If you’re a Harry Potter fan and a chess player, this inexpensive, but nicely made chess set from Mattel is a must have for your collection. Unlike many movie toys or tie-ins, this one can be used on a daily basis and embraced by the entire family for fun interactive play with one another.
An inevitable selling of hit movie collectibles and tie-ins can become so over saturated, that even many fans start to ignore the merchandise avalanche. T-Shirts, mugs, video games, candy, playing cards, and action figures are often only a small percentage of movie merchandising. It’s anyone’s guess at how many knick knacks can be bought before even the most diehard fan of something runs out of room and money to handle it all. Choosing your collectibles wisely on the merits of getting the most out of every dollar spent is definitely worth considering. With Mattel’s Harry Potter Wizard Chess, collectors can own a piece of Harry Potter history and also use it as a fun hobby.
Wizard Chess Set Design
This chess set is modeled after a great scene from the first Harry Potter movie – Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone. Although the pieces are plastic, the details of their film counterparts are captured nicely in the satisfying sculpts of the chess pieces. Don’t expect the heavy weighted feel of a professional set or expensive model, but all things considered the pieces are perfectly acceptable for decorative purposes and most importantly playing chess.
The playing board is a fold away type – easily stowed away after folding into four sections. Though not crafted more sturdily as a one piece playing board, it’s strong enough and the color and look can effectively fool one into thinking it’s made of marble – at least when looking at it from a respectable distance. Mattel could have made the board slightly bigger, as the size of the chess pieces and comparatively small playing board make for a somewhat snug fitting and moving around when battling a fellow wizard in a chess game.
Summary
If you’re looking for a great, practical Harry Potter collectible for yourself or to give to a friend or loved one as a gift, the Harry Potter Wizard Chess Set from Mattel is an affordable choice. Listed for around $47.00 on many online shopping sites like Amazon, I’ve found it through Barnes & Noble for $19.00 or discounted for even less. Chess players who are also Harry Potter aficionados will definitely appreciate this set as a keepsake, which doubles as chess set they can actually use.
What may be most exciting and certainly what’s been a real influence of the Harry Potter books and films is that reportedly more kids are learning the game of chess and playing more chess from the inspiration of Harry and his buddies. Here’s an article talking about the phenomenon. “Potter” Scene Intrigues Young Players.
