Common Sense Media Review
By Christopher Healy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Puzzle/battle mix makes for a thinking kid's action game.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks
What's It About?
BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE: VILGAX ATTACKS features characters from the Ben 10 Alien Force TV show. As in the show, teenage Ben Tennyson has the ability to transform into any of ten different aliens, each with very specific powers and abilities. In Vilgax Attacks, Ben's squid-headed archenemy conquers Earth and Ben fails to stop him. Ben and his friends travel back in time, following clues left by Ben's grandfather, in order to defeat Vilgax's army before it can defeat the Earthlings.
Is It Any Good?
For an action/adventure game, Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks is a surprisingly cerebral game. The central object of each level is "How do I get from here to there?" and the central challenge is figuring out which of Ben's alien powers will help you accomplish that goal. Yes, there are bad guys to fight along the way (and even with the fighting, certain alien forms work better against certain enemies), but the more challenging aspects of the game involve thinking along the lines of, "If I use the Swampfire to burn those branches out of the way, then I can use Humungasaur's strength to move that wall." Some levels can be quite tough, but all the more rewarding when completed. The game also has a crisp, attractive graphic look. All in all, Vilgax Attacks is the best Ben 10 game so far.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about games based on TV shows. Can playing a video game add to your experience when watching a TV series you like? Can it detract? Are you more or less likely to play a game if you're already familiar with the characters and plots?
Parents can also discuss the use of logic in video games. Is a game more fun when it makes you think? Is it okay to want mindless action in a video game every now and then?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi , Nintendo Wii , PSP , PlayStation 2 , Xbox 360
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : D3Publisher of America
- Release date : November 3, 2009
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : November 15, 2019
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