God of War III

Common Sense Media says

Fantasy brawler features extreme, visceral violence and sex.

Age(i)

NOT FOR KIDS

Quality(i)

 
(i)
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What parents need to know

Positive messages

This game is meant to deliver a mature, fantasy revenge epic to action fans. Consequently, it does not teach positive, real life skills and doesn't contain any positive messages. Kratos advances through the story only by killing creatures en masse.

Positive role models

Kratos, the main protagonist in the game, is not a good role model because he uses brute violence to exact revenge. The game isn't about talking issues through, it's about slicing away at creatures into bloody bits so Kratos can move onto the next location. However, he does manage to find some small bit of compassion within himself at the end. It doesn't make up for all of his previous actions, but it shows he hasn't lost all of his humanity.

Ease of play

As with past games in this series, Kratos is easy to control using the PS3 controller. That, and if you die multiple times, the game asks if you'd like to try an easier difficulty level. While some creatures take some practice to destroy, the game is quite easy to play -- especially for seasoned gamers.

Violence

Gameplay is composed primarily of extreme violence. Kratos uses swinging chain blades, swords, claws, and mallet-like fists to slice, dice, and pound his enemies, sometimes dismembering their limbs or decapitating them in the process. He also uses his bare hands to kill enemies, crushing their skulls and ramming heads into walls. Examples of some more extreme scenes of violence include: repeatedly punching an enemy's face until it is completely caved in, ripping a character's head off with his hands, gutting a creature to let its innards spill over the ground, and pulling out enemy eyes. In one scene the perspective shifts to that of a god Kratos is killing, forcing the player to watch from a first-person point of view as Kratos beats and eventually blinds him -- very disturbing. All kills are depicted with plenty of blood. Some larger "boss" creatures shriek in pain while they're being killed. While our primary foes are mythological, players will also kill many humans, on purpose or by accident, as well as several gods in human form.

Sex

As with the previous God of War games, this sequel features many topless women and female creatures. There is also an off-screen mini-game that has Kratos pleasuring women. The player must press the correct button at the right time (based on onscreen instructions) to bring the women to orgasm. Note: the game doesn't show the act but the sounds imply sexual intercourse.

Language

The disc includes some unlockable behind-the-scenes material in which people use words including "f--k" and "s--t." These words aren't heard during the game itself. Other profanity is audible, however, including "damn," "hell" and "bitch."

Consumerism
Not applicable
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Not applicable

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that God of War III is a breath-takingly violent and gory action game. In fact, it's one of the most violent videogames we have ever reviewed. Where some parents allow teens to play M-rated games, this is one that we do not recommend at all in any way for teens. As with its predecessors, you play as Kratos who uses all kinds of weapons to destroy creatures big and small in a number of creatively violent ways, such as pulling out eyes and slicing open bellies to spill innards across the ground. Kratos can use his chained, wrist-mounted blades to chop his enemies, as well as a bow, magic, or fists to snap the necks of creatures. Blood sprays out of enemies' wounds, limbs and heads can be torn off, and creatures cry in pain. Mythological beasts make up most of Kratos' victims, but he also kills humans (on purpose or by accident) as well as gods in human form. The game also has a sex-based mini-game, scores of bare-breasted women and female creatures, and some strong profanity.

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What's it about?

Sony's biggest and baddest action game series is back with GOD OF WAR III, set once again in the realm of brutal Greek mythology and starring ex-Spartan warrior Kratos. Armed with his wrist-mounted chain blades, daredevil acrobatics, and for the first time in the trilogy, magic, this fallen god must avenge those who have betrayed him in a 3D world four times larger than the last game. This single-player epic also retains some of the platforming elements found in its predecessor, which includes jumping over chasms, climbing up mountains and shimmying across ledges. Plus, gamers can now mount huge, ride-able creatures to bypass obstacles, solve puzzles, or inflict damage on swarms of enemies (we're talking roughly 50 creatures on the screen at once, thanks to the processing power of the PS3).

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

Yes, absolutely -- but only for those 17 years of age or older, as the over-the-top gratuitous violence, sexual themes and strong language means this game is most definitely not for kids. However, for those who crave visceral action, God of War III delivers the goods, and the controls are just as tight and responsive as the previous God of War games for the PS2 and PSP.

Kratos also has access to new weapons, such as a bow and fiery arrows. Plus, he can pick up enemies and decide whether to throw them or put them on his shoulder like a linebacker and run into walls to bash their heads, use them as meaty shields, or drop them into crowds and set off a bomb to blow all the baddies into the air. PS3 gamers anxiously awaiting this mature sequel won't be disappointed with the experience.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about why a game like this is so popular. Is it because it lets them live in a fantastic world populated by enormous creatures? Does it deliver a virtual, visceral thrill for mature players, perhaps making them feel like immortal warriors? Is the experience so far removed from our daily (and often mundane) lives that it feels like pure fantasy?

  • Families can also discuss the game's depiction of the female form. Did you find the countless bare breasts on display distrurbing, or does the game's setting give them artistic purpose?

Game details

Platforms:PlayStation 3
Price:$59.99
Available online?Not available online
Developer:Sony Computer Entertainment
Release date:March 16, 2010
Genre:Action/Adventure
ESRB rating:M for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content (PlayStation 3)

This review of God of War III was written by

Marc Saltzman

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

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Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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Teen, 13 years old Written byJaliximorph October 15, 2010
AGE
17
QUALITY
 

GOW3

I have never played Any of the god of war series (Dont have a sony console) But i have once wanted revenge myself but i never took it this far lol, Kratos is a spartan, Cursed by the gods to relive his worst memories at a constant rate (Eg murder of his famliy by accident) And then killed and sent to hades by his own father, I mean come on parents!, Who wouldnt be upset, Sure this game is violent, I have an attraction to extreme violence, but im not desensitized, I can just handle it, Personally i wish i could do what Kratos did to half the gods to people i hate, But i cant, Dont know why adults get so freaking upset about a darn game, Im not a mass-murderer because of this game, So get over it, (Educational because it tells you names of cirtain mythological creatures)
What other families should know
Too much violence
Educational value
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Kid, 11 years old January 20, 2011
AGE
10
QUALITY
 
the only bad thing about god of war 3 is that you kill villagers .
What other families should know
Too much violence
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Parent of a 13 year old Written byipodfan2000 December 15, 2010
AGE
17
QUALITY
 

God Of War III- Inapropiate or Worse

God of War features many violent scenes such as using your bear hands to literally ripping off a man's head, getting points of making a blood bath out of killing innocents, stabbing and killing birds you can fly on and many others. Like ALL of the "God Of War" games they let you decide if you would like to have intercourse with women ( plus the fact that half the women and enemies in it are topless). Kratos is a TERRIBLE role model because the whole reason of PlayStation creating the game is so the main character can have revenge to Zeus. We should be teaching our children to solve problems through violence and getting even but telling them to solve through words and acts of kindness. If you want my advise I say stick to Teen ratings or stay away from God Of War.
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
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