Two New Wonderbook Games for PS3 : Review

We have had great fun this last week, reviewing two new games for the PS3.  We reviewed the original Wonderbook game : Book of Spells last year HERE after attending an amazing launch event in London.  Well now, just in time for Christmas there are two new games to add to the series.

So what is Wonderbook?

Wonderbook is a virtual story book that comes to life in front of the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Eye camera. You experience the game, with a magical book, which enables you to feel that you are in the middle of all the action on screen. It uses augmented reality technology to transform the world around you, bringing adventure, mystery and discovery into the heart of your home.  We love it!

 

 

Walking with Dinosaurs : I was really looking forward to this one, as I have a bit of a thing for archaeology. It’s definitely very interactive, with the game encouraging you to shout as well as play out the actions needed with the controller, which is great fun for the whole family.

 

I took some photographs whilst we were playing  to try and explain the Wonderbook concept a little more.  You can see the book on the table (blue and white) and Miss N holding the ‘wand’ which is actually transformed to tool on the screen.  She is using the tool to pick up old dinosaur bones she has just uncovered, and is adding them to the skeleton.  The clever technology puts you onto the screen. Can you see Miss A on the TV?

A close up of the screen, once we had completed the dinosaur. Miss A (4) could not believe how life like it looked.  Don’t worry, no Miss A’s were harmed in the photographing of this game! 😉

Walking with Dinosaurs It encourages children to take a walk on the wild side by digging up 150 million year old secrets to uncover dinosaur fossils, as they then stand back and watch the prehistoric giants come to life right before their eyes. The adventure takes them on a fun, interactive and educational adventure through prehistoric worlds as they walk among giant herbivores such as Triceratops and Stegosaurus, and come face-to-face with deadly predators including Mapusaurus and Tyrannosaurus. Children will also get to catch-up with Patchi and Juniper, stars of Walking with Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie, as well as a whole cast of new characters.

 

Book of Potions is the second game we reviewed, we love Harry Potter, and the first game(Book of Spells) was a great hit, and still is played with lots. This new addition is all about becoming a potions champion, and is just as good, if not better!  I think they have pushed the concept just a little more, and to great effect. Both of my girls really interacted with what they were seeing when the games were being played. It feels more like a whole rounded concept now, very impressive!

 The magical journey takes children through a mysterious, enchanted garden, guided by Zygmunt Budge – an accomplished potioneer, as they compete for the elusive Golden Cauldron with the PlayStation Move motion controller to chop, crush and grind ingredients for your magical concoctions. The game also allows children to integrate Hogwarts™ house and use their very own wand when they link to their account on Pottermore.com – the free, immersive and interactive website from J.K. Rowling.

We absolutely loved both games, fantastic to play as a family at Christmas, on your own as a single player, or with friends.  It’s important to note they are suitable for 7 plus, and I think this is a true age grading for the games, as they are so real to life.  Also the hand eye co-ordination can be tricky at time for younger ones.  We would definitely recommend both games and give them a Ana Mum Diary 5/5 !

Book of Potions and Walking with Dinosaurs : You do need to have a  PlayStation Move controller and PS Eye Camera in order for the game to work. You can purchase the games with the book, if you do not already have it.

Both are available for approximately £25 from selected retailers, including Amazon.