G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
By Marc Saltzman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Decent movie game delivers cooperative bloodless shooting.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this game.
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
8yo needed a game that had fighting
Report this review
If you love your kids dont buy this game
Report this review
What’s It About?
G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA is based on the highly-publicized Paramount Pictures flick of the same name (and of course, Hasbro's 45-year-old toy line) and starts where the movie leaves off. Available for multiple consoles and handheld systems, G.I. JOE: The Rise of COBRA introduces players to the G.I. ("Government Issue") JOE team of elite military fighters who protect the world from ruthless terrorists, such as the nefarious COBRA organization. In this third-person action game, gamers can climb into the boots of familiar G.I. JOE characters -- such as Duke, Heavy Duty, Ripcord, Scarlett and Snake Eyes -- as well as some unlockable COBRA fighters, too. Each character has his or her own unique weapon and special move: Snake Eyes, for example, uses a katana for close-combat attacks (with super stealth as his special move). Before every mission (and sometimes during them), you pick which two characters you want to lead the fight. If you're playing alone, the secondary character will be controlled by the game's A.I. But, you can also engage in two-player drop-in-drop-out co-op play with a friend.
Is It Any Good?
You never know what you're going to get when you buy a movie-based video game. On one hand, you might be pleasantly surprised with the results (Disney Interactive Studios' G-Force), but more often than not the game feels like a shameless marketing tie-in or was rushed out the door to be released in time with the film (Warner Bros. Interactive's Watchmen: The End is Nigh). G.I. Joe is somewhere in-between. While not a flawless game, this arcade shooter delivers a fun experience -- especially for younger players. It offers an all-new storyline, but provides players with an opportunity to replay some of the biggest moments from the film, as well as relive story threads from G.I. JOE comics, cartoons, and toys.
The game is fun romp but there are a few nagging issues such as the inability to control the camera and frequent load screens. Shortcomings aside, the game will likely appeal to young teenagers who want an enjoyable co-op action experience alongside a friend.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether or not film-based video games -- available the same week as the movie of the same name -- are a good idea because you'd like to play as the hero(es) in the story or are these movies a well-timed, shameless grab for cash. Or both?
Is the ability to play this game with a friend important to you? Do you think of gaming as a social thing or a solitary enjoyment?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi , Nintendo Wii , PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Electronic Arts
- Release date: August 4, 2009
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: T for Fantasy Violence
- Last updated: August 31, 2016
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Play
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate