(12 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)
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Wizard 101

Description: Wizard101 is an online, Wizard school adventure with collectible card magic, wizard duels, and far off worlds! The game allows players to create a student Wizard in an attempt to save Wizard City and explore many different worlds. Wizard101 offers a Free Trial that never ends!

Wizard 101 Review

If by any chance you enjoy playing Magic: The Gathering card game, then, Wizard 101 is for you having a card-based gameplay.  This game by KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. is also adapted from the very popular Harry Potter series with a child wizard as the main character in an enchanted place called the Wizard City.  It is aimed at capturing the whole family as the players for this game and true enough, the game was able to achieve the said following.

Graphics and Customization

The graphics for Wizard 101 is quite impressive for a relatively child-appropriate MMO game.  The gaming environment as well as the characters is styled in a western fashion as compared to other MMOs that are usually presented in an anime manner.  You will be amused watching your character cast spells as an elaborate animation unfolds right in front of you.

Character creation and customization are also things to look forward to in this game.  Each player has an option to create either a boy or a girl wizard and also has the chance to name his character.  Naming one’s character is a bit enjoyable already if you are using the random name generator for wizards.  It is like spinning roulette and whatever comes up will be your character’s name.  But then again, you can always take another spin if the name does not appeal to you.  Players can customize the look of their character by changing the face, hair, complexion even its wardrobe.

If in the Harry Potter franchise student wizards are divided into groups by the sorting hat, here in Wizard 101, students are also divided based on the answers to a few questions before the start of the game.  There are six different groups or schools of Magic namely: Fire, Ice, Storm, Myth, Life, Death and Balance.  Each group has its own strengths that will prove to be helpful in playing the game.

Gameplay

Wizard 101 is a relatively easy to play game with the character’s goal of saving Wizard City from evil forces.  In order to wander around, arrow keys will enable you to navigate around the city.  It is also a delight to learn that the in-game instructions make the game friendly even to young kids.  The NPCs located around the city also helps a lot by telling you what to do especially in quests.

The combat is carried out by means of casting spells against one another.  This is done by selecting a particular spell card and your opponent also doing the same.  After each of the players has selected, spells will be cast and the health damage will be visible on some sort of a red crystal ball on the lower left-hand corner of the screen.

There are also several mini-games each player will definitely play.  Players are sure to find themselves playing these in order to gain mana, the ability to cast a spell.  If boredom kicks in, these modernized versions of old games will also do you good.

Not without Any Downsides

Make no mistake that I enjoy the game.  However, there are things that could be done better.  First, it is a free to play game however, not all areas of the map can be accessed.  Therefore, in order to access these restricted areas, one must become a subscriber and real world money comes in.  I am actually thinking that it would be better to have all areas open for play and money would be paid for premium items instead.

Sometimes, players find themselves engaging in a battle they do not intend to join.  This happens when they walk too close to an NPC or even in close proximity of an on-going battle.  The “flee” option is sometimes not a good idea since this will only send your character back to town and you will again have to go through wandering around.

Recommendation

Though this game may seem to be not in the top spot for hardcore MMO gamers, it is definitely the best bet for Harry Potter and Magic: the Gathering fans.  As mentioned, they have been successful in capturing families who are inclined in gaming.  Having said this, Wizard 101 is a game recommended for pure family-entertainment value with a promise of long hours of family fun and bonding moments.

By Barbara Bernardo for FreeMMORPGs.com