Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Game review by Mark Raby, Common Sense Media
Transformers: Dark of the Moon Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Movie spin-off with admirable heroes, realistic violence.

PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2011
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Parents say

age 8+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 11 reviews

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  • Transformers: Dark of the Moon Game: Screenshot #1
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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 Transformers: Dark of the Moon is based on the movie of the same name, although in this game there is a stronger focus on the robotic battle sequences. Players use a variety of weapons, including machine guns and rocket launchers, to inflict damage on their enemies. Players never attack humans, but the realistic graphics and environment lend intensity to the violent content.

Community Reviews

dracoblade316
dracoblade316 Adult
September 17, 2012
age 8+

An okay movie

The movie was okay, but could have been much better. The sexual content is moderate with one scene in the beginning and some fairly strong violence, but mainly just with the robots. There is a clear line between good and evil, and the autobots are very good rolemodels.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
See all 1 parent review

What’s It About?

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON is based on the movie of the same name, although the story is different. The game acts as a prequel to the film and is focused more on the tension between the two robotic races instead of their interactions with humans. In this game, the evil Decepticon robots, headed by their leader Megatron, have hatched a new plan to destroy the planet Earth, and it is up to the Autobots and the heroic Optimus Prime to foil these efforts and ensure the safety of the human race.

Is It Any Good?

In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, players control Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots. Much of the game is spent running around the planet and taking out enemy robots. It is primarily a shooting game with a lot of frenetic action. Because of the larger-than-life robot characters, there is a bevy of explosions and mayhem, which makes it an exciting experience for those who can handle this kind of content.

There is, however, not much variety to the gameplay, and the story feels rushed and is certainly not as compelling as the actual movie it's based on.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violent content in this game. The combatants may be robots, but does that lessen the intensity of the violence?

  • Families can also discuss the sorts of lessons Optimus Prime might be able teach us. Can we learn anything of value from non-human protagonists?

  • Families can also talk about how playing a game is different than watching a movie based on the same story. How does this game compare to its silver screen counterpart?

Game Details

Our Editors Recommend

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