Winx Club: Saving Alfea

Winx Club: Saving Alfea comes when this franchise takes the children's television world by storm. The series has even gained fans from older generations, partly due to its holism and feel-good nature. That fact alone explains why we've seen so many diverse media offerings lately, to capitalize on the brands' popularity while it still can. Naturally, there have been many video games out in the mix.

Winx Club: Saving Alfea is the handheld offering of everyone's favorite group of fairies. Undoubtedly, it's a platformer tailored for younger children; considering it's the target demographic, we'll have to analyze the game under that note. However, it's always worth satisfying curiosities about the titles that seem to increase in popularity.

It's a Kind of Magic

While kids will probably tell you all about the world of Winx Club, it's something I need to come to terms with. Winx Club: Saving Alfea will connect to the series' universe, where I understand that Alfea is the school of the fairies. Suddenly a witch comes to ruin the party, releasing some evil monsters. Students must search for a magic book that counters these unpleasant foes.

Now we've got the premise set; we'll understand the core objectives. As a game for children, the platforming mechanics will need to be simplistic, and that's what they are. You'll run and jump over obstacles and solve elementary puzzles to reach your end goal, with each level lasting at most 5 minutes for an adult. Gameplay diversity comes where you can fly rather than run and sometimes use one-button magic to quell monsters.

The 2D visuals are synonymous with the cartoon. Still, developers could exploit the 3DS' capabilities a little more. It plays and feels like the early 90s branded platformer without the challenge or desire to make a well-designed game.

Sure, it's likely Winx Club: Saving Alfea will satisfy children's interests. However, in the unlikely event you're playing as an adult, you'll probably finish the game in a couple of hours. It's a handheld title that will keep young minds intrigued and engaged with the storyline, colorful visuals, and magical capabilities. So if you have a kid that loves Winx Club, this will keep them busy.

Getting a Few Winx

It's funny how Winx Club: Saving Alfea reminds you of the old Aladdin game from the 90s without any challenge. That idea makes you wonder if children's video games have evolved over the last 20 years, still sharing the same aesthetic, mechanics, and straightforward narratives. Only the modern versions seem to be much easier than the old ones.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Great for younger children
• The 2D visuals are polished and immersive
• A generally polished platformer

Cons:

• The gameplay gets repetitive very quickly
• Players will likely complete the game in a couple of hours
• The game could use voice acting to improve the narrative