 | 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 any age. |
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Xbox 360
- Price: $39.99
- Genre: First Person Shooter
Common Sense Media says
Well-made but bloody overhaul of classic alien shooter.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary is a violent first-person shooter that has players killing thousands of aliens with all kinds of weapons of both the modern (shotguns, pistols, sniper rifles) and futuristic/alien (plasma cannons and needle guns) varieties. While not as visceral and gritty as many other M-rated first-person shooters, parents should know there is a lot of blood and some gore in the game when aliens are killed. Note that this game supports open online communication, so players may hear inappropriate language and conversations.
What's it about?
Microsoft Game Studios' HALO: COMBAT EVOLVED ANNIVERSARY is a "remastered" version of the 10 year-old Halo game for the original Xbox. Now available for Xbox 360, this new game includes high-definition graphics and support for 3D televisions (and the ability to toggle between the old and new visuals), along with new features, such as online cooperative (co-op) play, a number of multiplayer maps found in past games, optional Kinect for Xbox 360 integration (hands-free motion control), unlockable achievements, and other content. As with its iconic predecessor, the game centers around Master Chief, a cybernetically-enhanced human soldier who fights against the malicious Covenant faction on a mysterious ring-world planet named Halo. From a first-person view, you’ll navigate through many indoor and outdoor environments, pick up various weapons and ammo, increase your health by running over med-packs, and, most importantly, destroy the enemy before they destroy you. You also have the ability to drive (or sit shotgun) in a number of vehicles.
Is it any good?
This remake of the classic game is a treat -- especially for fans of the series. Developed by 343 Industries with Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary looks much better than the original thanks to updated, high-definition textures, especially when it comes to the environments. Characters and weapons get a makeover, too.
That said, it still doesn't look as good as other first-person shooters released today. While some of the missions tend to be repetitive, the single-player campaign has withstood the test of time. Fans who spent time with the original game might remember maps and events from a decade ago. It's also a blast to be able to play through the story with someone, cooperatively, over the Internet. But the real meat in this new game is in the multiplayer department. Online play runs on the Halo: Reach engine. There are a half-dozen maps to tackle (with Damnation, Beaver Creek, and Prisoner notable highlights), and players get a code for new versions of classic maps to play in Reach, as well as Firefight missions, too. At $40, this remastered version of Halo is well worth the price of admission.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether, in video games, killing aliens on fantasy worlds is less disturbing than shooting humans in realistic settings on Earth. What is the impact of this media violence?
Families can also discuss online safety. How do you ensure your kids are protected when playing games online? What do they watch out for, and how do they react to the inappropriate behavior of strangers?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
"the next generation of halo"
theres no way to really put it into words, so just bare with me please. there are 2 age ratings for every game, theres the higher age (the age you get the game for) and the lower age (the age that can watch and even play the game with the higher age) for this game i would say the high age is 12-13+ (i'm not saying thats the age its made for, just the age its okay for).
the lower age in my opinion is 7-8+, the only reason you might want to watch a little bit of the game before letting the younger aged child play the game is for PG language and 'paint-ish' blood.
language: there is minor PG swearing such as b*****d, d**n, freaking, ecs. (basically what you would find on a family-ish, sit-com) (its so little that they cant even put language on the game rating)
violence, blood and gore: in gameplay your player uses a variety of weapons including: machine guns, shotguns, pistols, sniper rifles, alien energy guns, explosive weapons, grenades, energy swords, bare fists and a knife. (the energy sword is nothing to worry about, when a player gets hit by it they simply die as they would by any weapon (when a player dies they just look like they are unconscious) the knife is only used when a player sneaks up behind another player and holds the button they would normally use to swing there fist. they then perform an 'assassination'. in this maneuver they pull out the knife and stab the other player in the chest, neck, back or head. (its about as 'gorey' as watching 2 children throw fake punches at each other, and falling down pretending to die). the blood and gore aspect is not as bad as it sounds, when you kill someone/something blood will 'spatter' on the ground and/or walls. (since you are mostly fighting aliens, blood is typically blue, purple, yellow, green and red).
as for the 'gore' when you shoot someone/something, you do see minor liquids come out (blood).
other minor 'gore' includes, brief scenes and gameplay where a alien parasitic race, called 'the flood', attack there alien and human victims, and transform them into slow moving fungi and insect looking creatures. (its not vary graphic, other then male soldiers briefly screaming). (almost all of this goes the same for all the halo games)
all-in-all its a great game with 10 years of awards to show for it!
thank you for reading this is the first parental review i've written i hope it will be found useful.
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AGE
Ration Time
This is a great game with fresh graphics and achievemnets. The violence can be a concern but I am a 14 year old and this did not bother me, and I don't play a lot of shooters. As a christian I can say, playing a game like this is not a sin but becoming addicted to it is. The missionaries at my church have Call of Duty: Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3 availible to play before church begins so if they think its ok then then it probably is. Overall this is a fun game with an engaging story line and a good role model (Master Chief). Know the child and ration play time.
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AGE
Very good!
Why is it even rated M? give me a break! LOL!!
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AGE
it just keeps getting better
I love halo and they have failed to disappoint me again. another great game they just remade the first one making the graphics better and making it so you can compare what the first one was like with the new one. the blood isn't worse or better than any other halo game, it's just slime.
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AGE
"This is a have to own for any Halo fanatic or somebody starting out"
If you read the review that common sense made,you need to read this.Dont worry,Halo for a FPS title is very appropriate.There is little blood,and there is no limbs flying off until about mid game where you fight a parasitic race known only as the flood.But even when the limbs come off there is no blood trails that follow.I have a 7 year old that plays Halo with me sometimes and we have a blast.It will give you hours of fun and epic battles that will be unforgetable. It has great role modles like Master Chief,who is a brave genetically augmentated soildier who is oneof the last of his kind. He displays great heroism fighting aginst all odds and he still keeps fighting no matter what it takes to protect the human race. The soundtrack can give your kids or yourself a great musical taste, it is a beutifully organized orchestra playing the most powerfull,epic,and beutiful songs I have (ever heard).Thanks for reading I hope this helps you decide to buy this game because I highly recommend it for anyone.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 15, 2012
AGE
This is a good game but not for younger ones or sensitive people.
Yet I am 12, I have/play Halo, this is odd for me to say but this is not appropriate for younger kids. I am trusted and aloud to play those games. But there is kind of alot of violence (More bloody than violent). There is also some strong language (F**k, S**t, D**n, A**, B**ch, Screw off, and other stuff like coward, stupid) Good game for 12+ but not for sensitive people or younger kids.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 24, 2012
AGE
Has an M rating that it does not deserve.
If you compare Halo Combat Evolved to other M rated shooters like Battlefield or Call Of Duty, it is mild at best. There is no bad language that I heard in the game, there is no mutilating limbs, and the killing is not realistic. The game did get a graphical upgrade and I must say, the graphics are amazing! The aliens aren't necessarily scary and there are no really freaky parts in the game. So what I think you should do is buy your kid this game, see if you're okay with it, and if you don't like it than just return it.
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Kid, 11 years old
February 5, 2012
AGE
Perfectly Fine for Kids
Not violent at all, all the blood is blue or purple, and I think shooting aliens is a better moral choice than killing other people. I just don't personally like the gameplay myself, but if violence or language is what is stopping you from getting this for your kid, trust me, it is nothing.
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360 |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | First Person Shooter |
| Developer: | Microsoft Studios |
| Release date: | November 15, 2011 |
| Price: | $39.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood and Gore, Violence |
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