|
Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Spellbound
 As far as I know this is the first venture of Sabrina the Teenage Witch into the computer game arena and she brings along a whole cast of familiar friends (and enemies) from the TV series. The game captures the spirit of the series very well especially as the actors lend their voices including Mellisa Joan Hart as Sabrina and Nick Barkay as Salem.
In this lively title Sabrina is up to her usual hocus-pocus with the usual result ... mayhem. She is preparing for a big date with Harvey and begs Salem to teach her a love spell to win Harvey's heart forever. Needless to say the spell backfires with very uncomfortable side-effects ... Sabrina is turned into pumpkin. Seven times she tries to get it right and seven times she fails with similar catastrophic results. The object of the game is for the player to concoct the seven spells required to help rescue Sabrina from her precarious predicament.
Hence this title consists of seven mini games of hunt-the-item/ingredient in order to prepare seven face-saving spells. After each section is completed the player is rewarded with a progressively higher certificate of Witchery until they receive their Witch's Licence.
Spellbound has a simple point and click interface and the cursor changes to an arrow for moving and a diamond shape for picking up objects. In keeping with the theme of the game there is also a selection of magic tools available for use in each mini challenge, which are displayed across the bottom of the screen. These magic tools include a Time Ball that zaps time backwards or forwards, a Monster Dropper that alters someone or something's appearance for the worse, and a Switching Witch Mask that changes someone's mind. The magic tools are crucial to the game play and they add a fun twist to the overall game. Perhaps an item (or a person) will simply have to be magically modified in some way, but sometimes it is useful to warp time a little to get the desired results.
The game is not too difficult and there are plenty of hints on tap both in the official hints section and hidden around in the game world. The background graphics are exceptionally good and so is the music although the animated characters don't quite live up to this standard. The magic tools make some colourful effects when they are used and they also have other surprises in store. Choosing the incorrect tool too many times means a trip to the 'Other Realm' to face Dwell and his Wheel of Misfortune. Here there are four games to play, a couple of which are based on reflexes, a dating game and a Hangman-type word game. Of this small collection of mini-games my vote goes to the latter which is very entertaining as Sabrina is dressed in more and more 'yucky' clothing until she turns into a real fashion fright if the correct word is not revealed.
This game is fun even though it is, maybe, a little repetitive. Pity Sabrina didn't have a different spell to make. Still, the magic tools make a difference and add a lot of sparkle to the play. I would certainly recommend it for Sabrina fans although it might not hold too much challenge for players at the higher end of the recommended 8 to12 age group.
Copyright © Rosemary Young 1999.
All rights reserved.
System requirements:
Windows version requires Windows-compatible Pentium 133 or better, Windows 95 or 98, 32 MB RAM, SVGA 640 x 480 at 256 colors, 4X CD ROM.
Mac version requires Power Mac or better, System 7.5.1 or higher, 32 MB RAM, 4X CD ROM.
|
