Parents' Guide to

Dust: An Elysian Tale

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Pretty side-scroller has mild but frequent violence.

Game Xbox 360 2012
Dust: An Elysian Tale Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Dust: An Elysian Tale Game: Screenshot #1
  • Dust: An Elysian Tale Game: Screenshot #2
  • Dust: An Elysian Tale Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

Quicksandsurfer
Quicksandsurfer Adult
October 3, 2012
age 10+

Give this gem a chance

I agree with the reviewer on most accounts, but not entirely. I played the game through to the end, and found the story had a very positive message about the protagonist. Without spoiling the game, what you learn of Dust, his journey and his personal conflict and the choices he makes at the end, really project a positive role model. At the very end, the story ties together nicely and if anything, is a gem offering children how important choices are, and doing good and helping others is. I shed a few tears at the end, it moved me so ... adults should play this game, too. It has a simple but heartfelt lesson at it's core.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

DUST: AN ELYSIAN TALE is a side-scrolling action game available for download through Xbox Live Arcade. Players control Dust, a young man who wakes up in the forest with no memory. Dust is startled to find a sentient sword nearby that tells him he has something important he needs to do. So begins a journey through a monster-infested world. Players spend much of their time helping folks by running errands, finding lost loved ones, and protecting towns from invading creatures. Role-playing elements figure into the action, with players able to grow Dust's abilities, collect materials to craft items, and swap out their armor and accessories as they find more powerful gear. Players can hop between areas, revisiting locations once they have the power to access previously unavailable areas, making for a surprisingly lengthy adventure filled with plenty of side quests and hidden goodies.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Dust: An Elysian Tale may be worth playing simply to take in its gorgeous anime-style graphics. The game begins with a run through a lush green forest filled with beautifully animated animals, including families of deer frolicking together and rabbits washing their cute faces with their paws. Things get a little darker as the game progresses, but the game's unique beauty persists.

The action, unfortunately, is a bit ho-hum. A variety of moves and attacks are unlocked over time, but most players will likely just mash buttons to plough through the game's baddies and wind up finding battles a bit monotonous. It's a shame that the imagination and care that went into the game's presentation didn't continue on through to play. Instead, Dust: An Elysian Tale is a visual feast with a mediocre core.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in media. Do you think aggression depicted in violent games continues to be felt by players after they switch off their consoles?

  • Families can also discuss storytelling in games. Do you ever feel drawn to video game stories and characters, or do you just mash buttons to skip narrative scenes? Do you think games can tell meaningful stories from which we can learn things about ourselves?

Game Details

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