Nintendo DS

Master of Illusion

Master of Illusion is what it aspires to be: a game that teaches you the secrets of magic. Sure, it is not going to teach you how to be Criss Angel that guy is really weird, but it is does teach you the basics. With Christmas right around the corner, this is one of those games that may float under the radar. It does not deserve to be one of those titles that never was. With that in mind, this is a game kids will absolutely love; there are enough tricks to keep them busy for months to come, and if you have the socially awkward kid, it may even make him a few friends. A must play for all those still young at heart and a must own for all those still actually young.

The DS is required for all game functions, which is a shame as this package may have had more lasting appeal if it could teach standalone tricks, but for sheer novelty you can't go wrong with Master Of Illusion. Great for keeping kids of all ages entertained.

Magic sets have been in toy shops for decades so it makes perfect sense for Nintendo to release a set for the DS. Combining simple magic tricks with the DS is a great idea and young kids will get a real thrill out of performing in front of their friends. Magic Made Fun isn't really a game, but any budding magicians will get a lot of fun out of this DS release.

You might think the Wii is perfect for parties at your house, but this game and its magic tricks will make you and you DS the center of attention.

Magic Made Fun is all about performance. The limp mini-game component notwithstanding, this isn't really a game at all; it's a tool, a gimmick, a box of tricks, and yet another ingenious application for a platform that continues to pull out ideas like rabbits from a hat.

Master of Illusion isn't the kind of magical instruction that'll have you hosting 'The Masked Magician' anytime soon, but it's fun, interesting and at times will give that noodle of yours a workout. If you've got a flair for the extraordinary or want to know the secrets behind magic tricks, this game will suit you. Just don't go around demanding that people blow into your microphone. That's creepy.

Master of Illusion is today's generation of Magic Kits. There's certainly nothing wrong with trying to be an amateur magician, and this Nintendo DS product is a neat way to learn how some familiar illusions are performed…and to see some cool variations of these tricks performed on a dual-screen, touch screen handheld. But if you have no interest in performing these tricks for others, you'll completely miss the point of the product…and should skip it altogether.

Master of Illusion is a well-designed tool for teaching magic – or illusions, rather. Some of the tricks here are more impressive than others, no surprise, but that's okay. There are over 20 tricks to master, which will take you a while. And, thankfully, most the tricks are clever, and smart, even. Of course, whether or not that'll entertain you depends on whether or not you're into doing magic tricks.

Magic has the power to amaze, astound, and -- in the case of fast-handed New York City Three-Card-Monte dealers -- make you tons of quick cash from gullible tourists. Master of Illusion might not be able to deliver on that last one, but it will both entertain and educate you about the basics of magic. It would have been nicer if the selection of tricks was more balanced, but overall it's another cool use of the DS.

Giving Master of Illusion a score is purely for those who scroll to the bottom of this review, but summing the game up with a single numeral is just about impossible. As a magician's tool Master of Illusion is fantastic, there are some brilliant magic tricks and using the Nintendo DS to fool your friends is strangely satisfying. However, Master of Illusion really does blur the line between game and magic kit in a cartridge. If the idea of fooling your friends with the Nintendo DS by your side is appealing then Master of Illusion is definitely worth your time.

Minor quibbles aside, if you or someone you know has always wanted to get into magic, Master of Illusion is a good way to get started. It's not going to get you a gig headlining your own Vegas show, but you'll be mystifying your friends in no time.

Magie & Illusie is een goed uitgewerkt goochelspel wat je Nintendo DS gebruikt als medium voor de trucs. Het spel zelf heeft niet ontzettend veel diepgang, maar de dertig trucs die aanwezig zijn zullen je meerdere malen doen verbazen. Hoewel het doosje het doet lijken alsof het spel in het Nederlands is, is het compleet in het Engels wat sommige mensen wellicht teleur kan stellen. Als je van goochelen houdt dan raad ik je zeker aan dit spel te proberen.

Like the box set of my childhood, Master of Illusion will not make you able to live underwater for a week like David Blaine, though you’re welcome to try. (~Ed. Please don’t.) But it’s a fun and interesting use of the DS, and with enough practice and patience, can “astound and delight friends and family”, at least until the next Harry Potter movie comes out.

Die Erwartungen an ’Know-How der Zauberkunst’ dürfen nicht allzu hoch sein, soll man nicht bitter enttäuscht werden. Die altbackenen Tricks dürften wirklich nur blutige Zauberlehrlingsanfänger faszinieren. Das DS-Programm eignet sich gut als Einstieg in die durchaus schwierige Illusionskunst, etwas mehr Raffinesse sowie Originalität und eine bessere Präsentation hätten der kindlichen Lernsoftware aber gut getan.

What can I really say? This is a magic set for the new generation. Buy it if you like magic, but it won't make any new converts.

Jos tämän ihan lasten leluna arvostelee, on pistemäärä sama. Taikuus on tyhmää. Kyllä minäkin tahdoin aikanaan taikoa – mutta vielä enemmän kaipasin haamujengileluni päätä. Yli puoli vuotta oli muovinpala hukassa, koska olin tunkenut sen ruinaamaani taikurin laatikkoon, jota harvemmin avasin.

Master of Illusion is not really a game. It is an experience and, judging by your ability, it could be humorously good or horribly bad. It's all about learning tricks, then performing them, all the while playing ridiculous mini games to unlock the rest of the content, provided you haven't died of shame in the process.

Still, unless you have friends that will allow you to perform, or you are brave enough to try on random strangers, the game doesn't offer much to keep a solo gamer interested terribly long. But for those curious or those who have friends or family that would cater to your showmanship, you cannot go wrong with this title.

With more tricks, more variety in the Solo section, and most of all without restricting your access to the bloody tricks you paid for, this could have been surprisingly successful. As it is, it's surprisingly not awful, but very limited.

At the end of the day, Master of Illusion is perhaps one of the most pointless games made for the DS. The idea may sound good on paper, but performing magic tricks is really something which needs to stay in the real world. Stay away from this one, far away.