Brutal Legend

Game review by
Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media
Brutal Legend Game Poster Image
Parents recommendPopular with kids

Common Sense says

age 18+
(i)
Jack Black as funny rocker roadie, but expect gory violence.
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Parents say

age 12+
Based on 12 reviews

Kids say

age 13+
Based on 12 reviews
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The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Positive Messages

Because this game is deeply rooted in fantasy, the game's message -- about defending innocent people from evildoers, by defeating them with violence -- shouldn't be taken too seriously. The main character is likable, but he does use weapons gratuitously to accomplish his goals.

 

 

Positive Role Models & Representations

Eddie is a hard-working roadie who takes pride in his work, and he tries to save the life of a band member at the beginning of the game. He performs other selfless acts in the game, such as trying to rescue his love interest and save enslaved "headbangers." Eddie, however, smokes a lot and uses weapons to defeat evil in gruesome ways.

Ease of Play

The game is fairly easy to control, but switching special powers (by using a spinning disc interface) takes a bit of getting used to.

Violence

While it's very cartoon-like in its graphics and delivery, this fantasy action game features plenty of violence, including the ability to hack and slash demonic armies with your double-sided axe, reducing them to bloody "gibs." This dismemberment is sometimes shown in slow-motion with blood flowing. You can also drive over baddies, shock them with lightning, or command others to head-bang them to death, all shown in vivid detail.

 

 

Sex

No sex is in the game, but there are strong verbal references to sex ("going down," "orgy" and sight gags such as gamers led to believe that Eddie is looking at someone's penis). Plus, many of the women in the game are scantily clad, showing legs, cleavage and partially revealing buttocks and breasts. Some have leather outfits -- implying bondage, perhaps.

 

 

Language

At the start of the game players have the option to hear profanity, which includes the F- and S-words, as well as "hell," "damn," "d-ck, "and "bastard."

Consumerism

The game's soundtrack features many heavy metal acts from yesterday and today but most of the game characters who resemble real-life rock stars (and who are voiced by them) have a slightly different name.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Eddie, the main character, can be seen smoking cigarettes quite a bit in this game, along with other characters who smoke, flick cigarette butts, blow smoke, and so on. You can also see women holding what appears to be beer and liquor bottles.

 

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Brutal Legend is all about fantasy and does not look realistic at all. That being said it does show graphic violence including decapitation, dismemberment, and mass killings (such as driving over a group of baddies). Eddie, the roadie protagonist voiced by Jack Black, has a number of weapons and special powers at his disposal to fight demonic creatures -- some who look human-like. Players, though, are asked at the start of the game if they're OK with blood and gore, and profanity and have an option to turn these aspects off.

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User Reviews

  • Parents say
  • Kids say
Adult Written byThereasonwecant... December 19, 2009
age 2+
A good educational title that introduces your children to the overlooked, yet beautiful genre of music, heavy metal.
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Adult Written bynovocaine November 9, 2018
age 11+
Has sexual inuendos in sometimes that some children may repeat not knowing what it means but other than that, just violence and you have the option to turn off... Continue reading
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Add your ratingSee all 12 parent reviews.

Teen, 13 years old Written byjoshuabonifac June 22, 2021
age 12+

Common Sense Media gave this a wrong age & up rating

There are options in this game where if you want strong language to be bleeped or unbleeped for 12-14 year olds who are wanting to play this game make sure you... Continue reading
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Teen, 13 years old Written bycraigDaBrute October 21, 2020
age 10+

you choose

Its fun, and you can turn off swears and it'll just be beep, and turn off gore, than It's literally E10+
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Add your ratingSee all 12 kid reviews.

What's it about?

From the ingenious mind of game designer Tim Schafer (Day of the Tentacle, Psychonauts) comes an über fun – and funny – action-heavy adventure that stars Jack Black as roadie Eddie Riggs. One night, a freak stage accident knocks Eddie unconscious, and when his blood drips into his beloved belt buckle, a gift from his father, he is magically transported to a fantasy world, where heavy metal album covers come alive, guitars emit lightning strikes, and mountains are made up of piled amps. Your "battle axe" and super-charged hotrod will help rally an army of head-bangers to save humanity from an oppressive emperor and his demonic army.

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Is it any good?

Yes, BRUTAL LEGEND is a blast, not just because it delivers a fresh balance of fantasy adventure, humor, and great music (er, if you're into hard rock, that is), but it also successfully borrows elements from three different genres: action brawlers, real-time strategy games, and racing. Plus, this third-person game offers a host of optional side-missions that add to its replayability, while multiplayer modes kick it "up to 11" online, too. Packed with more than 100 killer rock tracks and voice talent from the who's who of heavy metal gods -- namely, Ozzy Osborne, Rob Halford, Lemmy Kilmister, and Lita Ford -- Brütal Legend is one of the more refreshingly unique games to debut in a long while.

Online interaction: This fantasy adventure is easy to connect to a central lobby from the main menu, then find people to play against in real-time strategy (RTS)-focused matches. You can chat, as well, therefore potentially hearing inappropriate words online.

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Talk to your kids about ...

  • Families can talk about why more games aren't as funny as this. Should humor matter, as it does in many movies? Can't game designers use humor to create more memorable characters, dialogue, and creatures? Or is it too hard to pull off well, as Tim Schafer has done successfully?

  • While this is an "M-rated" game, do you think it is less offensive because it is unrealistic?

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Game details

  • Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • Price: $59.99
  • Available online? Available online
  • Developer: Electronic Arts
  • Release date: October 13, 2009
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
  • Last updated: November 11, 2020
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