It is
Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts and “He-who-must-not-be-named” is up to even more
devilish mayhem that involves a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor
(beguiled into treating Harry like a pariah) and more trouble than you can shake
a want at.
EA (in
concert with Warner Brothers) offers a solid visual treat with Harry Potter and
the Order of the Phoenix, the game based on the movie, which is based on the J.K.
Rowling novel. The war against the evil wizarding forces is heating up and
Harry’s adventures involve having him coordinate a student resistance force,
teaching them beyond the prying eyes of the teachers – and especially Prof.
Umbridge – and exploring Hogwarts while run a series of quests.
Do not
expect this to be a game that carries on the aspects of playing Quidditch or
tries to snarl the gamer in a listless HUD and minigames that seem only to be
there to make the game experience last a bit longer. No, this is about the
book/movie, about Hogwarts and about immersing the gamer into the story.
To that end,
the graphics are stellar and capture the looks of the movie counterparts very
well. The voices, though, are a bit of a hit and miss. Harry sounds like Daniel
Radcliffe – at times, while Sirius sounds like James Mason and Professor
McGonagall is voiced by someone other than venerable veteran actress Maggie
Smith. That is a bit of a letdown, actually. Through four other movies, these
voices have been ingrained with the visuals and to have them use other voices is
cause for a pause. But get over it, and move along, there is lots to like about
this game.
Using the
D-pad and right thumbstick will teach you various spells. Don’t worry that you
have to memorize intricate movements. Things are kept simple and reminders are
there to assist you when the action heats up. And heats up, it does. Before you
know it, you will be dueling with Slytherins and other students during your DA
meeting lessons.
The combat,
though it seems to be frequent in this game (which lasts about 10-15 hours), is
a bit repetitious. But remember, there is no user interface (heads-up display),
meaning no health bar. You have to watch the game to determine how effective
your spell casting is. If you are doing damage, or taking it, the characters on
the screen will react. Defeat means being sprawled face down on the ground. You
can also use SIXAXIS controls to cast instead of the thumbstick, but that does
not seem quick as quick or accurate as when using the right thumbstick.
One of the
complaints younger players of the game had, and it was noted by this reviewer,
is that the camera can be less than cooperative at times. Two girls, ages 11 and
12, gave this game a whirl and were completely immersed in the story and the way
the game played out. The lack of the user interface, or using the thumbstick to
cast spells, was not a problem at all.
Still, the
Order of the Phoenix is a nice little romp through Hogwarts. And while the
characters are good, the school itself is one of the major stars/players in this
title. Not only does the game drive along the pathway of the novel, but it
throws in some little tidbits that add a certain charm and character to the
game. Little things like helping Neville with a “weedy” problem provides some
entertainment value, and maybe a bit of a smile.
Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix is not a game that will draw in newcomers to the
Potter series, but is a definite step up from previous iterations in the
franchise. The graphics are very well done, and – despite the different voices –
the sound is solid. This is a game that will delight fans of the books and
movies and should bridge age groups as well.
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Gameplay: 8.0
No user interface
creates a bit of a different feel to the game. The flow, though, is very nice
and the game uses the school as a sandbox game mechanic, letting players move
through the quests at their own pace.
Graphics: 8.5
A few glitches
here and there, but generally this is a very attractive game.
Sound: 7.8
There is some
repetitive lines of dialogue, and the music can be a little loud, but generally
the sound is a nice adjunct to the visuals.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 8.0
The game tries to
immerse players in the environment of Hogwarts and does a good job of that. It
feels true to the novel and film trailers.
Overall:
8.0
One of the better
releases in the Harry Potter video-game franchise. This is definitely a game
that will appeal to Potter fans. The game has a few small problems but is
generally an entertaining experience that will appeal to younger as well as
older players.
