Wizard101

Young and Old alike become wizards in this playful MMORPG

Wizard 101 is a partially free to play massive multiplayer online role playing game created and maintained by Kingsisle Entertainment. The game offers players the chance to enroll in Ravenwood magic School to become Witches and Wizards. It has everything you'd expect in a game catering to a younger demographic; mini-games, collectibles, battles to fight and, of course, spells to master. There are seven schools o magic to choose from, and each school has its own set of spells that the player can learn. There is a ton of customization when it comes to character design and progression, many ways to make each character unique and personal. Parts of Wizard 101 are open for free, and parts are only accessible by those with a monthly paid membership or by paying access by using crowns, the game's in game currency. Crowns are most commonly acquired by using real money. The game targets a younger audience and usually rates average to high with critics.

Game Play

Wizard 101 has a strong push towards being a social game, though there is a combat system that is fairly deep although it is obvious that the game targets a younger audience. Combat is turn based but since there are seven schools of magic: Ice, Storm, Fire, Life, Death, Myth, and Balance which is a nice variation from the usual four elements. There are PVP areas, but these are restricted to those that want to combat each other. Content filtering and safety features abound as well, which is a nice nod towards concerned parents.

Presentation

The game has been in existence and evolution since 2008 and as with many MMO's, has gone through some changes. Visuals have been steadily upgraded and, although they aren't realistic, you likely won't find complaints with the target audience. Accessories and costumes allow users to dress their character in a myriad of different guises and a multitude of locations are available to explore, each with their own theme and special characters. As with any living game the story too has evolved and there are frequent in game events for players to take part in, adding value to the experience.