The game has a wonderful interface and is very easy to learn. It also moves at a good pace. It is much easier to play than most strategy games making great for young gamers.
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Spore
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
This exceptional evolution sim is a masterpiece.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Spore was written by Marc Saltzman
Parents need to know that this game features some mild violence and blood, specifically pertaining to fighting against other creatures. The violence is shown thorough cartoonish graphics which lack of any real detail. You can be tasked with killing enough of another species as to cause genocide. The game also lets you "mate" with others but you only see the two swooning together with tasteful floating hearts. Consequences of your actions is a big part of the gameplay, so that aggressive behavior does have a cost. The online aspect of this game allows you to send the creatures you create into the Spore universe to help populate the game for others playing it and vice versa. While the Spore universe is monitored, parents worried about the creativity of others when making creatures that might appear to be sexual or offensive (know as "Sporn") can opt to turn off the online aspects. This is a game in which you are in control of a species' evolution.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about how Spore is both a game and a simulation designed to mirror real life, human interaction, and our evolutionary course. Why did you decide to design your creature as you did? If you played as a carnivore, will you go back in a see what it is like to be an herbivore? Did you find that you liked being aggressive or did you spend you time trying to build alliances? What did you think of the collaborative nature of the Sporepedia? Have you seen other creatures that fascinated you?
More on Spore
What’s the Story?
For a game that's seven years in the making and more than a year past its planned launch, a lot is riding on SPORE, the latest simulation from celebrated game designer Will Wright. Spore might best be described as an evolution simulation. You goal is to create a unique species from scratch and through careful nurturing, interaction with other life forms and developing new technologies, you'll advance through the five main stages, each of which plays out almost as a separate game altogether.
In the Cell Stage, for example, you control a teeny microorganism by navigating through a primordial pond and consuming other cells in a primal survival of the fittest. You'll eventually grow larger, sprout legs and lungs, and venture out onto dry land for the Creature Stage. Now you must explore your environment, hunt for food (you choose whether your creature is a carnivore or herbivore), collect new body parts and other items (used to design a faster or stronger being) and mate with other critters (don't worry, no "act" is seen, other than two beings swooning underneath floating pink hearts). This stage might prove difficult for newbies because even though you follow the onscreen instructions carefully when greeting new species, you can fail to impress other tribes by dancing or singing. Without these alliances, it can take you a while to reach the next stage by hunting alone. The next stages -- Tribal, Civilization, and Space -- are reminiscent of real-time strategy games, where you're collect resources, explore different cultures, and use diplomacy or war to reach your goals.
CloseIs It Any Good?
While not for everyone because of its geeky bioanthropological premise, and it certainly can get challenging despite a clean interface and many helpful tips and hints, EA's Spore is an ingenious concept delivered in near flawless execution. Not only is it hands-down the best computer game of the year so far, but is also one of the deepest and most gratifying titles to grace your monitor in a decade. If only Darwin was alive to see this. Close
Publisher’s Details
Released on 09/07/2008, price $49.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E10+ (for Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood)
ESRB rating: E10+ (for Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood)
Our Members Say
See all 13 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Easy to play
Ths is a great game for kids and adults.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
It's OK
It's a fun game. I like to play.
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Easy to play
Great to play, not so educational
It's a wonderful game that gives an example on how life could have evolved, but the education is very iffy. First off, evolution doesn't happen every time you dance under a circle of hearts, you cant choose what mouth you have, and well, you cant just grow 6 arms in 5 minutes. Of Course, I absolutely love the game. It's fun, cool and it's a fun game. It's a great "God Game"
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Safety isn't an issue
- Easy to play
Easy to play and very fun!
I love this game! Its so fun! Its cool to make your own creatures and raise them!
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Easy to play
Love that kids learn by experimenting.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say kids find it easy to play |
| 100% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 100% | of parents say it's educational |
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