Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 18+
Fantasy game focused on morality is violent and bloody.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Risen 3: Titan Lords is an action role-playing game (RPG) that focuses heavily on combat against a number of humans and fantasy creatures. Players will use and master many different weapons, ranging from axes and guns to magic attacks; violent combat plays a large role within the game. The game has graphic blood and gore (primarily in the cut scenes). There's also strong and frequent profanity (including "f--k"), sexual references, and lots of alcohol use. There's even illicit drug collection (for a mission).
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
As players navigate a huge fantasy world and perform quests, they'll use swords, guns, and magic attacks to kill a variety of enemies (both human and non-human). It's not uncommon to see large splashes of blood and hear cries of pain as enemies fall to the ground. Some of the cut scene sequences also depict violence and gore (such as one character getting impaled).
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Language
a lot
Lots of profanity in some dialogue sequences, including words such as "f--k" and "s--t."
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
Multiple alcohol and drug references. The main character can engage in drinking games in taverns, and the screen turns blurry to imply inebriation. One of the missions is to collect "mind-blowing" mushrooms ("[N]ergal doesn't know how to appreciate them. Doesn't really like to get high”).
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
As with many other action-heavy role-playing games, the player's character can engage in sexual activity with female characters -- though there's no nudity (the screen simply fades to black). Dialogue confirms the deed is imminent (such as being told "tonight, you will sample all the delights that a woman has to offer").
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Ease of Play
some
The Windows version is quite easy to play, with simple mouse and keyboard controls (especially for seasoned gamers). There are a few glitches that can sometimes impede your view of the world or your character's movement, but overall it's quite good.
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Positive Messages
very little
The game is about your character going on an epic journey to reunite his body with his soul. In the process, you -- as the unnamed protagonist -- must slay many thousands of humans, creatures (for example, giant insects), and demons. You're slaying demons rather than serving them, but still the game doesn't really have a positive message.
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Positive Role Models
very little
You don't know anything about your character -- in fact, you don't even have a name -- so it's difficult to assess whether he's a positive role model, other than by his actions. And this combat-heavy game has you using a number of weapons to kill both humans and non-human creatures. On one hand, you're kind to animals (such as a monkey) and you slay demons, but on the other hand, there's a lot of violence. Your character also engages in drinking games. The game does include a morality meter that climbs or drops based on your decisions.
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Risen 3: Titan Lords
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What's It About?
Published by Deep Silver and developed by German-based studio Piranha Bytes, RISEN 3: TITAN LORDS is part of a popular hack-and-slash action game series with strong role-playing game (RPG) elements. The story follows the aftermath of the Titan Wars, with a new threat rising from the soil. You play as a young warrior who's not only trying to find his stolen soul but also is fighting the darkness spreading throughout the world, with any help he can get along the way -- including from mages once banned from the Kingdom. Together, you'll travel through a vast and dangerous land, take on dozens of missions, look for magic crystals loaded with energy needed to fight evil, and make key decisions that can shape the adventure's outcome.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of "lite" RPGs that focus heavily on exploration and hack-and-slash combat are likely to find Risen 3: Titan Lords a worthy continuation of its best-selling predecessors. Although the story line and missions are sometimes trite and cliché, the characters come to life with strong voice acting, and the huge environments are visually striking and diversified. Learning the combat mechanics is rather simple -- players sharpen their skills with blades, guns, and some pretty awesome magic abilities -- though the game is on the easy side (especially for seasoned players). The lack of multiplayer is also a bit of a letdown. A patch for PC users fixed many of the graphical glitches and AI (artificial intelligence) bugs, which makes the campaign more engaging and immersive. Bottom line? Risen 3 delivers a fantastical experience that grows on you fast and leaves you wanting more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the fantasy elements of Risen 3 (which are similar in tone to movies such as Lord of the Rings) make the violence and blood more acceptable. How does the impact of that kind of content compare with more realistic violence?
Talk about the game's racier content, such as the sexual situations and an occasional focus on drug and alcohol use. Do you feel as if the inclusion of these situations adds to the development of the game's plot, or is it unnecessary?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Deep Silver
- Release date : August 12, 2014
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Wild Animals
- ESRB rating : M for Blood, Drug Reference, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Last updated : September 10, 2021
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