Clash of the Titans
Movie-based hack-fest with loads of man-on-monster violence.
Clash of the Titans
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that movie-based game Clash of the Titans shares the movie's violent and sometimes-scary themes. Though no blood is spilled (monsters ooze goo instead), there's nothing cartoonish about the fights in this game, as realistic melee weapons are used to rend enemies limb-from-limb. The game also zooms in whenever a finishing move is triggered, which means players will be able to see each body part up-close as Perseus lops it off. Add in swarms of undead bad guys, Medusa's snake-hair and stone-inducing gaze, and the Kraken -- a screen-sized sea monster that comes ashore to eat the game's heroine - and this game is not for the pre-teen set.
Community Reviews
Gory, but not really that bad.
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What’s It About?
A faithful adaptation (for the most part) of movie on which it is based, CLASH OF THE TITANS puts players into the sandals of Perseus, son of the Olympic god Zeus. Unaware of his regal roots, Perseus is tasked with defending a kingdom of non-believers and its princess from the vengeful wrath of the gods, and gamers help him defend the townsfolk by completing a series of hack-and-slash-themed quests. Each successful quest also opens up more of the game's storyline, pushing Perseus toward a final showdown with Hades, lord of the Underworld and instigator of the war between gods and men. An online mode is available for the game, but the title's meat-and-potatoes lie in its single-player campaign, which has you chopping up every enemy that moves. And some that don't.
Is It Any Good?
Sadly, Clash of the Titans is not really very good. It plays like a God of War-knockoff. The massive number of weapons at Perseus' disposal don't do much for replayability, since almost all your armaments behave the same once you get to swinging. The same problem pops up whenever a Soul Seize, the game's fatality-inspired finishing sequence, is enacted. The finisher's cinematics are based entirely on the weapon you take from a bad guy. So if you're in a room full of axe-wielders, you're going to see the same skull-smash sequence over and over. And over.
Another problem with the game is that your battle opponents don't provide enough of a challenge. The game's villains are dumb as bricks (some of them literally are bricks) so that you end of feeling indifferent instead of pumped up. When surrounded -- and this happens often, as the game's targeting system is loose -- all you need to do is just mash the quick attack button. You'll usually escape with minimal damage. Then it's back to light attacks for slow baddies. Heavy attacks to smash shield-carriers. Repeat...Yawn. Add in silly missions and load screens that literally pop up every five minutes, and Clash of Titans has rental written all over it.
Online interaction: The game allows players to team up with multiple friends to take on central villain Hades. Unmonitored voice chatting is also allowed, which means a user could be solicited by unknown gamers, and be subjected to profanities and other forms of inappropriate commentary.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the level of violence in this game. Why does the protagonist rely on violence to achieve his goals? Would it have been possible to tone down the violence without diminishing the game's "fun-factor", and why it's important to understand that the game takes place in a fantasy world?
Does this game represent a successful adaptation of the movie on which it is based? If not, why was it created, and what does it say about consumers when a successful movie is used to sell copies of a game that's lacking in quality?
What were some of your favorite story elements from the game? Parents could ask their children if there were any moments that reminded them of situations they experienced in real-life, and how they handled their own problems when faced with adversity.
In light of the game's messages, parents could ask their children what they think it means to be a hero, whether or not Perseus lived up to that ideal, and why.
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Namco Bandai
- Release date: July 27, 2010
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: T for Blood and Gore, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Last updated: August 30, 2016
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