Kill Strain
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Kill Strain
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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 Kill Strain is a violent downloadable sci-fi shooter you play with other people. Players use a variety of weapons to kill other players. But since it uses an aerial viewpoint, the blood and gore are kept to a minimum. Conversation between teammates is unmoderated, which means there may be curse words and other adult language, while the game itself has some saucy moments, including use of the word "crap." Though not visible during gameplay, some women are shown wearing cleavage-revealing outfits in the character upgrade screen. The game also encourages players to use real-world money to buy in-game currency, which is then used to buy different playable characters.
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What’s It About?
In KILL STRAIN, a war has broken out. But unlike so many before, this isn't just pitting humans against their fellow humans; it's pitting humans against mutants as well. And all have to deal with a dangerous substance called Strain, which, when not cleaned up, will slowly kill you. Using all manner of weapons, including mechanized suits of armor, the three sides have to fight for dominance in a never-ending war that could destroy everything.
Is It Any Good?
While this third-person sci-fi shooter does a good job of bringing a popular game genre to the PlayStation 4, fans of similar PC games probably won't make the switch. Like League of Legends, D.O.T.A.2, and other MOBAs (multiplayer online battle area games), Kill Strain has teams fighting over points on a three-laned map, while also trying to kill as many enemies as possible. Besides using your characters' assigned weapon, players can also employ special attacks that recharge over time, as well as use deployable mech suits of armor. They also have to contend with a harsh environment, a substance called Strain that covers parts of the ground and slowly kills you if you stand on it.
But what throws Kill Strain for a wrinkle is that unlike other MOBAs, this doesn't have two teams fighting for dominance, it has three. Besides two teams of four human characters, there's also a third team of two who play as mutants. You can even, when on the latter team, turn human players into mutants. But while this does set Kill Strain apart from other MOBAs, it still doesn't have the depth of either League of Legends or D.O.T.A.2, which means that players of those games probably won't make the switch anytime soon. And without players, MOBAs aren't any fun. But League of Legends and D.O.T.A.2 weren't that deep or popular when they were first released, either, so things may change in the future.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about teamwork. The only way to win this game is by working with other people. How can you apply this to your daily life?
Talk about scientific progress. In this game, science has created a real problem, but what are some of the good things science has done over the years?
Game Details
- Platform: PlayStation 4
- Pricing structure: Free
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Release date: July 22, 2016
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures, Science and Nature
- ESRB rating: T for Violence, Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Last updated: September 10, 2021
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