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The Island of Dr. Frankenstein

(2009, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated E, Play it on: Nintendo Wii)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Budget adventure is violence-free but also short and bland.

In this game kids can:   improve hand-eye coordination, play in a virtual world, solve puzzles

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Ease of play:

    The controls and objectives are all quite simple, though sometimes your missions aren’t entirely clear. Also, there are some places where your character can become stuck on something in the environment, requiring a game reboot.

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    The game’s primary themes have to do with helping others and solving problems.

  • Role models:

    Our hero is essentially a young handyman who roams around the island helping its citizens and creatures. He’s got a reputation for being a bit lazy, but is generally a nice, well-mannered kid.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Island of Dr. Frankenstein was written by Chad Sapieha

Parents need to know that, despite its ominous name, The Island of Dr. Frankenstein is safe and appropriate for any child old enough to be able to read its instructions, which are generally quite short. There’s no violence in the game; players simply run around a floating island helping its inhabitants. Even its monsters, which include a mummy, a werewolf, and a creature separated from his legs (which wander about on their own) are much more amusing than scary.

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 adventure games that feature no violence. Do you feel like you need to hop on or whack an enemy in order for a game to feel complete? Or is it enough to explore, talk to other characters, and solve puzzles?
  • Families can also discuss the role of monsters in games and other media. Need they always be scary and violent? Or can they be just as interesting when presented as average characters with more or less normal needs and desires?
Did this review help you decide?
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More on The Island of Dr. Frankenstein

What’s the Story?

THE ISLAND OF DR. FRANKENSTEIN is a simple and gentle tale of a boy who lives on an island that has been lifted into the sky by fans created by the mysterious Dr. Frankenstein. His primary responsibility is to maintain the machinery that keeps the island afloat, which involves tending to the fans and sucking up the pesky white vapors that slowly gather around them. But, he finds himself doing a lot more than that, including helping villagers with tasks such as procuring candy, chickens, or mechanical parts. There’s no violence in the game, making it quite safe for young children, so long as they can read the short text dialogue bubbles that pop up when chatting with non-player characters. Close

Is It Any Good?

This is a game best thought of as a child’s introduction to the world of adventure and role-playing games. Its world is small and painless to navigate, the story is mellow and easy to digest, and the controls are dead simple. However, it’s also less polished—and less fun—than, say, a Mario game. The blocky, texture-less graphics are decidedly dated and the music extremely repetitive. What’s more, the activities in which the player engages are uninspired and derivative. There are no fatal flaws, but it does feel like a very short, bare-bones adventure. Its attractive bargain price of $19.99 is what ends up earning the game a somewhat hesitant thumbs-up. Close

Publisher’s Details

Released on 11/3/2009, price $19.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E (for (No Descriptors))

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