Sony's take on Harry Potter may not feature the bespectacled wizard and his loyal friends, but it is set in the same universe and has one distinctive feature: new stories written by J.K. Rowling presented with a new type of peripheral: the Wonderbook.

Wonderbook: Book of Spells is less a game and more an interactive extension of the Harry Potter universe that delves into the history and practice of the series' most famous magical incantations. It's delightfully acted, beautifully presented, and surprisingly immersive.

It's getting closer and closer to Christmas which means it's now or never for those titles to launch in order to benefit from the influx of buyers...

The Wonderbook Isn't Quite Magical, But It's Close.

Motion control and augmented reality, not necessarily a combination that you'd expect to light up folks with excitement. But instead of thinking of Wonderbook as the bastard child of gaming's novelty items, it might just be better to approach it with the open mind that suggests it could be the title...

Cracking use of AR and motion control; Potterverse is brought to life in charming fashion; Moments f magic hint at a special future for Wonderbook

But there's not enough substance; Not enough variety; Not enough freedom to ever think for yourself

Harry Potter fans have been looking for a fix since the series -- and now films -- ended, and Book of Spells provides something of interest, even if the progressing story is weak. Wonderbook on a whole is the best use of Move yet, thanks to the virtual wand, and a great initiative as games progress...

+ Great use of Move; + A different type of "game; + Harry Potter connection; + Kids will love it

- The story isn't great; - Not much reading; - It's a very solo experience

When it comes to capturing the imagination, few franchises do it better than Harry Potter. The idea of a magical subculture existing in our world, one that you might catch a glimpse of at any moment, is immensely intriguing. And being plucked out of your normal life and told you have magical powers?

Augmented reality makes great use of the Move; Captures the magic and wonder of Harry Potter

Little in the way of replay value; Disappointing ending

Once the books and movies had reached their conclusion, fans of the Harry Potter universe were able to peek into this world once more with

I'm not easily swayed by new technology, especially if it only exists for the sake of flash or seeks to replace substance with dumbed-down special effects.

We have to be honest, when we first clapped eyes on the new official accessory for the Sony PlayStation 3, the Wonderbook, at E3 in June we weren't immediately blown away. It is, after all, simply a 12-page hardback board book with a sequence of slightly different patterns on each leaf.

Essential for Harry Potter fans; great example of augmented reality being used in the home; high production values; great fun to play through whether child or adult

Of limited appeal to those who don't like the Potter universe; needs some room to play