Pokemon Rumble Blast
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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 Pokemon Rumble Blast is a less complex, more streamlined Pokemon experience. Newcomers to the series can easily jump in here with no prior knowledge of the games or characters. However, the fighting here is a bit more straightforward than in classic Pokemon games -- here the attacks are directly shown, as opposed to being represented symbolically. Still, the violence is very unrealistic and cartoony. As with all games for its 3DS system, Nintendo recommends that children under age 7 do not play the game in 3D because the effects can damage developing eyes. Parents have an option to turn off the 3D effects by using the Parental Controls found on the 3DS.
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The Second Game in the Series
The ESRB Raters are Weird
What's it about?
The characters of POKEMON RUMBLE BLAST are wind-up toy monsters that like to compete in arena battle royales. All the Poke creatures are tired of one braggart and his friends winning all the championships, so they urge and cheer you on to face him and become the new champ. Before you can do that, you'll need to venture around different environments, fighting wild Pokemon and winning over many of them as teammates.
Is it any good?
Other Pokemon games have made a splash with engaging storytelling and deep strategic gameplay. In Pokemon Rumble Blast, both the plot and the strategy are greatly simplified, but it doesn't really diminish the enjoyment factor. This is a faster, more furious gaming experience then you'd usually associate with the series, but frankly, it's a nice change of pace. If anything was bringing down the Pokemon series, it was the sameness that occurred from one installment to the next. Rumble Blast bursts onto the scene with an invigorating jolt and feels really fresh. It's also a great way for newbies to ease their way into the world of Pokemon.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the violence in the game. Pokemon is a game centered around fighting, but the fighting is considered a sport within this game. Does this make the violence more palatable? What about the cartoon-like nature of the graphics? Does that make a difference?
The story here has a strong message about sportsmanship. Which characters in the game exhibit good and bad sportsmanship?
Game details
- Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
- Price: $39.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: Nintendo
- Release date: October 24, 2011
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Mild Cartoon Violence
- Last updated: June 20, 2019
For kids who love fast-paced games
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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.