shooters. Does it give players a rush to blow away enemies from a first-person perspective? Is this a bad thing as it might desensitize players to violence and potentially whet their appetite to do it in real life; or is this virtual thrill healthy because it can serve as a stress-relieving and entertaining escape from the day-to-day grind? Is it any better or worse than a violent Tarantino movie? At what age do you think teens should be allowed to play these games? Why?
On the continuum of violent video games, how does this one stack up? How does it compare to a title like Grand Theft Auto IV, where you're working your way up in the criminal underground of a contemporary city and can kill innocent people and police officers?
This is a compelling game for many teens and can create time-management issues. How might you as a family go about handling setting gaming time limits?
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Perfect for teens and above
This is a great game, fine for teens (13+), but some parents might not like the shooter idea. There is little blood, which is flourescent blue, and the enemies dont look anything like humans. M is a broad rating, with games like this in it, but also games like Grand Theft Auto 4 and Saints Row 2, both involving killing police and innocent humans with ample amounts of blood.
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AGE
No Halo game should be rated M
Bungie did a wonderful job on Halo ODST. It is highly entertaining and has the violence of a T game. Unfortunately ERSB doesn't see to notice that. Blood is minimal and is only green, blue, and orange . The violence in game is exaggerated .This game is appropriate for any twelve year old and mature elven year olds.
I hope this was a helpful review.
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AGE
Good Game for Teens and Up
I agree with this CM Review and think it very accurately described the game. The campaign does not last long, but most people are getting it for the Coop Firefight mode anyway. The entire Halo series is good for teens, including this game. Parents might be afraid of the M rating but it isn't very accurate for this game. Kids WILL hear swearing on Xbox Live, never let anyone younger than 13 on voicechat. I think that the CM review missed something though. The ODSTs in this game are good role models, depsite their sole use of violence. The enemy Covenant aliens are evil and hell-bent on the destruction of the human race. They are powerful and it takes a selfless group of soldiers to fight against them for our protection. I think the (minimal) violence is warranted.
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Kid, 11 years old
July 30, 2010
AGE
VERY BAD
this is not appropraite for ages 14 or under
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AGE
My son's been playing halo since he was 6. Never been a problem.
It's a lot like the other Halo games. Same weapons and moves. You're just not as resilient as the original hero. Still fun with gorgeous maps. The online experience can be somewhat annoying though with all the trash talking, but fortunately there's a function in the xbox that allows you to mute anyone that's not on your friends list.
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AGE
A Very well put together game. Too short gameplay, but a good i guess "sequel". Firefight mode is fun and the multiplayer add on is great. As far as kids go, it has a little blood, but not to the point where it is terribley graphic. The flood in Halo 3 is much worse. Swearing is a little ronchy, but no F*** bombs.
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AGE
Good for 15+
The violence in this game moderate violence and has some blood. The language could be offensive for some younger kids.
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AGE
alien
i like the whole concept but there is a bit of language in there
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AGE
So good it is awsome.
Really violent and bloody. Really fun though. Not a long game. I bought this used for 35.00. And i only got six missions in the whole game. To quick of missions. Final mission is soooo
long.
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AGE
Fine for Teens
Just another mistake by the ESRB(the people that rate games). Just like Halo 3, ODST deserves a T rating. This game is basically Halo 3 with a few varitions and should not be rated M. There is blood but it's blue, green and orange so it really isn't that bad. Some swears are in ODST but not that many. The game is fun but the campaign gets boring after a while. The rest of ODST(Fire Fight mode and multiplayer) is really fun and isn't inapropriate.
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360 |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | First Person Shooter |
| Developers: | Big Huge Games, Microsoft Studios |
| Release date: | September 22, 2009 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood, Language, Violence |
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