Wonderbook Book Of Spells - Review

Wonderbook Book of Spells, Sony’s latest family offering for their PS3 console gives budding Harry’s, Ron’s and Hermione’s a chance to experience visiting Hogwarts without the need to be locked in the cupboard under the stairs. Social services breathe a sigh of relief, and I get to regurgitate the same joke I've made in a previous post…

The set-up is very simple.  PlayStation Eye Camera that plugs straight into PS3’s USB port on the front of the machine, a ‘Move’ controller that a cross between an Lightsabre and an expensive Myla toy, and a book that looks like a series of big QR codes.   Put the disc in and away you go.  Simple.

What comes out is simply magical, the Camera reads the series of images on the book and the Ps3 creates an image on your TV of a virtual world where the book transforms into a magical artifact while the move Move controller is your wand.  Of course this would be nothing if you didn't also see yourself on screen, you are very much the lead role in this Harry Potter film.

In front of your eyes and around your living room Dragons swoop, bubbles appear on your head to help you breathe under water, while the lore of the Harry Potter universe is explained in a series of short stories where Children can choose which missing word to insert. You’re encouraged to learn spells and cast them with a swish of the wrist or a more complex wave of your wand.  In a nutshell it’s lovely lovely idea, both encouraging children to play but also learn and read without even realising they are.  While it won’t ever replace books and will never be a bedtime story it is a nice fun way for kids to have fun than the more passive and less social TV watching

Number 1 is only four and while she knows of Harry Potter she’s not really aware of the wider universe, but she had great fun squirting virtual water over Daddy in a spell.  Although her hands were a little small to handle the controller she’s of the age, where she can get the hang of it and gets frustrated when she can’t do it, so frustrations were solely with herself rather than the Wonderbook itself. Number 2 was equally entranced although it involved hitting the TV to interact as most things do when you’re not yet two.  The game itself is much more suitable for slightly older Children aged 7-12, although Adults will find it equally as enchanting to play along on Christmas day.

The only real downside we could find is that your living room needs to be lit with a wattage akin to Wembley stadiums floodlights for best performance. Although it worked perfectly well in our more mood lit lounge, the cheap camera seems to not quite display at it’s best level.

The starter pack is £50 and contains everything you need to get started - Camera, Move Controller, WonderBook & Game

All in all it gets a big recommend from us.