Review

Heroes of Ruin

Common Sense Media says

Solid dungeon crawler with a focus on fantasy fighting.
Age
12
Quality
 
Learning
1
  • Positive messages0
    Themes of honor and courage emerge as the story progresses, but the bulk of the game is squarely focused on glamorized fantasy combat and treasure hunting.
  • Positive role models0
    The game's heroes are a motley lot of skilled fighters, but they don't have much opportunity to reveal who they really are or what they might be thinking. Players can shape their personalities a little by accepting or refusing side quests and requests for help, but these characters tend to come off as mostly mute warriors who go where they're told and fight anyone who gets in their way. 
  • Ease of play2
    The game's hack 'n' slash action is pretty straightforward. Players move with the circle pad and tap buttons to attack. Some functions are assigned to intuitive icons on the touch screen. Players cannot set the difficulty level to adjust for the ferocity of the beasts they face. Particularly tricky areas may force kids to join up with and seek out help from other players online.
  • Violence3
    Players take control of heroes who wield swords, magic, pistols, and other weapons as they fight a variety of fantasy characters, including goblins, demons, and devil-crabs. Action is presented from a raised, distant perspective. Enemies simply vanish once defeated. There are screams of pain, but no blood is seen in combat. However, old blood stains mark the floors of some dungeons.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language2
    Mild cuss words, including "hell" and "damn," appear in the game's text dialogue.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety1
    Creates privacy and safety concerns. Online multiplayer permits players to freely communicate with one another via voice chat, which means kids can share private information and might be exposed to inappropriate language and topics of discussion. This feature can be switched on or off in the game's options menu. Also, this game uses the Nintendo 3DS StreetPass feature, which automatically transfers player information to others, including their Mii character. This feature can be turned off, but young children should be cautioned to never use their real name as their Mii.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Heroes of Ruin is a dungeon-crawling role-playing game with lots of swords-and-sorcery fighting against fantastical creatures, but only a little blood. Its threadbare story doesn't offer much in the way of commentary or messages, and the game's heroes don't say much, preferring instead to let their weapons and magic do the talking. Parents should note that this is a rare 3DS title in which online play can become a major part of the experience, and that the game facilitates voice communication with strangers. Parents also need to remember that Nintendo is warning all parents not to allow kids age six and under to view the graphics in 3D because that viewing "may cause vision damage." The Nintendo 3DS offers parents the ability to lock out the use of 3D graphics in the system's Parental Controls.

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This review of Heroes of Ruin was written by

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Kid, 10 years old
August 25, 2012
8
OK for kids & up
 
Learning1
Heroes Of Ruin
cool, butlots of fighting and use of hell and amn plus osccasional use of die
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