Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

Game review by Brett Molina, Common Sense Media
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

Vicious, violent, seedy shooter is poorly done.

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 2007
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 6 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

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

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this game embraces the criminal world and vicious violence. Since you're on the wrong side of the law, your enemies are often cops, whom you kill. Attacks are pretty bloody, employing a variety of guns and grenades, and you can sneak up behind enemies and break their neck or kill them with a punch. A heavy drug presence permeates a story littered with excessively profane language.

Community Reviews

Tom_Gamer_Tom
Tom_Gamer_Tom Adult
July 11, 2010
age 13+

Bad language is very frequent.

Kane & Lynch is a pretty bad game. About a three star rating. But then what brings it down... Is the swearing. I understand having a bit of swearing in battle. But this is stupid. Everything that comes out of Kane or Lynch's mouth is a swear word. F this, F that and it spoils it. Its also a very violent game. You run round shooting police and enemies with plenty of blood. Its a rubbish game really.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
gamenerd323
gamenerd323 Adult
December 27, 2009
age 14+

Bad language and violence can be viewd in this intellectual movie-like action crime game

This game is done in a movie style fashion, very easy to die, when you are shot to much you become wounded and while dieing you here voices of family (as if remembering your tragic life) f-words and be heard in these flashbacks and in comabat and in cinematics, the swearing can noot be turned of like in some games. The blood can be turned off though, there is intense criminal violence where blood pools under bodies. Like I was sayingearlier, it's like a movie. I find this better and more interesting than a normal strategic, third person shooter. Some tactics are envolved in this game, you will have to command your group of criminals and jump from cover to cover. Compared to gears of was or ghost recon, this isn't the best. But it's defintley worth a buy or at least a rent. Overall, the blod can be diabled, swearing is at the max, and there is some thinking envolved in this movie-like video game. I would recommend it to 14+. simply cause if there are young children and they hear the bad language, it can influence them to use it.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 4 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Hitman developer Io Interactive departs the world of stealth-based action for in-your-face crime drama with KANE & LYNCH: DEAD MEN, a very violent and unoriginal escapade. You control Kane, a lifelong criminal accused of betraying a mercenary group called The 7. The organization abducts his wife and children, threatening to kill them if he doesn't retrieve money they believe Kane stole. To ensure you finish the job, you're escorted by Lynch, a heavily-medicated psychotic.

Is It Any Good?

Kane & Lynch easily earns its mature rating, with ferocious, bloody attacks and an excessive use of swear words. Essentially a third-person shooter with some simple squad commands, it is an uninspired, frustrating action experience. For example, to jump into cover, you simply run up to an obstacle. Sounds easy enough, except you have to run into a wall or obstacle a couple times before you "click" into cover.

Targeting is just as irritating. Gunshots seem a hair off almost every time. Computer-controlled players prefer to play hide-and-seek rather than to engage in heated battles. Kane & Lynch showed promise with a strong story, but after a few levels it turns up dead on arrival.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the game's mature themes. What makes crime-based action titles so appealing? Is the excessive use of foul language necessary? Are violent games simple fantasy or do they desensitize players to levels of brutality? Kane eventually seeks revenge for the death of his wife. Is vengeance the answer when wronged?

Game Details

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