The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn -- The Game

Game review by Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media
The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn -- The Game Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Simple movie game with likable hero, cartoonish violence.

Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2011
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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 2 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 The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn –- The Game is a simple action/adventure game that follows the plot of the film of the same name. Players will get a good feel for the tale’s classic characters, particularly the noble and admirable teenage reporter Tintin, while solving some simple contextual puzzles and beating up bad guys who stand in their way. Fights occur frequently, but are extremely cartoonish; enemies topple in awkward fashion with stars spinning above their heads. Parents should note that playing this game will likely lead kids to want to watch the movie and perhaps read the classic Belgian comic books.

Community Reviews

jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
February 16, 2020
age 11+

Entertaining!

This was one of my favorite games from my childhood to play on my Xbox 360. I love story mode, co-op mode, the challenges, and the bonus content. I never got the chance to try out the U-Play feature, so I can’t really say much about that. Like most video games that are based off of movies, the story mode says it’s “the adventure of the film,” but it’s really almost nothing like it! I still love playing the story, though...don’t get me wrong! Also, co-op mode is very bizarre, since it’s all about playing in the Captain’s dreams, but I actually got a lot of fun out of playing that part of the game, too. The challenges are fun if you like racing against time and beating your high score. The bonus content is where you can look back at everything you have won in one place. I recommend it to anyone who loves adventure games with mild violence.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

A teenage reporter and his dog discover a mysterious model ship that proves to be the beginning of an exciting quest in THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN –- THE GAME. Players spend most of their time between cinematic narrative sequences journeying through two-dimensional side-scrolling levels where they beat up bad guys and solve simple puzzles (like throwing items to hit switches and raise platforms). The action sometimes transitions to give players control of Tintin’s dog, Snowy, who can fit into narrow areas and retrieve hard to reach items, such as keys. Other sequences see players piloting vehicles. A bonus cooperative mode allows two players to explore imaginative levels set in the dreams of Tintin’s friend, Captain Haddock. A second bonus mode for the Xbox 360 version of the game provides a few simple motion-controlled mini-games (Kinect sensor required), including sword-fighting and airplane piloting.

Is It Any Good?

With its pretty graphics inspired by both the film and the comic, exceptionally accessible action, and healthy range of play modes, The Adventures of Tintin is a cut above most movie-licensed games. Levels move along at a pleasant, movie-like pace and offer little in the way of any momentum-killing obstacles, and the controls are so simple that even video game rookies should be able to get the hang of things in minutes. Experienced players may find the action and puzzles a little too rudimentary for their liking, and it lacks the emotional resonance of a movie or book, but casual gaming fans of the Tintin universe should be well served.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about games based on films. Does playing a game based on a movie improve your appreciation of the film? Do you think they typically do justice to their source material? What makes playing a game featuring plots and characters taken from the silver screen appealing?

  • Families can also discuss violence in media. Do you think a game about a teen reporter needs to include fighting? What other kinds of activities could have replaced the game’s beat-up-a-bad-guy sequences?

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Themes & Topics

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