 | 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. |
Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain
- PlayStation 2
- Price: $42.95
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
A bloody, frustrating mess of a game.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is way too bloody and violent for kids. It features a detailed back story concerning international terrorism and large-scale biological attacks on civilian populations. This might be too frightening for younger teens, who are well aware of the threat of terrorism.
What's it about?
Seemingly isolated disease outbreaks point in the direction of a global terror plot to unleash a virulent mutation of the Syphon Filter virus in the SYPHON FILTER –- THE OMEGA STRAIN. As a member of the IPCA, an ultra-secret presidential counter-terrorism team, you're dispatched to locations as varied as Michigan, Belarus, and Italy to uncover pieces of the plot and stop the release of the disease.
The game is difficult to operate. There are countless primary and secondary mission objectives to sort through, and you can't save your progress during the missions -- which unfold in real time. Plus, the character controls are less than intelligent.
Is it any good?
On top of the menacing premise, this is a brutally violent game. Opponents come flooding toward you non-stop, and their deaths are graphic: Set an opponent on fire, for example, and watch him struggle and burn to a crisp. And the frustraing gameplay is likely to give you a headache. There's much less room for error than in other shooter games (all in the name of authenticity, apparently), and just when you think you've figured out one task, a voice will break in to let you know you've failed another. What you're left with is a bloody, frustrating mess of a game that tries to create a realistic sense of menace but instead achieves only a real level of dissatisfaction.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the chances of such terror attacks. You also could review your family's plan for dealing with an emergency.
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AGE
Perfect for teens, but a really hard game
This game is appropriate for ages 12 and up. The terrorism and stuff isn't even scary. I'm only on the first level because this game is extremely hard! So far, I haven't heard much foul language, but let's face it, every kid in public school hears hundreds of cuss words everyday at school, and most of them are pretty bad. There is a lot of violence, and if you get a head shot when an enemy is next to a wall, there is a sort-of big blood circle. But over all, it's not that inappropriate.
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AGE
Pretty good game.......
Used to have this game for my PS2 but it got spoilt,can't remember but pretty stupid and very violent,lots of blood,educational value,not much,teaches children to raise awareness on terrorism,such as in countries like the US.
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| Platforms: | PlayStation 2 |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Release date: | June 22, 2004 |
| Price: | $42.95 |
| ESRB rating: | M |
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