Reviewed: October 19, 2009
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Publisher
Disney Interactive

Developer
Disney Interactive

Released: October 6, 2009
Genre: Interactive
Players: 1

4
7
8
4
5.0

Game Info:

  • 58.6 MB Download

    App Store Price: $.99

    		•
    The iPhone is quickly becoming the home to a variety of apps to tie into the marketing hype of other media products – mostly film. You have apps like the multi-part comic book for Star Trek that actually improved the film, and you have a cool trivia survival quiz app for the upcoming movie 2012, and then you have Disney’s Magic Mirror.

    Clearly designed to promote the release of Snow White on DVD and Blu-ray, this app is nothing more than an elaborate marketing tool for the DVD, which makes me wonder why they are charging people to download it. Menu selections will get you a synopsis of the film or access to the movie trailer or a link to purchase the film. The only thing that even resembles a game is the “Ask the Mirror” menu option.

    Ask the Mirror is basically your next-gen portable “Magic 8-Ball”. You can either type in or speak your questions and the mirror will respond with any of several poetic responses, most of which are about as generic and non-specific as your daily horoscope or something inside a fortune cookie. Example: I just asked if this app was going to get a good score. The mirror responds in an all-too sinister voice:

      How strangely distressing
      I know not what to say
      My powers may be weakening
      Oh what a tragic day
    Sure, I know none of this is to be taken seriously but the app is clearly designed for kids who are hopefully too young to own or even have access to an iPhone or iPod Touch. If this had been a free app I would have scored it an 8 or 9 for its sheer camp and technical splendor, but paying for what is essentially an interactive commercial for another $25 product seems just a bit greedy. I have visions of Mickey rolling around huge piles of dollar bills laughing a high-pitched evil laugh.

    Magic Mirror does impress at a technical level with some great visuals taken right from the film and given a next-gen facelift. The swirling mist and animated face are creepy and sinister but there is no attempt whatsoever to lip-synch any of the prophetic poems being dispensed. The voice is excellent and there is a lot of sayings - I haven’t heard any repeats after a dozen questions. Given the 58 MB this app occupies, I’m guessing most of that is digitized speech.

    Perhaps the coolest feature is when you first start the app and the mirror greets you with an opening poem based on the time of day, or if you don’t provide any input after a few seconds the mirror will get impatient and ask you to say or type something.

    In closing, I’ll ask the mirror one final question. Keep in mind there is no word recognition or AI at work here. I can burp into the microphone and get the same answer, but here we go. “Will this app ever be FREE?”

    The mirror responds with:

      From the abyss of the beyond
      I have heard the answer’s call
      So it shall be as hoped for,
      There is no doubt at all.
    There you have it folks. Disney’s own app predicts the eventual price drop, so save yourself a buck and go watch the DVD (which is quite good actually). You can always check out Magic Mirror for a few laughs when it’s finally free.