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Wonderbook: Book of Spells

SIE London Studio · Nov 13, 2012

PS3

Everyone10+

About

Discover exclusive, new and original worlds brought to you by J.K. Rowling that comes to life as you read in Wonderbook: Book of Spells. Over two hundred years ago, Miranda Goshawk drafted the Book of Spells, which can be found in the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library. This advanced textbook will assist students on their journey to becoming an accomplished witch or wizard. Read, discover, learn and practice spells such as Incendio, Wingardium Leviosa and Expelliarmus, as well as discover mischievous notes, spells and humorous anecdotal facts scribbled into the margins by previous Hogwarts students. J.K. Rowling has written a conundrum that leads you through the experience, providing insight into the values a witch or wizard has to learn, and inviting you to journey through the book to unlock new content, rewarding successful students along the way.

Trailers & screenshots

Scores by platform

PlayStation 3

Critic 6.8 (18 critics) · Gamer 7.5

7.1

Critic reviews

  • IGN

    Alex Simmons · Dec 06, 2012

    6.0
    I think Wonderbook has a lot of potential but in Book of Spells it’s never quite realised. It never becomes the sum of its parts and despite sharing a universe with one of the biggest book series in the world it’s an experience that’s shallow and rarely compelling, as either a game or a book. The technology is fantastic and presentation is impeccable – although the low-res EyeToy visuals really do show their age alongside the slick gloss of the game itself – but as a whole Book of Spells is not the charming experience it promised to be.
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  • Joystiq

    Jessica Conditt · Dec 03, 2012

    7.0
    Turns out, Book of Spells is a children's game that retains the magical appeal that makes Harry Potter's world so intriguing, even for older players. The games are easy, true, but if you, as a grown-up, can read a young adult novel on a packed bus without shame, you can probably enjoy Book of Spells in the comfort of your own home.
  • COGconnected

    Shad Forsyth · Nov 30, 2012

    8.0
    In the end I see Wonderbook: Book of Spells as being a a hit with the kids and it is a good start for the peripheral that makes it all come alive. Sure, there is certainly some room for improvement; however, the future is bright for future “books” that utilize this unique peripheral and I cannot wait to see what is next.
    Read review from COGconnected (opens in a new tab)
  • Game Trailers

    Game Trailers · Nov 30, 2012

    4.5
    It's a giant buildup with no payoff, a promise of something that never comes. You're left with a book that can't be read, a game that isn't really played, and a sense of disappointment that can't be waved away by all the wands in Ollivander's shop.
  • Cheatcc

    Josh Engen · Nov 18, 2012

    7.0
    But even with all of its problems, I genuinely love the technology. It feels like a strangely inventive step forward for Sony. And, if developers can get behind the tech, we might see a string of educational and entertainment titles hit the market soon. That’ll just depend on the bugs getting worked out of the system.
    Read review from Cheatcc (opens in a new tab)
  • EGM Now

    Josh Harmon · Nov 16, 2012

    4.5
    Book of Spells is a decent proof of concept for the Wonderbook’s augmented reality technology, but the rest of the experience fails to deliver anything memorable or worthwhile, quickly collapsing into an endless parade of gimmicks and dull, overly simplistic minigames.
    Read review from EGM Now (opens in a new tab)

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