Fast & Furious: Showdown

Name: Fast & Furious: Showdown
Item: Fast & Furious: Showdown
Rating: 1
Author: Marc Saltzman

Game review by

Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media

Fast & Furious: Showdown Game Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

(i)

Buggy, unimaginative race game where you're a car thief.

Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
$19.99 (Nintendo 3DS), $29.99 (PC) and $39.99 (X360, PS3, Wii U)
2013

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Kids say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Educational Value

Fast & Furious: Showdown wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.

Positive Messages

Like the Fast & Furious movie series it's based upon, this video game is all about performing heists, hijackings, car chases, and evading the authorities -- not the stuff that gives a "positive message." Gamers can also shoot at cars with various weapons. The only saving grace here is you're out to stop a dangerous international gang from becoming more powerful.

Positive Role Models & Representations

You are part of the Fast & Furious crew, but there is nothing known about your character. All you know is you're part of the gang that's performing more than 30 main objectives and two-dozen optional side missions -- most of which takes place behind the wheel of a car -- to pull of heists and evade the police to make off with your cash or cars.

Ease of Play

The game can be difficult to control because of finicky driving controls and shooting mechanics.

Violence

The game has some violence -- both behind the wheel as well as the option to team up with another player and shoot at those trying to stop you. This includes guns, rifles, and grenade launchers, all the while leaning out of the car's window. Gamers will see explosions, too, in both the gameplay and cutscene sequences.

Sex

Language

The game has some mild profanity including the words "ass" and "damn," plus some of the music has suggestive lyrics, including references to having sex in one song.

Consumerism

The game is based on the Fast & Furious movie franchises, and this title debuted exactly as Fast & Furious 6 came out in theaters -- and that's no coincidence.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Fast & Furious: Showdown is a racing game tied to a popular movie franchise -- and just like the films it's based upon, you can steal cars, evade the police, and shoot at enemy vehicles (mostly other thieves) to see their cars explode. It's clearly fictional -- and there's a story thread about you trying to stop a dangerous international gang -- but the premise has no positive messaging for kids. Along with some violence there is also some mild profanity in the game. Xbox 360 and PS3 gamers can also talk with strangers online while playing the game.

User Reviews

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Teen, 13 years old Written byDuckCommander13 December 16, 2013

age 12+

Fun Game

There is only 1 swear word "H"You get to run over cars and kill the people in them but you see nothing inside them. You see cars that are ruined and y... Continue reading

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Teen, 16 years old Written bywillman72 December 1, 2013

age 6+

trash

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What's it about?

Based on the popular Fast & Furious movie franchise, FAST & FURIOUS: SHOWDOWN is an arcade racing game that pits you as one of the crew, tasked with pulling of daring heists, vehicle hijacking, and escaping with your prize. The storyline, which spans the entire franchise, has you travel around the world -- from L.A. to Hong Kong, Moscow to Miami -- to try and stop a power-hungry gang before they can wreak more havoc on the world. The game lets you build your dream car and modify it with more than 50 upgrades. Then you can play against the game's artificial intelligence (A.I.) to try your hand at more than 50 missions, in total, or team up with a friend, cooperatively, over the Internet.

Is it any good?

Like most movie-related video games that conveniently launch at the same time as the film it's based upon, Fast & Furious Showdown is a real mess. Where to start? The game is short. It's ridden with technical bugs, bad A.I., and graphical glitches. The vehicles aren't easy to handle and the shooting mechanics are sloppy. The voice acting is terrible and the bland environments all look the same.

As you can see, there's very little to like about this poor excuse for a video game. Even if Fast & Furious: Showdown was $20 instead of $40, and you're a huge fan of the movie franchise, it still wouldn't be worth your time. Let this game be a reminder for publishers like Activision not to throw money at a game with a movie tie-in unless you're willing to make it a great game on its own merits. Note: All versions of the game are the same, except for the Nintendo 3DS version.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about assuming the role of a car thief. How does it feel to play this type of character?
What is the impact of media violence?

Game details

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
Subjects: Science: motion, physics
Skills: Self-Direction: achieving goals, time management
Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, strategy
Collaboration: teamwork
Price: $19.99 (Nintendo 3DS), $29.99 (PC) and $39.99 (X360, PS3, Wii U)
Available online? Available online
Developer: Activision
Release date: May 28, 2013
Genre: Racing
Topics: Cars and Trucks, Adventures
ESRB rating: T for Mild Language, Violence