Wild Ones

Common Sense Media says

Strategy shooter game takes aim at cute cartoon animals.

Age(i)

2
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17

Quality(i)

 

Learning(i)

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What parents need to know

Positive messages

This game revolves around violence. It is not gratuitous; everything is presented in a very non-intimidating, cartoon environment. However, players are shooting and destroying animals for no real purpose. It's a competitive game, but there's no positive message that comes across.

Positive role models

The characters in this game are depicted doing nothing but shooting one another. There's not a positive role model in the game.

Ease of play

This game requires precision and skill. Players need to be able to aim their weapons to ensure maximum damage, but they also need to position their characters to insulate themselves from being hit by other players' weapons. However, while the game is all about physics and spatial recognition, the only practical way players will become good at it is through trial and error. Players are not expected to come into the game and be able to make perfect shots right away. It takes time, patience, and every now and then, some luck.

Violence

The central focus of this game is violence. Players equip a long-range weapon such as a missile or rocket launcher, and then aim the weapon at another character with the goal of depleting the enemy's health and avoiding incoming attacks as well. The gameplay is presented in a turn-based fashion, so it is more about strategy and precision than about constant, frenetic combat. In addition, this game is very cartoon-like in nature so the impact of the visual depiction of violence is lessened. Nevertheless, the game is all about shooting other players for the sake of defeating them.

Sex
Not applicable
Language
Not applicable
Consumerism

While this game is free and players can play through without paying for anything, they are encouraged to buy extra pets and items with real money.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Not applicable
Privacy & safety

Some privacy and safety concerns. This a multiplayer game with a text-chatting feature, which means players may be matched with other players who use inappropriate language. However, the text chatting feature automatically filters profanity. Google+ is only available to users who are at least 13 years of age or older.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Wild Ones is a free multiplayer strategy game played on the Google+ social network. Players create and customize their own cartoon animal creature, who is then sent out to wreak havoc against other cute, cartoon animals. Players choose a weapon, such as a rocket launcher or a bomb, and then aim their shot at other animals with the hopes of knocking the rival critters out of the game before their character is knocked out. Attack animations are very cartoon-like in nature and animals are never depicted with serious damage. The game has filtered chat and encourages players to use real money to purchase extras.

What kids can learn

Subjects

Science

  • measurement
  • motion
  • physics

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • problem solving
  • strategy
  • thinking critically

Collaboration

  • meeting challenges together

What Kids Can Learn

Wild Ones wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.

What kids can learn

Subjects

Science

  • measurement
  • motion
  • physics

Skills

Thinking & Reasoning

  • problem solving
  • strategy
  • thinking critically

Collaboration

  • meeting challenges together

Wild Ones wasn't created with educational intent, and we don't recommend it for learning.

This Learning Rating review was written by Mark Raby

Parents say

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Kids say

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AGE
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QUALITY
 
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What's it about?

WILD ONES pits cartoon animals against each other in a shooting match. The game bunches a group of cartoon animals together in a very limited amount of land, gives them weapons, and declares the last creature standing as the winner. The player controls one of the animals. The focus of this game is to develop a strategy so that not only can players easily attack other players, but also find a way to shield themselves from attacks when it is not their turn. Because this is a turn-based multiplayer game, strategies will change every time based on who the other players are and how they maneuver around the landscape.

Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

Wild Ones is a social shooting game, so the more players there are, the more frenetic -- and more fun -- it becomes. It also revolves completely around strategy. Players cannot win in this game with just pure luck, and thus players should never feel cheated if they lose. They should instead feel motivated to develop better strategies. That is the cornerstone of any good strategy game, and this title delivers on that. The graphics are decent but nothing incredible, and the weapon selection could have been fleshed out a bit more. But for what it is -- a fun, quick social game- - it fits the bill in spades.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about the whimsical violence in this game. Do you think this game is gratuitous or over-the-top?

  • Did you realize you were calculating geometrical equations in your mind when aiming your weapons?

Game details

Platforms:Google+
Price:Free but with microtransactions
Available online?Not available online
Developer:Playdom
Release date:August 11, 2011
Genre:Strategy
ESRB rating:NR for (Google+)

This review of Wild Ones was written by

Mark Raby

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

Find out more

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

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