Parents Video Game Reviews for Families- 50 Cent Bulletproof

50 Cent: Bulletproof
Publisher: Vivendi Universal Games
Official Site: http://www.vugames.com/

ESRB Rating: M
Reviewed Platform: Xbox
Available Platforms: Xbox, PS2
For 1 player.

Overall: D
Violence: D
Sexual Content: D
Language: D
Alcohol/Drug Use: D

What is this game about?

50 Cent: Bulletproof sold more than one million games when it was released in late 2005. The game stars Curtis Jackson. And while many parents may not know him, your t'weens and teens most likely do -- albeit by his street name ... 50 Cent.

50 Cent is one of the most popular rappers around and his music is filled with descriptions of violence, sexual innuendo and vulgarity. So, it’s no surprise his video game features more of the same.

The plot of the game finds 50 being shot in the back nine times. He survives. With the help of his prostitutes, gang bangers and a corrupt cop (voiced by fellow rap star Eminem), he stumbles into a conspiracy that goes beyond the New York underground.

The game’s storyline, probably its greatest selling point, was written by Terry Winter, an executive producer of The Sopranos.

Is it fun to play?

As an adult gamer who enjoyed Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, I was quite disappointed by Bulletproof. The control systems have no touch, meaning it’s very difficult to aim. The camera system is terrible, which means you’ll often have difficulty seeing the action or trying to take in your surroundings. This flaw is blatantly obvious when you are embroiled in a gun battle -- of which you’ll find yourself in about 90 per cent of the time.

While the plot is strong and 50 Cent’s dialogue actually sounds quite natural, the poor quality of gameplay really detracts from the experience.

What do parents need to know about 50 Cent: Bulletproof?

From a parent’s perspective, the main thing to know about this game is that is very violent. You’re kids will be exposed to gun violence, swearing, taunts (one character yells “Closed casket, mother..." when he kills an enemy) and you’re even encouraged to rob dead soldiers of money and credit cards. The game attempts to justify this by allowing you to ‘buy’ special killing moves (slow-motion sequences in which you stab, decapitate or shoot enemies in highly creative ways), as well as weapons, bulletproof vests ... you get the idea.

Players will also see scenes involving prostitutes (50 Cent, the character is a pimp, as well as an action hero and music star, don’t you know ... but most gamers will wish the designers had put more effort into making the control system work instead of nailing how a woman’s breasts bounce).

I suppose, in some ways, one could argue that the violence in this game is based on some streetwise honor code. You have gang members who are there to back you up and whom you back up. You’re not out hunting for victims. The plot of the game puts you in the position of being constantly attacked by enemy soldiers and gangsters, so in some ways you could argue that you’re justifiably defending yourself.

Is the honor of defending yourself and your crew any different than that of, say, the space marines fighting the Covenant in Halo and Halo 2? That’s something parents will have to consider before renting or buying this game because most adults would be hard pressed to argue 50 Cent: Bulletproof is a title kids should have access to.

Another factor to be aware of is that the game contains 4 CDs worth of rap music and more than a dozen 50 Cent music videos. Some of the videos feature violent scenes and bad language, as well as women dressed in skimpy clothing and dancing provocatively. There are plenty of sexual situations in some of the videos, such as The Candy Store, which is a song about a visit to a brothel.

50 Cent: Bulletproof is a poorly executed game that most parents probably wouldn’t want their young kids or gamers in their early teens to play because of the mature content and extreme violence.