 | 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. |
Sands of Destruction
- Nintendo DS
- Price: $35.99
- Genre: Role Playing
Common Sense Media says
Japanese anime role-playing epic with fantasy violence.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Sands of Destruction is a Japanese role-playing adventure game full of fantasy violence in which players battle creatures, humans, and other races of beings. The main character, a human, joins forces with an anarchist group out to destroy the planet and eliminate a race of oppressive beast-like humanoids, the Ferals. Though no bloodshed is depicted in the 2D action, characters deliever lines such as, "I'll show you pain you never knew possible," and attack each other with swords, knives, chains, and guns. Some of the cutscenes depict torture, and characters also use moderately strong language such as "damn" and "hell."
What's it about?
SANDS OF DESTRUCTION follows the story of a humble, country boy, Kyrie, who has an innate "gift" of destruction he's unable to harness. He's called upon by the World Annihilation Front, a faction of anarachists who are at odds with the beast-like Ferals that have enslaved humanity. You and your team will take on a series of creatures, bosses, and enemies in caves, prisons, dungeons, and swamps. Random encouters are spinkled heavily throughout. During battles, players select actions from a menu screen (e.g., "attack," "defend," and "run") to defeat enemies, which earns them money, items, and experience points. They can then customize and upgrade their characters in nearly infinite combinations.
Is it any good?
For fans of Japanese RPG games, this is a solid entry. Sands of Destruction offers standard, turn-based battling, a linear, well-told story, and lots of data and attributes around each character that can be endlessly tweaked. The story and somewhat fiddly style of play go hand-in-hand, so players need to have an appetite - and patience - for both. For newcomers to the genre, the experience can be at first daunting and then immersive, as narrative, character, and music are all really well presented. Overall, this is a solid if not especially original game.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the story and how the world is divided into rival races, one who has enslaved the other. Are there parallels in our world?
The story here has a group determined to blow up the world in order to save it. Do you think terrorists in our world have the a similar view?
This game is familiar to many Japanese RPGs and yet has some unique features. Families can talk about how the game differs from others of the genre and whether these differences are assets or liabilities.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo DS |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Role Playing |
| Developer: | Sega of America |
| Release date: | January 20, 2009 |
| Price: | $35.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Fantasy Violence, Mild Language |
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