Common Sense Media Says: Not for kids

Violent, bloody first-person shooter has sex and drugs.


What Parents need to know

Parents need to know that Far Cry 3 has a lot of mature content, ranging from excessive violence and blood to sexual imagery (including a brief love-making session) as well as drug and alcohol references and strong profanity. Parents should take heed to the "Mature" rating.

Positive messages:The game is a first-person shooter with plenty of violence, blood, topless nudity, illicit drug references and imagery, and very strong profanity. Even though your initial goal is to rescue your friends on a lush tropical island, who were captured by pirates, the game isn't positive in the messaging department.


Positive role models:Not too much is known about your character, Jason Brody, a "thrill-seeker" who travels with friends and his brothers on vacation and after they've been captured by deadly pirates, vows to rescue them and uncover what's going on in this Godforsaken place. However, Jason uses a wide variety of weapons to maim and kill enemies, including gory melee attacks. He is not a good role model. But we see at the start of the game he doesn't feel good about killing -- even when his brother dies in his arms.


Ease of play:Far Cry 3 is a straightforward first-person perspective shooter (FPS) that's also quite easy to control. Both the console and PC versions use standard FPS controls to move the character, aim, and fire weapons. The first few minutes of the game help players get acquainted with the controls, too, and there are many tutorial screens you can pause and read.


Violence:Far Cry 3 is a first-person perspective that's very violent, bloody, and a little gory, too. The gamer uses a number of weapons to kill thousands of enemies throughout the course of the game -- including machine guns, explosives, and even flamethrowers -- as well as quieter sneak attacks to stab an unsuspecting baddie from behind. Combat is punctuated with realistic gun sounds, screams, large explosions, and graphic images of dead or dying enemies. The lead character also skins animals for their hide.


Sex:The game has topless nudity. An attractive tribal woman, whose breasts and nipples are fully exposed, is also seen sitting on a man to simulate love-making, from a first-person perspective. But there is no genitalia -- male or female -- seen in the game. The woman also has large, black body markings over her mostly naked body.


Language:The game has some very strong profanity in the dialogue sequences or called out during combat here and there. This includes swear words like "f--k," "s--t," and "c--t." It starts right at the beginning of the game and is heard often throughout.


Consumerism:Not applicable.


Drinking, drugs, & smoking:There are references in the story about illicit drugs, and one scene in which marijuana is being smoked by one of the characters. The game begins with a flashback scene with Jason and his friends doing shots.


Privacy & safety:Serious privacy and safety concerns: The game supports online multiplayer with full voice chat support via headset microphone, if desired. Because the discussions cannot be monitored or filtered, it's not a good environment for younger players to be in (the game is rated "Mature," too).


What's the story?

In Ubisoft's FAR CRY 3, you'll assume the role of Jason Brody, a vacationing young man who vows to rescue his friends stranded on a mysterious tropical island. Initially, your quest is to find and retrieve your kidnapped friends from the clutches of an infamous pirate named Vaas, but as you dive deeper into the adventure, you'll also learn more about what's really going on here on the island, start a spiritual journey (with the help of the local Rakyat tribe), and decide who to ally with. Much of the game is standard first-person shooter fare, with many weapons at your disposal, while traipsing through various parts of the lush island. The game offers both a solo campaign and multiplayer modes for those who want to venture online.

Is it any good?

Far Cry 3 is a good first person shooter, but be aware of the violent, profane, and sometimes sexual content. While the story has some weak points, the developers at Ubisoft Montreal have painted a huge and interactive tropical world in which to explore. The first-person action and melee combat is, in a word, intense. Players will find that the game's role-playing elements make the game more "sticky" and meaningful. You truly believe there's a huge and lush island to discover here. Adding to the game's longevity is a smart artificial intelligence (A.I.), interesting missions, some vehicle driving, and online multiplayer play. Whether or not you're a fan of past Far Cry shooters, the game's intense action and huge set pieces make it a memorable action title.