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Not only was Disney’s animated video game tale Wreck-It Ralph number one at the box office, earning $49.1 million, but it’s also available for iPad as Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe, an interactive book with a built-in kart-decorating, racing minigame.
Not to be confused with Wreck-It Ralph the videogame for iOS, which recreates the fictional video games that fuel the movie’s narration, the Deluxe Storybook tells Ralph’s story through movie clips, narration, and interactive elements.
As in the movie, the two main characters Ralph and Vanellope von Scweetz are voiced by indie film favorite John C. Reilly (who will always be Dr. Steve Brule to me) and the boisterous comic Sarah Silverman. Supporting cast members Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch even have a few lines. While most kids aren’t going to think, “hey, it’s Kenneth from 30 Rock,” or “that lady sounds like Constance from Party Down,” parents will appreciate that this is the hippest Disney cast since the AristoCats.
The story begins in Fix-It Felix, Jr. an 8-bit console video game, that has always been Ralph’s home. He decides he’s fed up with his role as a video game bad guy, so he deserts Fix it Felix, Jr. in hopes of winning a medal and proving to himself that he can be good. He winds up in a Sugar Rush, and tries to help the plucky Vanellope earn her way back into her game.
Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe is a Disney product through and through, so it’s no surprise that the graphics are top-notch. The animated segments blend seamlessly with the digital elements of the story. The prompts work well throughout the story, directing the reader to turn the iPad, or tap a specific hot spot when necessary.
The app’s controls work well. It’s easy to switch pages, jump from the story to the game, or return to the home screen. The reader also has the choice to record his own voice in place of the narrator’s.
Download Wreck-It Ralph Storybook Deluxe from the App Store for $6.99.
What I liked: The game didn’t feel tacked on. It was fun to decorate and then race a candy kart. I was pleased that the book took up only 262 MB of space on my always-crowded iPad.
What I didn’t like: Were it up to me, I’d still rather watch John C. Reilly in Boogie Nights or Step Brothers. The story comes straight from a typical kids’ movie, and it sets the bar pretty low. (There are more intellectually stimulating apps available for children, but it’s unfair to be too critical of the app for this failure). Since the storybook regurgitates the movie’s story line, it’s plot is no less ridiculous on the iPad than it is on the big screen. Judging solely on its iOS version, Wreck-It Ralph’s biggest weakness was that it overused the iPad-as-mirror trick.
To buy or not to buy: While $6.99 is steep for an iOS game, this universal app delivers a lot of content for the price. It’s way cooler than other printed movie tie-ins like a sticker book, which is likely to cost at least as much, or a flimsy stapled storybook. The narrative section is long and the kids will likely want to re-read the story and play the games more than once.
App Name: Wreck-It Ralph Deluxe Storybook
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Category: Entertainment
Developer: Disney Worldwide Publishing
Price: $6.99
Score: 
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