 | 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. |
Left 4 Dead 2
- Xbox 360, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: First Person Shooter
Common Sense Media says
Intense, violent shooter with zombies requires teamwork.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Left 4 Dead 2 is an incredibly gory, violent shooter meant strictly for adults. Players must survive a zombie apocalypse by using a myriad of weapons, including handguns, shotguns, grenade launchers, axes, chainsaws, baseball bats and many others. Attacks look and sound vicious. When a zombie is hit with a bat, for example, you can hear a dull thud. Zombies' heads, arms, and legs will often fly off, and spew lots of blood that blankets the environments. However, it does promote teamwork more than most games. Players have to work together, healing, helping, and protecting one another, in order to survive. That means, though, that open voice chat is nearly mandatory, which opens the floodgates for the sharing of inappropriate words, ideas, and information.
What's it about?
LEFT 4 DEAD 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter in which four people must survive a zombie apocalypse infesting the southern United States. Each campaign is a stand-alone adventure following a foursome of survivors as they attempt to escape. The game is a team effort, requiring players to work together and watch out for each other in order to survive. Players can tackle the campaigns alone, but the game is best played with others online. The game also features a Versus mode, where players can assume the role of zombies and attempt to eliminate the survivors. The game also includes a Survival mode, where players must outlast zombies for an extended time period, as well as a variation on the Versus option called Scavenge.
Is it any good?
The follow-up to last year's Left 4 Dead adds plenty more options in terms of weapons and enemy types. Players not only battle generic zombie hordes, but zombies with special powers. The Spitter, for example, spews acid. The addition of new weapons -- and especially the debut of melee items -- adds a greater level of variety to the action. The locales also feel fresh, taking players through various environments including an abandoned carnival and a shopping mall. While there are only five campaigns to choose from, there are plenty of modes available to enjoy, including Scavenge Mode, during which survivors must keep energy generators running while zombies attempt sabotage. Left 4 Dead 2 is also great at leaving the player feeling overwhelmed by throwing dozens of zombies in their direction. It's this kind of tension and thrill that makes it one of the year's best games for mature players.
Online interaction: Players can freely speak with each other in open chat, which means there is potential for inappropriate words, ideas, and information to be shared. Common Sense Media does not recommend open online play for children under age 12.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about whether a video game can be scary without being gory? Can you think of any games that fit this description? If a game has an option to lower the amount of gore seen on screen, do you ever use it? Why or why not?
Families can also discuss how the game places strong emphasis on using teamwork to survive. What do you think of this design? Would you rather be able to go off on your own? Does it feel strange to have to work so closely with strangers? Or do you prefer to play games like this only with close friends?
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Educator
June 18, 2011
AGE
Positive message within: this game DEMANDS teamwork, helping others and communication.
For adults and teenagers that are comfortable with gore, this game does provide much more than a visceral experience of running though a zombie apocalypse: a positive message is found within. The game more than promotes teamwork - it demands it. As a human survivor, you spend just as much time protecting, helping and healing teammates as you do yourself - everything from sharing resources to pulling them up off of a ledge. Leaving a teammate behind decreases your own chances by magnitudes, and running off on your own (going "Rambo") is never rewarded and almost always ends badly. The survivors only do well by sticking together and helping one another. Not many games can claim that.
The most popular game mode (versus) also allows teams to play on the zombie side, where similar themes are held true: only a team that plans and works together will stop the survivors. Attacking alone rarely has much of an effect, but a few opportunities do exist for zombie heroics (like the coveted death charge).
I would not allow a child under the age of 12 play this game. It is quite violent. But for adults and teenagers, this can be a game that offers everything from a quick release to a deep multiplayer or cooperative experience.
What other families should know:
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Parent of 12 year old
December 17, 2009
AGE
Fine for kids 11+ or 12+ not people under that!
This game is fine for kids use to rated Mature games. If parents are concerned, they shouldn't be. I mean its zombies and all, but seriously its just a game. It's a blast but has a TON of gore. THE GORE CAN BE TURNED DOWN OR EVEN OFF! There's no sexual profanity or anything like that, just blood, guts, and some mild swearing. When i first saw this game i just thought no way my 12 year old son is going to get this. That was the trailer, the game itself really isn't too bad. It might be bad for people sensitive to gore, extreme violence, and language. No more than S*** and A-hole really. No F-bombs going on in this. Really 11+ or probably 12+ can handle this game easily. Plus, your kid won't even play this game that much so you don't have to worry. My son has it and enjoys it, i even play it sometimes. It can give nightmares to people creeped out by zombies.
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Kid, 11 years old
December 25, 2010
AGE
BEST
THIS IS THE BEST ZOMBIE GAME EVER. The good role models are the character's teamwork. This is by far the best one.
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Kid, 9 years old
September 23, 2010
AGE
Seriously? its like the greatest game for ages 9-16 Even my 4 year old friend plays this game for gods sakes
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Teen, 14 years old
July 5, 2010
AGE
Good Game
No one under 13 should be using online play as others can freely speak. Also, if you don't want to the gore, the settings could be easily changed or you can get the censored version. Language from the AI's is not really a problem. F*** is never used but s*** and ass and such are really minor. The gameplay is easy and there are good messages about teamwork.
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Teen, 14 years old
March 22, 2010
AGE
Violent bloody shooter
A overall very violent game full of blood and gore and kill everything and anything that comes at you is its message.
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Teen, 14 years old
March 22, 2010
AGE
Generally acceptable for 13+
By the time you're 12/13, people in school use the words "D*mn" and "S*it" a fair amount, so not much of a problem. The blood and gore is intense, but it's fine if you're mature about it. Gameplay is fun, and promotes heavy teamwork. Recommended if you can handle the concept of zombies and are mature about blood and gore.
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Teen, 16 years old
October 4, 2010
AGE
Just a stress relief and a game for zombie fans
This is a pretty simplistic game - Kill zombies, Survive, Have fun in a SIMULATION. I'm not quite sure why the OP thinks that the slaughter of zombies is a bad thing... Anything is possible until proven not to be - and if a zombie apocalypse ever were to occur... I don't think hugging the zombies will increase your survival rate...............................................................Anyhow, L4D2 is just a simple shooter with unrealistic depictions of violence - Shotguns and melee weapons do not actually work in the ways portrayed in so many games like this. Coming from a family of hunters I can tell you a shotgun does in no way, blow half of a body off. Nor can a hatchet cleave you in two. Just a fun little stress reliever - and in no way should be considered a serious approach to a disease riddled creature ( Running from the zombies - good --- Shooting them in the head - Good --- Using melee weapons and letting them beat you up - Terrible idea )
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Teen, 14 years old
February 14, 2010
AGE
Really gory and bloody. But then again, they are just zombies. What is a real problem in this game, in thecampaign words like sh*t and d*mn could be heard but no f*cks. All the blood comes from zombies and none from humans.
Gore can be turned off, but when its not it is REALLY gory and im not sure you can turn off blood though. I cant really stand the game without turning off the gore. Uses lots of teamwork and trust me it teaches even adults lessons about teamwork. The players and computer players always puts other peoples life in front of theirs. The game tries to make you beat the game with fighting as little zombies as possible. This game is all about survival and this game is completely about self defence, not killing or glorifing violence. Other then that its a really fun game. Best game 4 a long time. Not for kids but dependes for teens. By the time his/shes 15 she he/she is defenitly old enough.
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Kid, 12 years old
August 17, 2010
AGE
This game, though fun, is excessively violent and gory. But, on the other hand, there is a function to take off all the gore. This game encourages teamwork, but that is because it is just to survive. I have played online, and chances are you'll run into either a foul-mouthed teenager or a 30-year old pedophile. This game is so violent, I truthfully don't think I should be allowed to have it. There is a chainsaw, and when you use it, blood goes ALL over the screen! Disgusting! So, yeah. If your kid is under 13 years old don't, i say DO NOT let him/her get this game.
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360, Windows |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | First Person Shooter |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | November 17, 2009 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, (Windows, Xbox 360) |
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