Parents' Guide to This Is a True Story

App iPhone , iPad , Android Free Puzzle Games
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Common Sense Media Review

David Chapman By David Chapman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Interactive story is light on gameplay but heavy on message.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

 

 

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Privacy Rating Warning

  • Personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Unclear whether this product displays personalised advertising.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
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What's It About?

THIS IS A TRUE STORY is a hand-painted interactive tale that gives players a glimpse at the harsh conditions some African villagers face on a daily basis. In this story, players take on the role of a woman undertaking a day-long journey under the unforgiving African sun just to gather a supply of adequate water for herself and her friends. Players listen to the dreams and desires of the people -- with information based on actual interviews and events -- and hear about the effects that poor drinking water has had on their society. The game also shows the hazards the villagers regularly face and strive to overcome, including wild animals, poachers, and even the environment itself. It's a story of courage, determination, strength, and hope, of seeing both the good and the bad of the world that surrounds us.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

Sometimes a game is meant to entertain, while other times it's meant to carry a message. This Is a True Story falls squarely into the latter category. In fact, it's a stretch to even call it a game. Sure, it's got a couple of very basic puzzle elements tossed in to keep you busy for part of the time it takes to complete from start to finish, which is less than an hour. But that just makes it more of an interactive story than anything else. That's not to say there's not a lot to take in. The visuals are beautiful, like a painting brought to life. The narration is engaging as you listen to the character's inner thoughts, still filled with hope even after the suffering she and those around her have endured. And the overall message, spotlighting the importance of the availability of clean water in underdeveloped societies, is presented in a powerful but not desperate manner. But while the story might be rich with perspective and insight, as a game, it simply comes up dry.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about interactive storytelling. How can adding game elements to a story help the audience get more engaged with its message? Do these breaks in the flow of the story help or hurt the overall experience?

  • How can video games be used to help put a spotlight on real-world issues? What are some ways that games might be used to solve some of these issues?

App Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

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