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ToonstruckAppropriate for Children?(12 posts)(12 posts)
(12 posts)
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Posted February 10, 2015
I'm introducing some of the classic point-and-click adventure games to my two older kids (8-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl).

So far we've been having a blast playing through The Secret of Monkey Island together. We'll probably play Monkey Island 2 next and maybe Day of the Tentacle next. I'm half a mind to try a couple of Humongous games like Freddie Fish or Pajama Sam, which I've never played before since I was too old for them when they first came out.

Would Toonstruck be appropriate for small children under say 10? Any over adult humor, crude language, or other inappropriate materials? I played and beat Toonstruck almost 20 years ago and remember having fun playing it, but don't necessarily remember how dark or adult it was. I do remember that it wasn't supposed to be aimed at children but can't remember how "bad" it was. I just remember the print ad that ran in gaming magazines that featured a cartoon cow dressed in like a dominatrix-type garb and prominently featuring her udder. I guess this type of thing might be okay since most of these references would just fly over their heads.

Maybe I'll go find some video clips of this game on YouTube or something, but I just wanted to hear your thoughts. I'll be supervising them throughout the play since we'll be playing together but I just wanted to make sure what I'm getting ourselves into.
Post edited February 10, 2015 by jihanj
Posted February 10, 2015
Mostly yes. While there are numerous adult jokes, most of them will not be noticed by kids because they go right over their heads.

The only exception and thus problematic area that I remember are the S&M/bondage cow and sheep in the barn after it gets hit with the malevolator. This is so overt that even kids will get what's going on here. You even have to bring them a more effective torture device to complete the game (SPOILER: a feather). Also: they all but tell you that they killed the horse and turned him into glue which is pretty dark compared to the rest of the game.

Judge for yourself if you would show this to your kids, if I remember correctly this is as "bad" as it gets:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I25sVv2PWNs
Post edited February 10, 2015 by Lafazar
Posted February 10, 2015
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Lafazar: Mostly yes. While there are numerous adult jokes, most of them will not be noticed by kids because they go right over their heads.

The only exception and thus problematic area that I remember are the S&M/bondage cow and sheep in the barn after it gets hit with the malevolator. This is so overt that even kids will get what's going on here. You even have to bring them a more effective torture device to complete the game (SPOILER: a feather). Also: they all but tell you that they killed the horse and turned him into glue which is pretty dark compared to the rest of the game.

Judge for yourself if you would show this to your kids, if I remember correctly this is as "bad" as it gets:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I25sVv2PWNs
Wow, I don't remember that part, like, AT ALL. Now I know I definitely don't want to play this game with my 5-year-old daughter. Thanks, Lafazar for the heads-up. I also just remembered that the whole premise of the game was that the main character (who is an animator) didn't want to keep creating kids-friendly shows ("Fluffy Fluffy Bun Bun Show") and wanted to do something subversive. I guess, there's my answer. Better stick with Freddy Fish and Putt Putt.
Post edited February 10, 2015 by jihanj
Posted February 11, 2015
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jihanj: Wow, I don't remember that part, like, AT ALL. Now I know I definitely don't want to play this game with my 5-year-old daughter. Thanks, Lafazar for the heads-up. I also just remembered that the whole premise of the game was that the main character (who is an animator) didn't want to keep creating kids-friendly shows ("Fluffy Fluffy Bun Bun Show") and wanted to do something subversive. I guess, there's my answer. Better stick with Freddy Fish and Putt Putt.
Yeah, that's some real fetish stuff in that clip, damn. :-P BTW, in case you're not aware, virtually all the adventure Humongous Entertainment games are on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/42723/
Posted February 25, 2015
I've played this with my son (8) and daughter (6) - so about the same as yours. We're planning to go Monkey Island or maybe loom next.

In general the game is fine, the innuendo will go over their heads. There is at least one use of "bastard", if that sort of thing bothers you.

The malevolated barn is an issue - but as I remembered it was there, I just told them that you couldn't go in it after it changed and they believed me. And they never asked how the feather turned into some glue overnight.

But otherwise, they *love* this game. And the puzzles are relatively simple, so they can help me out a bit.
Post edited February 25, 2015 by xorsyst
Posted March 02, 2015
Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable playing this with my 5 year old nephew. The language is only about as bad as Sam and Max, but the humor is far more rude in general. Innuendo is peppered throughout, most of which would go over a kids head, though, probably not stuff you want kids to randomly repeat. I've noticed a couple masturbation jokes, one use of the r-word (though, the joke itself is more about political correctness and a character not giving a crap), stereotypes (both played straight and subverted) and jokes about them. I haven't even gotten to the bondage cow yet.

Yeah, I think this game has earned it's T rating, that said I'd say it's a maybe for a 10 year old. At least I'd imagine a kid that age wouldn't randomly repeat stuff as much.
Posted March 02, 2015
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rastergraphic: one use of the r-word
What's a r-word?
Posted March 02, 2015
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rastergraphic: one use of the r-word
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Gydion: What's a r-word?
Not sure if this site would let me say, the one for mentally disabled.
Posted March 02, 2015
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rastergraphic: Not sure if this site would let me say, the one for mentally disabled.
The staff just asks that you keep cursing out of the thread title. Cursing in a post is fair game (they don't censor or care).

Retarded or retard I wouldn't consider any worse than bastard, but more inappropriate if that makes any sense. Thanks, I couldn't think of anything that began with R, and I could see how that could be a problem if you didn't discuss it afterwards.
Post edited March 02, 2015 by Gydion
Posted December 20, 2017
I've played this around my kids and I personally didn't find it all that bad. For all the adult jokes, I told them they were exactly that and they didn't need to know. I don't find the need to insult their intelligence or baby them.
Posted November 27, 2022
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jihanj: I'm introducing some of the classic point-and-click adventure games to my two older kids (8-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl).

So far we've been having a blast playing through The Secret of Monkey Island together. We'll probably play Monkey Island 2 next and maybe Day of the Tentacle next. I'm half a mind to try a couple of Humongous games like Freddie Fish or Pajama Sam, which I've never played before since I was too old for them when they first came out.

Would Toonstruck be appropriate for small children under say 10? Any over adult humor, crude language, or other inappropriate materials? I played and beat Toonstruck almost 20 years ago and remember having fun playing it, but don't necessarily remember how dark or adult it was. I do remember that it wasn't supposed to be aimed at children but can't remember how "bad" it was. I just remember the print ad that ran in gaming magazines that featured a cartoon cow dressed in like a dominatrix-type garb and prominently featuring her udder. I guess this type of thing might be okay since most of these references would just fly over their heads.

Maybe I'll go find some video clips of this game on YouTube or something, but I just wanted to hear your thoughts. I'll be supervising them throughout the play since we'll be playing together but I just wanted to make sure what I'm getting ourselves into.
I played this game as a kid when I was really young and I can confirm that I haven't been okay since
Posted January 10, 2023
It may have been edgy in the 90's but the humour is is quite tame by today's standards (while still be a touch risque)
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ToonstruckAppropriate for Children?(12 posts)(12 posts)
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