Developer: Sony
Released November 16th 2012
2.5/5
This review in a way covers both a new game and a new attachment for the PS3 system, which have been released together.
The Wonderbook is itself a new toy that is compatible with the Playstation Eye camera. You will need one of these and a Playstation Move controller to play. These come in the bundle pack though so don’t worry too much.
The ‘Book of Spells’ is likely the first of a series of games to be released that will utilise this equipment. A Harry Potter game is a great place to start.
Unfortunately for older gamers, this is one for the kids. Not to say that future games might not use the Wonderbook in some way for more mature games, but this time round it’s one for the youngsters.
When the game starts it provides you with an introduction giving easy step by step set up instructions for the camera and Wonderbook and allows you to calibrate your controller to the game.
You can also at this stage link your game to your online Pottermore account (if you have one). Doing so places you in your allocated Hogwarts House and gives you your unique personalised wand.
The game’s magic immediately starts here. Suddenly, on screen you are no longer holding your Playstation Move controller, but a beautifully crafted wooden wand that follows your hand movements like a charm. The generic designed Wonderbook transforms into the magical ‘Book of Spells’ and can be picked up, moved about and (for the most part) looks flawless.
Though the tv ads suggest that things will fly out of your book as 3D holograms, this is not the case. Your front room (or bedroom or study or wherever you play) will be put up on your screen putting you in the Wizarding World where all the magic happens.
If you are able to suspend your disbelief and accept this, then it really feels like you are doing some real Harry Potter magic.
The guide in game will help you through every step of the way, basically becoming your teacher while you, a student at Hogwarts, are learning a number of spells from basic Wingardium Leviosa up to more advanced things like conjuring Patronus’.
If you did not understand a few words in that last sentence, you may realise that this game is great for Harry Potter fans, but can be a bit confusing for those new to the franchise. However, it does not mean newbies can’t enjoy it too. The game does not rely on the source material for plot at all, everything you need to know is in game.
If you are an avid Harry Potter fan, then it is exceptionally great because it includes a lot of new material from J.K.Rowling that fleshes out the Wizarding World, such as stories about the origins of certain spells and more background information about a number of subjects.
Some of these informational parts come in the form of interactive stories. A pop up theatre appears with cardboard cut out puppets acting out the tale. You are able to play with tabs on the side to make different things happen in the story or to mess around a little bit for fun.
The guide will use the book to teach you about wand movements and incantations needed to cast spells before testing you on your knowledge. As the guide practically tells you what needs to be done every step of the way, including during tests, the main challenge of the game is to remember what movement creates which spell. The simplicity of this is one of the major reasons that the game is ideal for the youngest of players.
The game offers you a number of challenges and tasks that may be familiar to Harry Potter fans in order to allow you to practice your magical abilities. You will have to levitate toads, pot Mandrakes, tame Kelpies and later go on to face even tougher creatures.
Completing challenges and progressing often earns you collectibles which go into a chapter of your book for you to look at and read about later. You will also earn House Points for doing well and be given clues to a conundrum which will have to be solved at the end.
Besides the game obviously being targeted at a very young audience and the real lack of challenge this provides for older gamers, there is very little wrong with the game. Sometimes awkward or fast movements might ruin the look on screen of your wand, book or surroundings but usually the technology is able to keep up.
This is only the first game of its kind on the system and having the Harry Potter brand on board is a great draw, but the lack of there being much of a game to play makes it quite disappointing. Being led by hand through each chapter is fine for little ones but anyone older will feel silly.
Harry Potter fans can delight in being able to feel like they are studying at Hogwarts while learning things they had not yet seen anywhere else, while youngsters not familiar with the books or movies (who?) can still enjoy playing with a magic wand in a real wizard school.
As for the future of the Wonderbook, it could be put to good use elsewhere, but we can only wait and see.
