Title: Wonderbook: Book of Spells
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
In a gaming landscape littered with copycats and clones, something genuinely unique is usually looked at with cautious enthusiasm or a vague lack of interest. “Psychonauts? No thanks, I’ve got germans to kill. Mirrors Edge? Not today these Russians need to die.” I won’t go on, you get the slightly racist, unfortunately honest point.
But for better or worse every so often something genuinely unique does come along. Take Sony Computer Entertainments latest experiment, Wonderbook, for example. With all of the power of three amping up their efforts to get into the minds of younger and younger children (and the wallets of their parents), it’s slightly reassuring to see one of them come out with something that might actually have some artistic merit. Instead of just cashing in on the fact that kids like toys and having full collections of toys. I’m looking at you, Skylanders. You dickhead. 
Wonderbook is basically a new format that utilizes the playstation move and EyeToy peripherals, alongside an actual book of augmented reality pages. It’s a new and interesting way to get kids into gaming that has potential for real educational merit but more importantly, it’s also got the potential to be really, really fun.
Book of Spells, the other half of that review title up there, is the first game to be released for the Wonderbook platform and what better way to start than with a franchise kids are already aware of? The Harry Potter world is one of the most recognizable on earth (and probably beyond) and is clearly a perfect platform for Wonderbook to show us what it can do.
Now, I’ve never been a massive Harry Potter fan. I like the books and I liked the films (except two, feel free to guess which two in the comments) but It’s never hooked me the way say, Final Fantasy or Evangelion have. My girlfriend on the other hand, is unjustifiably obsessed with this wizarding world, sometimes to the point of literal delusion (read: roleplaying) and so it seemed only fair that she, which a much better knowledge than I of what distinguishes a good Potter product from a bad one, got to take the reigns on this one. I’m nice like that. Nice, not lazy.
From observing her time with it and taking on board her comments (which were difficult to hear at times through fangirl squeals), it’s safe to say that Book of Spells is a success. The world of Hogwarts is brought to life beautifully with spectacular attention to detail. Gameplay involves learning to cast spells from the titular book, on which you’ll be tested at the end of each chapter, as the pages of the Wonderbook literally come to life on your TV. Its presentation is top notch, put together with the love and care of a team clearly devoted to bringing the franchise to consoles in a way that feels fresh and respectful. Technically, I spotted surprisingly few glitches or bugs for an augmented reality game and the commands using the PS Move were intuitive and responsive. As a game designed for children, its inherent simplicity masks a subtle artistic brilliance that anyone with any knowledge of gaming will no doubt appreciate, regardless of age.
At their heart, Wonderbook and Book of Spells carry a pretty impressive message. We’ve all heard the complaints that people don’t read enough books anymore (we don’t have enough town criers or telegraphs anymore either, while we’re at it) and with video games frequently shouldering a share of the blame, Wonderbook is a masterful way for Sony to address that argument. In both the feel of the Wonderbook itself, and through the entirety of Book of Spells, the idea of your life being changed by the discovery of a fantastic book is present and prominent. It’s a message that will resonate with kids whether they realize it at the time or not.
How brilliantly deviant of Sony to deliver that message through a video game.
Good Stuff:
– Flawless presentation
– Simple, intuitive gameplay
Bad Stuff:
– Too short
– Slightly repetitive
Rating: 8/10
