Review

Spelunky

Common Sense Media says

Highly challenging platformer rewards dogged determination.
Age
10
Quality
 
Learning
3
  • Positive messages2
    This game promotes a positive social local gaming experience, with up to four players playing cooperatively or competitively on the same screen. Its high level of difficulty encourages players to be strategic and thoughtful as they work their way through dangerous caves.
  • Positive role models2
    The game's hero -- players can choose from several of different genders and ethnicities -- is an explorer. He saves people in need of saving when possible (though he can also accidentally knock them out), but his primary goal is simply to journey ever deeper into the game's caves, collecting treasure along the way. 
  • Ease of play2
    This is a very difficult game, but not necessarily frustratingly. Players need to restart worlds from scratch when their spelunker dies, but the levels are different each time so it never feels like you are re-treading old ground. Still, kids who aren't cautious and don't learn from their mistakes may find their frequent failures disheartening.
  • Violence3
    Players control little cartoon spelunkers who face dangers including snakes, spiders, bats, piranha, spiky pits, zombies, and crazed caveman. Kids can use a little whip to strike their enemies, which results in a couple of small blobs of red blood flying through the air. Bombs -- meant for creating new passages -- can also be used to destroy some enemies.
  • Sex1
    Rescued women will bestow a smooch on the player's explorer.  
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Spelunky is an extremely challenging platform adventure game available through Xbox Live Arcade that includes a bit of cartoonish violence and a small amount of blood. Its mild combat (against spiders, bats, and cavemen) and high level of difficulty make the experience best suited for older kids of a more persevering nature. However, thoughtful players with a mind for strategy and quick problem solving will be well rewarded as they journey deeper into the game's constantly changing caves.

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Most useful reviews by all members

Teen, 13 years old
October 18, 2012
8
OK for kids & up
 
Learning1
great game
this game is awesome! not many people will be reading this, but it really is a good game. it has a high difficulty, and challenges the player to think out how they are going to take action. violence and blood are very minor, with blood just being little dots, and the violence being no worse then what you would see in bugs bunny or tom and jerry. there is no sex, but kissing is involved. you can rescue "damsels in distress, and they will give you a kiss in return witch in turn gives you health. there are also kissing booths, but those are just the same thing. if you have younger kids, go on the adventure with them!
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Parent of 8 year old
January 4, 2013
8
OK for kids & up
 
Learning1
Intensely fun...but frustrating game.
Spelunky is sort of like Indiana Jones meets Pitfall. You're a cave explorer, treasure hunter or perhaps an archeologist -- each level is randomly generated and no two are identical. As you progress you move from caves to jungle to iceworlds etc, and you can battle the creatures on each level (bats, spiders, snakes, frogs, skeletons, vampires, piranha, cave men, aliens etc...), loot treasures, buy items from stores inside the maze that will help you in your explorations and rescue "damsels" (a dog, a girl or a guy) for a kiss that restores some of your life energy. Of course, you can also sacrifice the damsels for special loot from a pagan diety called Kali, and rob the denizens.... so...while the game allows for positive role models -- it also allows you to be...more of a Belloq character than an Indiana Jones type if you prefer. . It has cartoon violence and a small amount of blood -- and if you dilly dally and take too long on a level -- a somewhat scary ghost that will stalk you and kill you instantly if it touches your character. The game is very challenging -- difficult even, and can be frustrating even for adult gamers -- but it's also very fun, addictive and if you are inclined to strategy games and puzzles and have an agile mind for impromptu problem solving you will find it rewarding! My 8 year old absolutely loves it (but is terrified of the ghost) and can't seem to progress beyond the ice level...but it hasn't stopped her from trying...over and over again. It does allow for cooperative multiplayer play -- but be prepared to die a lot! You have to have incredible team management skills or be semi-mind readers in order to survive together as a group for very long -- so if your kids are the kind to become very angry or frustrated by apparent ineptitude in others -- it's not the best multiplayer experience. I could see it degenerating into sibling squabbling due to the intensity of concentration and immediacy of problem solving involved. It's VERY HARD to play as a multi-player game -- but again, it's fun to do so. Gameplay wise it's a tricky game and ideally suited for kids that love puzzles, strategy and can think and react quickly. Content wise it's fine for just about any age -- although that ghost is a bit scary. I think it's ideal for kids 8 and up -- the more experienced they are with puzzles and platformers the better.
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