Common Sense Media Review
By Jinny Gudmundsen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Repetitive fantasy combat mars popular book remake.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say that the video game fails to capture the charm and depth of the original book series, with many reviewers calling it repetitive and a poor representation of the characters and plot. An overwhelming preference for the books over the game is evident, with users highlighting the educational and entertaining aspects of the story while expressing disappointment in the game’s execution and lasting appeal.
- repetitive gameplay
- preference for books
- educational value
- poor character representation
- disappointing execution
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
In PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF, kids control Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy who discovers an alternative reality where Greek Gods and mythological creatures walk amongst us. Percy finds out that his father is Poseidon, the God of the Sea, which makes him a demigod and explains his special powers of controlling water. Percy and a group of demigod friends go on a quest to rescue Percy's mother from Hades and retrieve a lightning bolt belonging to Zeus. As players move from New York to California, they must fight Greek mythological creatures every step of the way, and eventually fight stronger foes including the Gods themselves. These fights are turned-based and winning means your fighters get stronger and earn new magical attacks.
Is It Any Good?
Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief offers a deep combat system which uses some of the god-like skills discussed in Rick Riordan's books. It is a game about the strategy of how you use your group of demigods to defeat supernatural foes. You need both healers and attackers to survive.
But the problem is that this game is a one-pony show. The constant turn-based battling just gets old. And most of your enemies just aren't that tough, even though they may be Greek Gods. The book on which this game is based is rich with clever and exciting ideas about how the Greek Gods are a part of the world as we know it. Too bad this game fails to enthrall the way the book did.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what parts of this book/movie you would have included in the video game. Why do companies create video games based on popular books/movies?
Did this game adequately transfer the book or movie for you? Have you read the book or seen the movie?
Game Details
- Platforms : Nintendo DS , Nintendo DSi
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Activision
- Release date : February 9, 2010
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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