How to Train Your Dragon 2 was recently released and is currently in theaters now (head on to the nearest cinema to watch this rib cracking animation) I fell in love with Hiccup again. What has become sort of a norm when a movie especially an animation is released there is bound to be an interactive app launched- Frozen, Despicable Me and so on. The same applies to the latest DreamWorks’s sequel to the 2010 box office hit. However this game is not the typical game but a book more precisely- an ebook. Find out more about the features and drawbacks.
Features
This is an interactive ebook that puts the reader as part of the story with a new and unusual story based on the movie that’s personalized for the user. What does this mean? It makes the user part of the story. There are three reading levels available, which gives users the option of reading out loud the text or having the text read out loud and it’s easy to switch back and forth between the two option even in the middle of the story. The result of this is that it pulls the reader into the story as the story is told through the main character – the user.
The app engrosses the user as it takes over half and hour to finish an entire story in a single level. This stated time is with the narration on. The app’s graphics breathtaking as the illustrations are crisp and the narration outstanding. The app does not have links to social media, outside ads, and no in-app purchases. There is a Parents’ Area that serves as a protected area for younger kids however if the child reading ability is higher can figure out how to pass by this area. The area contain an email submission form to be added to the developer’s mailing list, and a button that links to the DreamWorks website.
Drawbacks
At the time of writing this there were a few bugs that had not yet been addressed. When an area is tapped on some part of the page, this action takes the reader back nearly four pages back. This proves to be very frustrating especially for younger users who like tapping the screen as they search for hidden animations. The narration is all good but the user is not able to hear a single word pronounced like in other children’s ebooks. When finished with all three levels there is hanging cliff moment before the system lets you know that there are no available levels but more coming soon. It’s unclear whether these new additions will be in the form on in-app purchases.
Ages: 6-8
Category: Entertainment
Content: Books, puzzles
Platform: Universal
Language: English
Price: USD 4.99 (no in-app purchases as of yet)
Photos: Appannie.com
