 | 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. |
Red Steel 2
- Nintendo Wii
- Price: $49.99-59.99
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Nonstop violent swordplay but no blood, for older teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Red Steel 2 is a fantasy action game that has players using a sword and guns to kill hundreds of enemies during a samurai's quest for retribution. There is no blood or gore (enemies simply step back or fall to the ground when defeated), and the game’s comic book-ish artistic design isn’t particularly realistic, but the combat is nearly constant and involves elaborately choreographed combination moves using the Wii MotionPlus controller. Since you are doing the motions with the controller, there is a more visceral feel to this game than sword games on other consoles. Violence is clearly glorified, especially considering our hero is a well trained killer who obviously takes pleasure in dealing out death to and sparing none of his enemies. The ESRB has rated this game Teen, which encompasses a wide range of ages. We believe the content is less appropriate for younger teens than older, and recommend this game for teens age 15 and up. Parents should also note that since the game requires the Wii’s MotionPlus attachment, if you don’t already own one of these devices you’ll need to purchase the premium edition, which costs $10 more and comes with a MotionPlus peripheral in the box.
What's it about?
Don’t let its name fool you; other than the fact that players wield a sword and a gun concurrently, RED STEEL 2 has absolutely nothing in common with its predecessor. While the first game takes place in a realistic modern world, its sequel is set in a dystopian desert town that feels like it’s from the future, despite obvious influences from both the Wild West and 19th century Japan. It’s pure fantasy. Our hero is an exiled, pistol- and katana-wielding samurai who returns to his home town only to find it occupied by villains and his brethren slaughtered. He embarks on a quest to find out what happened and exact vengeance on any enemies who stand in his way. This is the first action game to require Nintendo’s MotionPlus attachment, which is supposed to provide true one-to-one control, thus allowing for exacting sword movements. That means that unless you already own one of these peripherals (they came with last summer’s Wii Sports Resort or can be purchased separately), you’ll need to buy the premium version of the game, which comes bundled with a MotionPlus attachment.
Is it any good?
Red Steel 2 is definitely a better game than its predecessor, which dashed many hardcore gamers’ motion sensitivity hopes when it didn't deliver the sort of one-to-one real world mimicry they had imagined. Controlling our hero’s sword in this pseudo-sequel is much more natural and realistic. There are times, especially when blocking, that the sword hilt on screen almost perfectly mirrors our real-world movements. Other activities, such as twisting combination locks on safes, deliver similarly realistic control.
However, players will likely come away at least a little disappointed with the most important mechanic: Swinging a sword. The game registers vertical, diagonal, and horizontal slashes with better accuracy than any other sword fighting game on the Wii, but it’s still a long way from perfect replication. You’ll need to make careful, exaggerated movements, and there are times when swipes simply aren’t recognized. That’s not to say the action isn’t fun; it’s simply not the “deadly precision” advertised on the box.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how children develop and change in their teens, and how the maturity and experience gained through the passage of time may better prepare some kids for certain types of entertainment. Just because a product is rated appropriate for “teens” doesn’t necessarily mean all 13- and 14-year-olds are ready for it.
Families can also discuss the game’s artistry. The developers chose to eschew realism and make the game look almost like a graphic novel. Do you think this style makes the action and characters more or less compelling? How do you think the game would have changed in atmosphere and intensity had the developers worked towards a more photorealistic look?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
This game has a western setting. Much different from the gang wars oriented original game (which is way better) This one's okay. The swordfighting is more realistic, thanks to the Wii Motion Plus, and can be pretty fun. The game has a cartoonish look to it, is very mild in all aspects and fine for kids.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 21, 2010
AGE
Okay, the original review said that there was no blood. They were wrong. There's TONS of Animated Blood (In this game, it could easily be mistaken for red blood.) and the violence in NUTS. I mean, you knock your opponent on the ground and then you jump onto them and stab them in the chest. Sometimes, multiple times. But, it's a lotta fun! Besides all the cussing, it's good for kids 10+.
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AGE
red steel 2
great for tweens ages 11 and up! definite buy the rating on the game isnot true!!!!!!there is no blood enemies simply fall down and they only say d*** once or twice it is a great buy
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AGE
Great game every fighter fan should own
This game is amazing! The controls are very accurate and very rarely mess up. For concerns, the game is violent. There are various "finishers" that can be used and are, while not graphic (no blood), violent. For example, after weakening an enemy, you can rush them, put them in a head lock and shoot them in the neck. You may have noticed that i put both good and bad role models. these are both to the main character. Bad, he is fighting for revenge. Good, he comes back to fight for his clan even after they banish him for a crime he didn't commit. Overall, this is a great game and anyone who wants to swing a sword and shoot guns in the same game should get it.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 24, 2010
AGE
Overall, it's okay.
Very addictive, but tiring. It's easy to learn moves, and it's pretty entertaining, but I was having trouble staying interested with the story. I felt like all I was doing was shooting and swinging a sword. No blood at all, but very violent. One thing that also constantly bothered me, is that nothing was changing much, and the visuals were good but were the same constantly, if you know what I mean. I've only been playing this game for about a half an hour now. I just bought it. Anyways, my point is after only a half an hour, I can predict what every move I'm gonna do is gonna look like on the screen. And I feel like I'm always doing the same stuff. It's an okay game, but I have this very bad feeling that I've wasted $60.
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AGE
Fun for Younger Teens, but no kids
I love this game, even though its nonstop violence, people getting stabbed, gunfire, and explosions. It's a good first person shooter for younger teens who aren't ready for Call of Duty and Bulletstorm.
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AGE
WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT. Great first-person Wii actioner
Holy crap...is this from the same team that did the original Red Steel, one of the most underwhelming Wii launch titles? Why...yes. Red Steel 2 is yet another must-have game for people who want to see exactly what the Wii MotionPlus can do. The $20 add-on is put to excellent use here, and swinging a sword is actually very easy to control, unlike the original. Its ugly graphics have been replaced with a beautiful anime-style look that has quite a bit of attention to detail. The story is underwhelming, but what's the point in that? All you have to do is shoot and swing. It's a visceral action game that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who's played No More Heroes 1 and/or 2, Twilight Princess, MadWorld, or all 4. On the content side of things, the Teen rating is deserved. Violence, while constant, is certainly not on the level of MadWorld or Ninja Gaiden. However, there is quite a bit of animated yellow liquid coming out of enemies, which seems to be blood. (This is the 100th time Common Sense has gotten something wrong...) There's some cleavage on a woman, and some mild language is used, but those sorts of things are in E10+ and even E-rated games. Overall, Red Steel 2 is the best Wii swordfighting simulator ever made. And the shooting's great, as well.
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AGE
Tweens+
I gave this game to my friend, and he loved it! I t is a game with some violence, though.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | UbiSoft |
| Release date: | March 23, 2010 |
| Price: | $49.99-59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Animated Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence |
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