Book of Spells is the first game on the PlayStation 3 to use the latest addition to the PS peripherals family called the Wonderbook. The book itself consists of 12 pages of unique AR codes that are made come to life throughout the game using the Playstation eye.
Book of Spells brings you on an immersive and magical journey through the world of Witchcraft and Wizardry and, gives the player the opportunity to feel like you have those powers which were previously reserved by those trained by Hogwarts. This is all thanks to the folks in the SCE London Studio whose previous titles include Eye Pet and Singstar.
You learn the movements and incantations required to cast the multiple spells featured in the game, and then apply what you’ve learnt in various situations the game puts you in. Such a situation could be taming a wild dragon like creature while levitating cogs into place to operate gates and all the while fending off vicious weeds protruding from the ruins around you. In order to progress through the game you must complete these missions, and are awarded points upon completion. The Book of Spells is split up into 5 chapters which are subsequently split again into two parts with each half containing one to three spells to learn.
Setting up the game at first takes all of five minuets, where you must choose a wand you wish to use and then a ‘House’ you would like to belong to. These decisions don’t change the gameplay in any way though. The game recommends you place your Wonderbook on the floor and sit behind it however, PlayStationer.net would like to warn you that if you have wooden floors in your house, just sit with it on your lap, otherwise you will experience the same discomfort in the bottom region I did while reviewing this game. Both ways of positioning yourself are just as effective.
If you are between the ages of 7 and 12 or just love Harry Potter and magic, then you can’t go wrong with Wonderbook : Book of Spells. However, if you do not fall into this subset of gamers then there is not much point in getting your hands on Wonderbook : Book of Spells. This game is a great taste of whats to come in regards to immersive gaming on the PS3, and it should be interesting to see what is to come on to our Wonderbooks in the future.