WHAT IS THIS??
Parents need to know that Creative Destruction is a battle royale-style action/shooter available for download on iOS and Android devices. Players drop into a map and scramble to find weapons and items to defeat 99 other players (or AI-controlled bots) in last-man-standing matches. Despite the violence, the game has a cartoonish art style that keeps it from being graphic or intense. The game's controls are responsive and should feel familiar to first- or third-person shooter fans. Creative Destruction features a handful of cosmetic options and features available as in-app purchases, occasionally promoting deals with pop-up ads. Finally, parents should be aware that the game does not feature any profanity or offensive content in-game, but its online nature could still expose kids to such content by other players via in-game chat.
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
CREATIVE DESTRUCTION puts players in the role of a tourist at Aurora Corporation's Aurora Valley virtual resort, which makes them one of a hundred competitors battling to be the Last Man Standing to earn the coveted title of "Dawn Star." Players parachute into the action anywhere on the massive island and try to survive, collecting weapons and building fortifications where they'll make their last stand. You don't have to go it alone, though. Play solo, grab a friend for some duo fun, or pull together a team and work together to defend your leader while taking out the opposition. No matter how you play, will you prove your mettle and take the title of "Dawn Star" as your own?
IS IT ANY GOOD?
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that's the case, the folks behind Fortnite must be basking in the warm glow of this well-made copy. Make no mistake, Creative Destruction is a blatant rip-off ... sorry, "homage" ... to the hit battle royale game. What's most surprising, though, is that this particular clone is actually pretty good. In fact, if you squint hard enough, you might even mistake one game for the other. The controls are fluid and responsive, coming naturally to anyone who's played a first- or third-person shooter in the past. As with most battle royale titles, this is a game of survival, so it tends to cycle between long periods of eerie silence followed by frantic action.
Creative Destruction hits all the main bullet points of the Fortnite formula. There's the staging area for players to practice their skills in. There's the mad dash to dive out of a flying bus-like vehicle. There are the fun, distinct neighborhoods. There's even the occasional air drop filled with extra goodies. Not to be outdone, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds gets a bit of a shout-out too, as players can sometimes find extra accessories and clothing to add to their collections. Matches seem pretty stable, though some of that could have to do with some games being populated by AI-controlled bots. These bots tend to be easier cannon fodder than actual players, and you'll probably pad your numbers with these kills for a while, because there doesn't seem to be much of a population playing the game regularly online. Still, Creative Destruction should be more than enough to scratch that Fortnite itch for mobile gamers.
TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT
- Families can talk about violence in video games. How is the impact of violence in Creative Destruction affected by the cartoonish nature of its visuals? Is it lessened because of the unrealistic weapons used, or is it intensified because of the constant combat and focus on eliminating players?
- What are some ways that younger players can avoid toxic behavior online? What should they do when confronted with such behavior?
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