Review: "WizOrb" - PS3/PSP/PS Vita

Reviewed by Paul for FamilyFriendlyGaming

SCORE: 84/100

Imagine if someone took Break-Out and mixed it with an action role playing game. The result would be something like WizOrb on the Playstation 3, Playstation Portable, and Playstation Vita. Beatshapers has mixed these two together extremely well. They pay homage to franchises that have come before, but put their unique little spin on it.

As I started to play WizOrb I thought I was in a Shining Force video game. The look and feel to WizOrb is so much like Shining Force that it is eerie. Monsters will walk around the levels as we are bouncing the ball around. We can kill them by bouncing the ball off them enough times, or shooting them with a magical attack.

Near the beginning of WizOrb we find out that a town has been destroyed. We can donate money to restore the town one building at a time. Certain buildings will have more importance than others. For example the shop was more important to me than a villagers home. The goal is to restore the entire town through generosity.

WizOrb contains messages on certain levels telling us how to use the black magic, and how to use the white magic. Which button press will enact the magical mystical force. The magic in WizOrb is a limited resource. Until the player grabs more or purchases it at a shop. There are hidden shops in some levels, as well as hidden bonus areas.

Some of the levels in WizOrb are ingeniously designed. The role playing element snaps into place like Lego pieces. The more I played WizOrb the more fun I had. I wanted to help the next villager get their building put back together. I wanted to find the right way to defeat that boss, or get that last brick in a level. There is an addictive nature to the sixty levels strewn across five worlds.

I feel very blessed that Family Friendly Gaming was provided a download code for this review. I hope to see sequels to WizOrb in the future. This concept is a very solid one, and I can see a variety of ways they can take the franchise. The magic is the biggest problem many of our readers will have with WizOrb.

Graphics: 82%

Sound: 89%

Replay/Extras: 88%

Gameplay: 86%

Family Friendly Factor: 74%

System: PS3/PSP/PS Vita

Publisher: Beatshapers

Rating: ‘E’ - Everyone {Mild Fantasy Violence}