Monsters University Storybook Deluxe

Disney has released the suitable picture book app for the iPad and iPhone, just before the actual Monsters Inc. 2 movie “Monsters University” starts at the cinema’s in June 2013.

We have viewed and tested this rather expensive storybook app for kids, where the price was 6.99 $, which we gladly invested, after we had been pretty enthused with another kids movie app – Cars 2 World Grand Prix Read and Race, which was offered in the same price range. Whether this app is going to get a 5 star rating or not, you’re going to find out in our review below.

2 in 1 storybook app: reading and playing

Even if the subtitle “reading and playing” doesn’t get picked in this Monsters University app, it is still a 2 in 1 app for kids, as the playing and game area is just as comprehensive as the actual storybook itself. Kids can create their own Monster Student ID, right at the start, with the help of the camera function.

Monsters University App – the Story

For the price of 6.99 $ we expect a lot of reading and listening material and we’re certainly not being dissapointed by the Monsters University app, at least as far as that goes anyway. The complete story is being lavishly and niftily told on a whole of 34 pages. The story is narrated by a friendly narrator and a lot of other languages are available too, as this app is also multilingual.

34 pages is quite above average for a storybook app for kids, which is why reading this storybook seemed like watching the actual movie, because the narrator really does take himself time with each scene and he is also good with his voice-acting as he speaks through each role and occasion. It is a very joyful and fun story to listen to.

There are also a lot of interactive elements and sounds within the pictures and lots of animations have been integrated. Some film scenes have also been integrated, which fit into the story really well.

All in all this story part is remarkable and absolutely brilliant. Unfortunately we can’t presume the same about the game part of this app.

Monster University app – the Game

Beforehand: Games are pretty popular and common in kids storybook apps these days, mostly in terms of short extras such as a few coloring pictures or Memory cards.
Disney defines and presents games in children’s books new, as we know from Cars 2 World Grand Prix Read and Race, they present a rather comprehensive game with different levels, achievements, extras etc. In this case, it is rather a “sneak up game”, where kids have to sneak through obstacle courses with every single monster and at the end they are allowed to scare and yell around.

Throughout these games, the tilt function will be the main navigation and in contrast to the great racing game “Cars 2 Read and Race”, further adjustments were left out however, with major consequences: We’re going to have to rate this game as “unplayable”. On the one hand the navigation is way too sensitive, which means that slowly sneaking past the obstacles is practically impossible. The collisions query appears to be inaccurate as well, because you don’t really barge into some obstacles and therefore see the “game over” screen after three faults already.

We can therefore rate the whole game area as unsatisfactory and give it an grade F!

As long as the navigation of the game stays the way it is, we can only give the game even with it’s awesome story part, a 3 star rating, especially as the games area will be perceived equally in this children’s book app.

If you’re not so bothered about the game part, you’re going to have a lot of fun with the app or the story.

Whether the navigation will be improved or not, we can’t really predict, as the wrong calibration in our eyes, might not be seen as a mistake to the app developers. We’ll keep an eye on any possible updates within the next few weeks and we’ll change our rating of the Monsters University app depending on the outcome.

Monsters University Storybook Deluxe rating:

Pro’s

(++) has been comprehensively and lavishly produced
(+) great voice acting of the narrator
(+) multilingual

Con’s

(- -) Games area is very frustrating and unplayable through because of the tilt function
(-) Price 6.99 $

Top best apps for kids rating: 3 stars

iOS kids app developer: Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications
iOS kids app test based on app version 1.0