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The Effect
EXCLUSIVE TO MAGICBOX! One of our best-selling and most talked about products of 2004. Described by many as the best set of marked ESP cards ever produced, we've taken the concept, listened to your comments and produced a product we feel is even more superior to the last!

Beyond ESP 2 has been printed to the highest standard (Casino-quality control level) by the US Playing Card Company. The cards now come with a tasteful box entitled "International Paranormal Research Association ESP Testing Cards". The plastic coated finish means no more greasy finger marks, and the cards handle like a dream meaning if you did want to perform the occasional sleight, you can! We have included 2 decks in one – a red backed deck of ESP cards and a black backed deck, plus more fakes giving more possibilities.

The new booklet features routines by Banachek, Lee Earle, Richard Osterlind and more!



Cost
Mine were on pre-order and I picked them up for £11.99 but now they are available the price has risen to £14.99. Even at the higher price this deck is worth every penny. Only available from www.magicbox.uk.com


Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
1=easy to do


Review
First off, what I was expecting to receive was something more along the lines on a packet trick (i.e. about 5 or 6 cards, being one of each of the required cards) so was pleasantly surprised to find a complete deck of cards upon opening the packet. The deck is very well made (by the USPCC) and is split into a red deck and a black deck (plus a couple of extras!). Although on a few odd cards, the printed backs look to be slightly off printed at an angle. This could be mistaken for the gimmick and may cause the spectator to examine the cards more closely. The cards do come in a card case with ESP testing cards printed on it. This combined with the blank, coloured backs does steer the cards away from being associated with your standard playing cards.

The deck uses a brilliant marking system which will only be picked up by the trained eye. The system is very easy to pick up, I had it down within minutes of learning how they were marked.

The accompanying booklet is very well printed and put together and comes with all the instructions you will ever need plus eight routines. Professionally printed on glossy paper, this makes a welcome change from your usual photocopy type instructions/manuals and adds to the feeling of quality.



Overall
All in all I would give this effect 9/10, it would have got 10 but for the off-printed cards, but to be honest I may just remove these from the pack as it isn’t too many of them that are affected.

It is a very well put together package and aside from the minor niggle, oozes quality.

Money very well spent, very highly recommended. In particular I’m looking forward to trying 3SP in combination with my switch wallet for the prediction effect.

To add to the above this is a great set of cards & the price alone for the cards is brilliant, plus you get some gaffs (for your own tricks, routines involving the gaffs not included) & a booklet with 7 routines & a couple of sleight techniques.

Re the markings, I was convinced mine had been printed without the markings for a good 10 minutes, which is obviously a good point.

All in all definatly worth the money.

I haven't had mine yet. Does this mean Magicbox messed up my pre-order?

I ordered mine last tuesday from magicbox, when it hadn't come by Friday I phoned up to see where it was & was told that although they had the cards the booklet hadn't come through yet. They were expecting it that day & would post out straight away.

I then got mine on Saturday.

So if you haven't got yours yet part timer I'd get on the blower!

Part-Timer wrote:I haven't had mine yet. Does this mean Magicbox messed up my pre-order?

The answer was "yes", but they've sorted me out now.

I particularly liked the fact that they referred to this forum in the booklet.

Then there was a bit of paper saying that, contrary to what they said in the book, the idea we'd put forward would not, in fact, work with the cards!

Very good cards, though, and some very nice routines.