I want to start by saying I’m not being paid to write this post. I’m not at that level yet :D
Wizards Unite is a new game made by Niantic (the company behind Pokémon GO) in conjunction with the Wizarding World. The app arrived in the US and the UK for both iOS and Android a day early on June 20. It was beta tested in Australia and New Zealand and it is currently unknown when it will arrive in other countries. Wizards Unite is an augmented reality game in the same style as Pokémon GO. Players walk around in the real world to get to places matching in-game locations. For example, many landmarks function as inns, greenhouses, and challenge locations.
The storyline of the game takes place after the events of the original series with adult Harry working with Hermoine and a character named Constance to return objects called Foundables. Foundables are objects that have been stolen from various locations and are being protected by Confoundables. Players must defeat the Confoundables to return each object. The overarching plot revolves around discovering how the Foundables got stolen, by who, and why.
Inns allow players to get spell energy which is used to defeat Confoundables. Greenhouses allow players to get ingredients for potions which can be used to make it easier to defeat Confoundables or heal during challenges. Challenge locations pit players against werewolves, pixies, Death Eaters, and many other minor villains in order to get harder-to-find Foundables. Challenges can be played solo or with nearby friends or other local players.
The game also features Portkey Portmanteaus which can be unlocked by walking certain distances. These Portkeys can then be used to find Foundables that are only available through Portkeys.
I downloaded this game a couple days ago when it first came out and I have been playing it since. So far I’ve really been enjoying it. It’s fun to see beasts we know from the movies and books come to life in front of our eyes just as it was with Pokémon GO. The game integrates Harry Potter with Fantastic Beasts making the world that much more whole and real. It features Hippogryphs, Mooncalves, Pixies, and Kneazels among others.
When I first started playing I was worried the game was too easy. I was worried I would complete everything before more content came out. I reached level 6 on the first day of playing and seemed to complete a lot of objectives very quickly. But, I soon noticed that there is way more content than the game initially shows you. Objectives are added as you play including an objective to complete a profession: Auror, Professor, or Magizoologist. I chose Magizoologist. The game claims this is a way to specialize to help the cause. I’m still a bit confused what exactly this does, but hopefully it will become more clear as the game goes on.
One thing I’ve always found fun about AR games is that they give people an excuse to explore. I moved to a new town in August and still haven’t managed to do much exploring. But having an AR game in tow gives me the ability to wander with a purpose. I’ve already spent hours wandering around completing challenges, finding Confoundables, and opening Portkey Portmanteaus.
My main complaint at the moment is that the game drains my phone battery fairly quickly, especially if I listen to music while I play. After about 2 hours I have to return home to charge my phone before heading out again. This is probably an unavoidable side effect of the location features in the game, but it is very frustrating.
I also find the plot confusing at times and felt that the game started quickly without fully introducing me to what exactly I was doing. It attempts to create more of a mystery by revealing information as you play, but I’m sure there are many people who would not want to play without having a bit more understanding of the point of the game.
Overall, I really like Wizards Unite so far and I’m excited to play more and see where it goes! I’m glad for the excuse to explore my city and get out of the house while feeling like I’m completing objectives along the way. After all, that’s the point of AR games isn’t it?
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