Parents' Guide to Batman Begins

Game PlayStation 2 , Xbox 2005
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Common Sense Media Review

By Chris Saunders , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

Get ready to wing it in the role of Batman.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 10+

Based on 5 kid reviews

What's It About?

Based on the movie of the same name, this action-adventure game allows players to take the role of Bruce Wayne, who begins his crime-fighting career after witnessing the murders of his parents in Gotham City. The game starts in the Himalayas, where you learn the skills of a ninja from your mentor. Once your training is finished, you return to Gotham City to continue your fight for justice.

When playing BATMAN BEGINS, you have a variety of gadgets and skills you can use, including a radar screen in the bottom corner that helps you locate enemies. Batman also has the skills of a trained acrobat, allowing you to climb fences, jump ledges, and swing from building to building with ropes. You can sneak up on your enemies and eliminate them from the game using special knockout moves.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 5 ):

The game is easy to pick up and play, but still offers plenty of excitement. There are multiple levels and a variety of scenes ranging from the Wayne Manor to abandoned warehouses. You unlock bonuses as you complete levels, such as interviews with the movie cast. The characters in the game look and sound like the characters in the movie, and the game includes the voices of actors including Liam Neeson.

It's worth noting that Batman is a dark character, and while there is no blood or death (Batman actually defeats many of his enemies by scaring them), the fighting system allows you to punch and kick your enemy with force, and you'll do just enough damage to temporarily disable them. This makes the game a better choice for teens, especially fans of the series who will get the most out of playing as the Caped Crusader.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of Batman. Why has the franchise lasted so long? How is Batman like -- or unlike -- other superheroes? Also, how does the video game generate interest in Batman? How does it help promote the new film?

Game Details

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