Parent's Guide: Two Worlds II - Age rating, mature content and difficulty

Two Worlds 2 is a game that'll undoubtedly hold a lot of appeal for children - although whether it's a game they should be playing is another matter entirely. The idea of playing a hero, slaying villains and all sorts of fantasy monsters along the way will appeal to both boys and girls, while the scantily clad women are bound to make at least some boys more interested than they otherwise would be. With the cutscenes showing some up-close, Matrix style slow motion sword fighting, there's a lot in here that's undeniably cool, no matter what your age, and with a lengthy, complex story to get involved with, it's a game that'll last a while, too.

While the game certainly gives you the option of doing a number of evil things, it's important to remember that it is a role playing game, and that sometimes being a bad guy is considered to be more fun. That said, every action in Two Worlds 2 has an equal and opposite reaction, so players who think they go around killing everyone and everything will soon learn the errors of their ways. The story, too, often presents moral situations that carry weighty consequences, such as the one detailed in the review.

The question really isn't whether children will be interested (they most likely will be), but whether this is suitable for them. If you're comfortable with mild violence, and infrequent but strong swearing, then the chances are this'll go down a treat. While the dodgy interface may confuse younger players, this isn't the sort of game for them anyway - definitely teen and up.

As a fantasy role playing game, Two Worlds 2 features a fair amount of violence, gore, sex and swearing. Right from the start, there's violence on show, as you're broken out of prison, and your Ork rescuers hit one of your captors in the face with an arrow, while a second arrow goes straight through another's chest. Blood is used fairly liberally throughout the game, with swords drawing splatters of blood with them, although it isn't as over the top as some games.

There's also some pretty explicit references to sex in diary entries and conversations, along with exposed buttocks in at least one cutscene.

Strong language can be heard fairly frequently throughout the game (and often wholly inappropriately, as is usually the case with over the top swearing in games), with the F word (not food), being heard twice within the first few hours, amongst other, less offensive words, such as b*****d, and bitch.

There's also some borderline satanic imagery, with shamans (and the user) chanting strange incantations while casting magic, while pentagrams adorn various carpets and buildings throughout the game. There's also a reliance on animals as being enemies, with normal Ostriches, hyenas, leopards, and even baboons attacking the player early on.

Sadly, there's no local multiplayer mode on offer here. While there is an online multiplayer mode, that lets you and up to eight friends go adventuring together, you will need an Xbox 360, a copy of Two Worlds 2, and a Gold Live Subscription each, making this impractical for most families.

Age Ratings

Format Reviewed: Xbox 360