Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky multiplayer shooter has violence but no blood.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Hybrid
What's It About?
The Xbox Live Arcade game HYBRID is an unusual multiplayer sci-fi shooter that doesn't involve any running around. Made by the same team behind the critically acclaimed Scribblenauts games, it sees players spending their time either taking cover behind barricades or flying through the air via jetpack on direct paths to other pieces of cover. Simply target a new barricade, press a button, and you'll take to the air and zoom straight over. Like most modern shooters, a series of rewards -- ranks, guns, various power-ups -- are bestowed as players progress through the game and accomplish specific milestones, such as racking up kills while in flight. Plus, players can unlock deadly drone helpers in-mission by performing well. There is no single-player campaign; but a handful of deathmatch and objective-based multiplayer modes provide some variety. All matches take place online against other players, which means you'll need a constant internet connection to play.
Is It Any Good?
Hybrid is a neat idea that works more often than not, but when it fails, it tends to put a damper on the whole experience. For example, when leaping between barricades with a different gravitational orientation, the camera will spin around to reposition itself. However, it sometimes spins the wrong direction or gets caught for a second, leaving the player confused and an easy target, which in turn may lead to a frustrating, unfair death.
The good news is that when everything is working properly Hybrid delivers a refreshingly original shooter experience filled with hectic, feverish, exhilarating action both in the air and on the ground. It may prove a bit too quirky for mainstream tastes, but fans of gun games looking for something a little different could be pleasantly surprised.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sportsmanship. Just because some online games allow you to play with strangers doesn't mean it's okay to be any less polite than you would were you playing with friends or family. What are some examples of good gamer etiquette?
Families can also discuss violence in media. Are you concerned about the graphic depiction of violence? The level of aggression involved in the violence? The meaning of the violence within the context of the game's narrative?
Game Details
- Platform : Xbox 360
- Subjects : Science : gravity
- Skills : Collaboration : teamwork , Thinking & Reasoning : strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : 5th Cell
- Release date : August 8, 2012
- Genre : Third-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 21, 2022
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
Suggest an Update
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