Common Sense Media Review
By Carolyn Koh
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Free, punny MMO lets kids be both superheroes and villains.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Hero Smash
What's It About?
In HERO SMASH, kids start by rescuing someone from the evil Dr. Purple in the tutorial, but can decide to help either Heroes or Villains in any part of Super City as well as some more or less neutral missions (many of which require you to kill things).
Is It Any Good?
Hero Smash allows quite a bit of free-form play as there are hundreds of different costume pieces kids can obtain as rewards by simply playing the game (some are amusing helms that resemble the creature they got them from). There is no advantage to playing either Hero or Villain and no real drawback to playing a mission or two for the other side, although kids do build up Good or Evil points.
Unlike many other MMOGs, characters aren't locked into a certain role, as kids can buy and equip any power and weapon they choose. Although buying a subscription opens up a great deal more content, kids playing the free game will also find a lot to do. Team play is as simple as several kids fighting a powerful monster at the same time as each player receives experience and items individually.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Internet safety. Why do we not share our real names and where we live with other kids we meet online? How do you know they are also kids?
Families can also talk about setting computer limits. How much time is too much? What is eye-strain and why do we need to rest our eyes or look at things from different distances?
Game Details
- Platforms : Mac , Windows
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Artix Entertainment
- Release date : July 8, 2011
- Genre : Massively Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG)
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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