In this much-anticipated video game for the PC, a pleasing introduction lays out the story--Harry Potter, the "boy who lived", endured dreadful stepparents until a letter arrived that changed his life. After learning of Harry's invitation to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, kids have the chance to step into Harry's shoes and relive his first year at the school as a wizard in training.
The adventure begins on foot (only after completing several tasks can kids direct Harry flying on a broomstick), and recounts Harry's first day at school. Our hero meets up with Dumbledore, who reminds Harry that the school is full of secrets to be uncovered. Keeping in mind that "not all secrets are rewarding", our protagonist sets out to explore the magical school and its grounds.
As kids play the game from a first-person perspective, they encounter magical foes (like Malfoy and his henchmen) and friends (such as Hagrid and Dumbledore). They must collect Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans and challenge stars along the way, and have the opportunity to build a collection of beautifully drawn Witches and Wizard Cards.
Wizard training involves taking lessons and learning to cast spells. Casting spells is an important part of the game--players will need them to open chests and doorways, to overturn pots, and the like. In order to learn a spell, kids must first trace its shape against a timer, and their accuracy is graded.
Players lead Harry through lessons (such as one in Charms Class) and mini-missions. An example mission involves navigating a maze filled with snail-like creatures and snapping plants. Assorted obstacles are strewn throughout the adventure, including encounters with annoying gnomes who steal beans! Surprises that will delight Harry Potter fans are found throughout the game--Hedwig the Owl, for example, delivers a message that reminds Harry to take his Herbology lesson.
Players need to pay attention to their Stamina indicator. When the meter runs too low, Harry faints and players are bumped back to their last save point. Fortunately, chocolate frogs help to boost stamina, so kids will need to be on the lookout for these helpful treats!
Once kids have the opportunity to make Harry fly on his broom, the adventure becomes more appealing. Flying is challenging at first! Once mastered, the experience is great fun, and Quidditch--a popular flying sport with wizards--becomes accessible. Many kids will consider the Quidditch game the program's highlight. This high-speed game can be played independently of the adventure, but the exciting Quidditch League Play must be unlocked first!
Game-play requires use of both the keyboard and mouse. It takes a bit of time to grow accustomed to the controls, but players get plenty of opportunity to do just that, thanks to the gradually unfolding challenges.
Given the widespread popularity of Harry Potter, we were disappointed that the game has high system requirements. We had problems with the video on all machines we ran the game on. Owners of the PlayStation console may prefer to purchase the game for that platform if their computer doesn't live up to this program's hardware demands.
