Pariah

The Basics:
Platform: PC
Developer: Digital Extremes/Groove
Price: $49.99
ESRB rating: M (Mature)

Summary: A generic first-person-shooter game with a lot of violence, blood and crude language. This game is not suitable for children.

Note: While PARIAH is not the bloodiest first-person-shooter (FPS) game on the market, it still has a plentiful supply of non-stop violence and graphic bloodshed typical of the genre. For example, bodies go flying when grenades explode, and blood sprays from wounds. A smattering of heavy-duty profanity during animated cut scenes ensures this game isn't a good choice for kids and that the ESRB rating of M is well-justified.

Further Breakdown:

Overall rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Best for ages: 17+
Playability: Very Good. Controls are generally easy to master. Using vehicles and correctly applying upgrades take longer.
Graphics: Very Good.
Entertainment value: Okay. Limited and short single-player mode; however, multi-player and map-editor modes help.
Educational value: None
Reading Level: 5+.
KidScore Rating

Ages 3-7: Red
Ages 8-12: Red
Ages 13-17: Red
Violence Amount: Red
Fear: Yellow
Illegal/harmful: Green
Language: Red
Nudity: Green
Sex: Green

Review:
PARIAH is at best a mediocre game. What it does have is a limited storyline, average gameplay and a good deal of violence. In other words, this is a good game to leave on the store shelf.

The story line, while short (10-15 hours total), is confusing. Players take the role of Jack Mason, a doctor for the Transgenic Control Commission. His latest assignment is to move a virus-infected prisoner known as Karina to an off-earth medical facility. Unfortunately, during transport the ship is shot down, and Jack finds himself battling for both his and Karina's life. The jerky plot is mostly told through brief cut scenes between levels, and despite a few twists and turns and a budding romance between Karina and Jack, the story itself fails to captivate much interest.

As with many other FPS games, the level and intensity of violence in Pariah is going to be the primary concern for parents. While other FPS games, such as Doom III and Half-Life 2 are perhaps gorier, the game still features a healthy amount of blood and guts. For example, blood splatters out of enemies when shot and explosive weapons such as rockets and grenades actually send foes flying many feet in the air. Corpses are left behind, crumpled in bizarre and disturbing poses. The game even flirts with dismemberment, as a head shot with a sniper rifle or shotgun blows the victim's helmet off, but thankfully leaves all body parts attached.

Pariah does offer a few redeeming factors with a decent multi-player mode and a surprisingly good map-editor. While players will find some extended gameplay with the multi-player mode, the map-editor offers a bit of an opportunity to be creative. However, of themselves, these things fail to bring the game out of mediocrity.

In conclusion, the game offers little return on investment for adult players and contains too much violence and profanity to be suitable for children. FPS/action alternatives that are more suitable for teens, and that include a Sci-fi story include MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf and Star Wars Battlefront.