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Author Topic: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*  (Read 49002 times)

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Offline DSProgrammer

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #30 on: January 14, 2008, 07:16:11 am »
Some people consider the "good ending" (which you unlock by finding all three of Najia's memories and then beating the game) to be disturbing...dunno if a kid would understand it enough to be disturbed, but if you want to be complete, info on that ending should be added to your list.

Offline Alphasoldier

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #31 on: January 14, 2008, 07:37:32 am »
I think that's already under Relation Tension.
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Offline RobertWalker

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #32 on: January 14, 2008, 09:08:42 pm »
Correct. I already have it under "Relationship Tension." (Can anyone think of a better name for that category? I based this review method off the parental movie review site ScreenIt.com. They had "Tense Family Scenes" as a category, but... *SPOILERS* I don't know if Li, being more of a boyfriend than actual family, would be technically included, and a fair amount of Naija's tension comes from losing Li.)

I gotta say, Aquaria is probably the only game I've played where the "good ending" is less happy than the alternative.

Offline Mina

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #33 on: March 31, 2008, 12:45:16 am »
For the sake of completeness, you might add the fact that Li and Naija kiss in the scene where they meet.

Offline RobertWalker

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #34 on: March 31, 2008, 05:28:52 pm »
True. That was partly to prevent Li from drowning, though. We also know that she has met Li before (though she doesn't clearly remember it), but just how well they knew each other is unknown.

Anyway, I added it.

Offline Jaqvaar

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #35 on: March 31, 2008, 09:50:45 pm »
As a father, I'd like to put in my 2 cents if I may.

This is a really interesting discussion, because while certain aspects of Aquaria (or should I say some of Naija's forms) are fit for 5-y-olds, others could even be considered X-rated by some. There is not much gore or visual violence, but the game is in fact dark and has parts that need to be explained. I'd say that the key word here is "supervision".

I play the game with my 3-year-old daughter on my lap. She's too young to actually control Naija, so she tells me where to go and I do it. She calls the 1st form "Good" and the 2nd "Bad" and she wants me to keep swapping, telling me to "be good" or "be bad". To be honest, I thought the Energy Form was pretty evil myself after swimming around singing for the first couple of hours of gameplay. So that's one thing. Plus of course there's the 3rd and 7th forms too.

The darker parts of the game (the Abyss, the Cathedral, the Body) and many creepy areas are certainly things I wouldn't like her to see alone, mainly because she might be scared. But then again she's 3. I don't know what I'd be like if she was 13. What worries me most though is the whole role of the Creator. ..
*****SPOILER FOLLOWS****
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...once you start deciphering the Aquascript there's plenty of pretty gloomy (to say the least) messages scrawled all over the place, as well as some bleak images of the Creator. The whole idea that your God is evil and must be destroyed is a questionable one, and certainly one that many parents would object to, especially if they are religious. I can imagine several who'd rather not let their kids have that sort of influence.

So, to sum up, even though the game does not really have any extreme images, and even though on average it mostly involves swimming about in pretty waters, there are elements that certain parents could find disturbing. My advice would be to finish it on your own first and then decide whether you want your kids to play it. Personally, I play certain areas with my daughter and others on my own when she's away. And I certainly don't want her in the final battle (mainly out of fear she might accidentally press some key).
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Offline Glamador

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #36 on: March 31, 2008, 11:30:41 pm »
Well you know, the concept of your God being evil is a complex moral concept that should be encouraged and debated in young people I think...of course if you are religious you're used to be told everything in a book (Oh wow that was a low blow...I don't care, it's true).  And what's more, the point is that he isn't really a god, he's a little boy who's been given powers.  Admittedly it is not something one can expect to be fully understood by a 3-year-old...or even a 5-year-old.  But questions are a form of learning, and cencorship is never the answer.

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Offline RobertWalker

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #37 on: March 31, 2008, 11:58:33 pm »
Ultimately, I think the parents need to be informed about the media that their kids consume so they can make what they feel is the best decision for their children. Trying to regulate it at any higher level is just asking for problems. That's why I've tried to cover *everything* that might possibly be objectionable or troublesome in Aquaria, regardless of whether I personally feel that it's a big deal or not.

And as you've pointed out, it's not just language, sex and violence. There are themes that parents may (or may not) be a concern to parents. Ultimately, we'll never be able to agree as a society about this stuff, so the best we can do is inform so that parents can determine for themselves how they feel about their kids watching a particular movie or playing a certain game.

Offline JannieE

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #38 on: June 01, 2008, 09:51:56 am »
My daugther aged 12 has just recently asked if she could play Aquaria. I've spend a (too) long time playing the game and I haven't seen anything that might scare her or make her feel discomfort. She doesn't understand what Naija says (we're from Denmark) so I have to translate and explain along her way. She really enjoys the game and I pretty sure she'll complete it before I get even close. Well I've taken a detour while Li is trapped.  ;D Gotta explore some more before the end! Anyhow I know the rules are very diffenrent in various contries, but Aquaria is a game that have a sometimes sinister feeling to it so I wouldn't recommend it to kids under the age of 10. Unless they have a parent to explain and guide. Besides the gloominess I also think it's a hard game to beat and I doubt most kids will have the patience to fight the bosses (mini and the real ones) over and over again. Plus the whole deal about exploring places and then go back with a new form to re-explore takes a lot of patience and well.... stamina. Even I sometimes wish it could be a little faster. And then not really....  8)

Offline silverflagon

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #39 on: June 01, 2008, 10:08:17 pm »
I hope you don't mind me adding my 2 cents to this discussion?

I'll explain myself first. I'm 58 and possibly amonst the games oldest fans, Alec it's brilliant you are a genius, your game is a flash of pure inspiration :D
As well as being 58 I can also recall all of my childhood reactions to things on the tv etc, to me puppets were real, fairies really exhisted and the dark things scared me, but if my parent was there and wasn't scared then neither was I. Children see things in a totally different way to us adults and a kiss makes them feel sick, it's yucky time, so that kiss between Naija and Li will not corrupt at all they will just find it funny or yucky!

Dark spaces are far more worrying for a child and can cause bad nightmares and leave them too terrified to go to sleep, so make sure that they have a personal lamp for when they watch Naija in the dark area and for when they go to bed. Now only a good understanding parent will know instinctivly when their child can cope with it, this is because the understanding parent will listen, I mean really listen to their child and see the real meaning behind their child'swords.

Now before you argue with me and say that you are ok and that you are an understanding parent, just stop and think of the people you see every day ignoring their kids when they should be watching or listening to them. How many buy their kids games and computers and then say that they are fine because they are playing in their room, and they will perhaps only see them at meal times? These we can only advise and hope that for a chance they will stop preening themselves and listen to them. It's because of these bad few then I also must suggest that age of 12 and above limit is best, unless they are sat on the parents lap :D

I used to love to sit and watch my son play computer games a lot the time but graphic ware was at the early Zelda stage then, Aquaria is just so far away from that, that it leaves me gasping almost....... totally in awe of this beautiful game....


edited for grammar :D I didn't understand my own writing  :D
« Last Edit: June 01, 2008, 10:16:06 pm by silverflagon »
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/485144/Tiger%20Tank.mp3

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Offline Chibi

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #40 on: September 09, 2008, 04:42:38 am »
Wow. Silverflagon, you've earned the distinction of being the only person over 50 I know that plays videogames avidly.

On a separate topic, I am the youngest person on the forums (unless a pre-teen is logging on  :o ) and my 10 year old sister is unfazed - I love that word - by the pictures of soul-sucking priests. (That same sister is the one that convinced me to enter Mithalas Cathedral even though I was scared shitless  :) )

{EDIT} removed my asterisks "post like a man, Chibi!"  ;D
« Last Edit: October 17, 2008, 01:53:56 am by Chibi »

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Offline silverflagon

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #41 on: September 09, 2008, 09:20:24 pm »
Well only when I am not painting or into heavy discussions 'cough!' with my fellow artists lol
I'll tell you something Chibi/max, we get on like a house onfire most of the time but our fourm is no place for anyone of a nervous nature or who doesn't like a few swear words lol
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/485144/Tiger%20Tank.mp3

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Offline Chibi

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #42 on: September 10, 2008, 12:38:13 am »
Sorry, it's just a mannerism: if I didn't get into a habit of censoring words, my email-pal would be offended In other words, I'm not afraid to say shit.  :D

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Offline Danger Mouse

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #43 on: September 10, 2008, 06:53:04 pm »
*Amen* to that! Freedom to express the mind and express personality. :)

Offline silverflagon

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Re: Kid-friendly? *SPOILERS*
« Reply #44 on: September 10, 2008, 06:56:55 pm »
*Amen* to that! Freedom to express the mind and express personality. :)
Amen lol

I am not really into swearing though, it's something that I found very difficult to do at one time, but it's got a lot easier as I've got older ;)
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/485144/Tiger%20Tank.mp3

Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together