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What you see is
what you get with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. This simple third-person
action game places you in the robes of the world’s best-known apprentice
wizard. For the most part, Harry Potter closely follows
the progress of the first book.
You attend classes as a first-year student at Hogwarts, and take part in a series of adventures. Along the way are a slew of appearances by characters from the book, such as lovable giant Rubeus Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, and Harry’s two closest friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Tickets
Sadly, you won’t really be adventuring with any of these characters: they show up only to move the story along and give you tips, and send you on one mission after another (such as finding your next magic class, gathering special seeds, or riding the broomstick to chase down enemies).
Obviously, the biggest draw of this game is the license, and the folks at KnowWonder milk it for all it’s worth. I have to admit, being able to explore the Hogwarts grounds is a real treat. Everything from moving paintings to occasional visits by the ghosts of Hogwarts are portrayed just as they’re described in the book. The result is a game that will make fans of the series squeal in joy.
But if you don’t know the difference between a bludger and a snitch, you won’t find it nearly as entertaining. And if Harry Potter mania has passed you by, you’ll likely find the action a bit too kiddie, especially after running around gathering Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans (much like collecting coins in a Mario game) for a half-hour.
That’s not the only thing that will make non–Harry Potter fans want to skip this one. This game is for kids — and that’s not something I’d say about the book. You use one button to jump and one button to cast spells, and you move around the same way you would in any other third-person game — minus side-stepping.
After years of playing games where you can strafe, having that ability taken away from you is like losing a limb! There are many times when you’ll want to shift Harry just a little to the side, but can’t. It’s an even bigger pain if you’re trying to dodge enemy projectiles.
Graphically, Harry is surprisingly handsome, thanks to the use of the Unreal engine. Textures are sharp and colorful, and both levels and characters feel like they fit in perfectly with the world of Harry Potter. Also, the sounds of magical spells being cast and the voiceovers for all the characters are first-rate. And yes, you do get to play Quidditch.
I’m confident that young kids will get a kick out of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, but everyone else is better off doing their adventuring elsewhere.