Game Details

ESRB Rating: 

E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Number of Players: 

1

The Spiderwick Chronicles are good books...but how do they compare tothe game, specifically the Nintendo DS version?

The game is fun and challenging. It goes right off the books . . .chapter by chapter. No one believes the faerie world exists, thenMallory, Simon, and Jared  alone learn of it. They keep it tothemselves. No one would believe them anyway. They have to fight many agoblin and other faeries if they wish they live. They make sure thatthe evil side doesn't get Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the FantasticalWorld Around You. All it brings them is trouble,though....

In the game you start off playing with just Jared. Avoid any thrownobjects and pay close attention to where the thumps are coming from. (Ididn't, and it took me about five minutes to figure out where the nextone was.) Replenish your honey when you can, and be sure to talk toThimbletack.

When you go to rescue Simon, avoid as many goblins as possible. Catchas many Sprites as you can, and only use them when you have to. (Youcan trade some Sprites wirelessly with other players.) When Simon isfighting with you, put Simon in the back during fights. Use him withrocks and Sprites. When you find Mallory, be sure to keep her in thefront. It is easiest to fight with her.

It's frustrating getting back to the house, and when you get back, youneed to find more Thicket Sprites (back into the forest) and a LifterSprite. I haven't yet found a Lifter Sprite, and I'm still looking.Finding and catching all the Sprites is pretty frustrating. You have tostudy the guide to know when to use the berries and when to touch them.

Overall, it is a fun and challenging game. My favorite part isdefinitely when you feel in control, because you are the one travelingthrough. You get to decide where to go when, and you do it simply bymoving your character there. I would recommend this game to anyoneinterested in fantasy fiction and exciting gaming. It is a bit tough,so perseverance and taking slight breaks is key. I got frustrated,because I couldn't save whenever I wanted to, so it made me very tensetrying to get to the next checkpoint. I kept dying in the same spot,and all it took was a little break and three more tries (after aboutthe eight before) to get to the next checkpoint. Because of thedifficulty, I would recommend this for ages 12 and up or thoseexperienced with adventure games. If you're able to persevere, thiswould be an okay game.

This is a lot of fun. Are you up to the challenge?