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  • $29.99
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Wizards of Waverly Place (Nintendo DS)

common sense media says

TV's magical tweens star in adventure with logic puzzles.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Wizards of Waverly Place is an adventure game that emphasizes puzzle-solving and interacting with other characters rather than combat. Spells occasionally backfire, resulting in broken science experiments or people being temporarily frozen (hence the "Comic Mischief" disclaimer), but the tone is cheeky rather than mean-spirited. Alex is somewhat preoccupied with her crush, Dean, but it's innocent. One of the mini-games asks trivia questions about the TV show, which might trip up players unfamiliar with Waverly "lore." The game also supports Disney's DGamer online features that let players unlock costumes and achievements.

Educational value: Kids use problem-solving skills to figure out which spells to use in a given situation.
Positive messages: While the Russo siblings occasionally cause mischief with their magic (sometimes intentionally, and sometimes as the result of a spell backfiring), they strive to help their parents and teachers.
Positive role models: Alex is slightly preoccupied with a boy (Dean), and fashion, and sometimes tries to get out of doing chores. But overall she's helpful and proves to be a good friend.
Ease of play: This game is easy to play using the DS stylus and offers a variety of things to do.
Violence & scariness: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Based on the Wizards of Waverly Place Disney franchise. This game is a way of extending the brand.

More on Wizards of Waverly Place

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what it would be like to lead a double life. Why was it important for the kids to keep their magic skills a secret?

  • Which school do you think it would be more fun to attend? TriBeca Prep or the WizTech school of magic?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Based on the Disney TV show of the same name, WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE is a Nintendo DS adventure game that follows the story of three siblings (Alex, Max, and Justin Russo) who also happen to be wizards-in-training. Players alternate between controlling all three Russo kids as they try to balance their "normal" lives attending TriBeca Prep and working at the family's sandwich shop in Waverly Place with honing their magic skills in secret at the WizTech magic school. When people randomly start being frozen by some kind of strange magic, the siblings must get to the bottom of the mystery.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Players will spend most of their time figuring out which items or spells are needed to solve puzzles – for example, the guys can't play dodge ball until they've found the coach's missing whistle, which another student dropped in the park. Players can use a variety of magic spells to manipulate objects in the environment – including "move," "levitate," and "freeze," – by tracing the correct pattern with the stylus. There are a variety of mini-games too, such as making sandwiches, hitting targets with a catapult, and popping bubbles to mix potions. Older, more experienced gamers might find the "fetch quest" aspect of the gameplay a bit transparent, but Wizards of Waverly Place is a solid game with plenty of different things to do, none of which are overly difficult or frustrating. For its target audience, namely the same 'tweens that watch the TV show, the game shouldn't disappoint.

Online interaction: This game can connect to D-Gamer, a place for kids to interact with others, as well as unlock costumes and achievements found in the game.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Nintendo DS
Not available online
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Disney Interactive
Released on: August 25, 2009
Price: 29.99
ESRB Rating: E for Comic Mischief
Screenshots

This review was written by Erin Bell
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Annaliza
kid, 12 years old
 
Fun,but challenging
It's fun,but also challenging

Kelly268
kid, 11 years old
 
everyone! it even says on the cover of the game e 4 every1!
everybody who can play video games its perfect 4! its a magical game and u can play as alex russo, and learn spells!

dell177
teen, 16 years old
 
cool and wizardy
i bet eveybody love this game and i am not 14!

jadaya
kid, 10 years old
 
love it

Alex Russo
kid, 12 years old
 
This is an awesome game. A must have if you like WOWP(Wizards of Waverly Place)

beagle33
parent of 14 year old
 
it is for any age
i love it. i played the whole game. it is a little hard though.

mahima
teen, 17 years old
 
good for 8+ and also 4 teens
actualy i couldnt open it!!!!!!! but have heard a lot from ma frnds

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age