Harry potter game better than movie?

Jewels · 11-14-2002, 09:56 PM

Skip the Harry Potter movie, and play the game instead.

Like the movie it's been timed to launch with, the new Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets video game faithfully follows the J.K. Rowling book it's based on, scene for scene. And like the movie, the game brings the book's story to life through the work of a team of computer programmers. Given that either way you'll be watching digital animation, buy the game instead of lugging your kids to the theater. The film will be done in two hours, but the game will shut your kids up for weeks on end.

The game isn't groundbreaking, but parents will likely be thankful for that. Given the way Grand Theft Auto and other X-rated games have rampaged across the video-gaming world, you half-expect even a Harry Potter game to steal a page from GTA's raunchy playbook: Maybe Ron and Harry's flying car would stop to pick up a couple of whores. But Electronic Arts plays it safe with a Legend of Zelda-style quest, in which you collect trinkets and powers to pass each successive level. At the end of each episode, in accordance with video game conventions, you confront a big baddie—including a fun duel with Draco Malfoy.

The worst pandering to kiddies—but one that will probably make parents happy, too—occurs when Harry gets "killed." He doesn't die—he "faints," according to the instruction booklet. This leads to Harry, say, getting brutally crushed to death by a giant spider and reacting by lying down, putting his hand to his forehead, and sighing like he's just plum knackered after a cracking good workout.

In addition, the game's a tad repetitive, especially for grown-up players. Each level poses a new puzzle, but they all start to run together. Once you've turned a rock into a bird to find a book to cast a spell so you can battle a giant gargoyle, it can be boring to do it all over again with slightly different enemies, spells, and surroundings. Worse, the Quidditch game disappoints. You just fly through a series of rings in the air. It's nothing like the game described in the book. Wait for Madden Quidditch 2003.

But overall, compared with this weekend's film release, the game may be the grander artistic achievement. The graphics are gorgeous and detailed: Harry's forelock bobs up and down as he runs, but not when he tiptoes to be quiet. When he miscasts Incendio, the fire spell, his robe briefly smokes and tatters a bit. But the impressive thing is the way the player feels like he's really at Hogwarts. You wake up each morning in the sleeping quarters, with free rein of the massive tower. The grand staircase is a delight to run up and down, and it leads to endless hallways and adventures. There's far more art in this interactive reimagining of Harry's world than in a straightforward cinematic rendering of the written page.

And who knows, the game might be the better business venture, too. Remember, the Goldeneye video game more than doubled the gross of the Bond film with the same name. And it cost less to make, too. Given the brewing Pottermania surrounding this film, it's unlikely EA will outgross Warner Bros. But it should.

source of info... http://slate.msn.com/?id=2073968

GameMaster · 11-14-2002, 10:06 PM

Thanks, but no thanks. I'm still going to see the movie. And I won't be buying the video game.

DimHalo · 11-15-2002, 03:35 PM

Well, I am definately still going to see the movie. But I will definately consider getting the game. I love Zelda, and since its like that (sort of), why not try it. If it is not great...I can just give it to my sister.

Jason1 · 11-15-2002, 03:54 PM

If its anything like the first harry potter video game im staying far away.

Angrist · 11-15-2002, 04:09 PM

Hmpf I want to read the books first... and from what I've heard, the HP movies are quite disappointing... well at least the 1st.

Perfect Stu · 11-15-2002, 06:42 PM

the Harry Potter books are outstanding

the first Harry Potter movie was good

I hear the new Harry Potter movie is good

I will go see the new Harry Potter movie

I will not buy the new Harry Potter game

Jewels · 11-16-2002, 01:54 AM

ill probably just end up seeing the movie and not even caring about the game

GameMaster · 11-16-2002, 02:13 AM

The critics say the end is a little stretched and they think that's because this producer who also made the first one is resigning from the Harry Potter movies meaning this was his last one and he wanted to go out with a big bang kind of. That doesn't mean the movie series ends however. He's passing the franchise on to the director of Y Tu Mama Tambien I believe. That's the critics opinion though and we all know how those go

And for those who didn't hear, a couple weeks ago Richard Harris, the guy who played Dumbledore died so that'll be kinda weird in the third installment to have someone different play him...

Perfect Stu · 11-17-2002, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameMaster
a couple weeks ago Richard Harris, the guy who played Dumbledore died so that'll be kinda weird in the third installment to have someone different play him...

meh...just get Ian McKellen to fill the void

I mean it sucks that he died, but he didn't have that big of a role

Jewels · 11-17-2002, 01:17 AM

well he sorta did i think... but it still sucks that they have a different person to play the role... *shrugs* he will be missed

DimHalo · 11-17-2002, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
meh...just get Ian McKellen to fill the void

I mean it sucks that he died, but he didn't have that big of a role

Dumbledore is a very, very important character in the books and the movies. It is really sad that Richard Harris died, and it will be weird without him. I think he played the role well.

Doctor Zhivago · 11-17-2002, 03:31 PM

Aren't some of you a little too old for Harry Potter? Perfect Stu is like 16 years old. But, then again, what do I know? I love The Wizard of Oz, after all.

DimHalo · 11-17-2002, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FreakyBob
Aren't some of you a little too old for Harry Potter? Perfect Stu is like 16 years old. But, then again, what do I know? I love The Wizard of Oz, after all.

Granted, I am almost 20....but 1: its ok to be a kid at heart and 2: there are a lot of adult themes in Harry Potter.

Perfect Stu · 11-17-2002, 10:44 PM

Dumbledore was a huge part of the books, agreed.

But he really didn't do much in the first movie...

And I don't care what age I am, I really enjoyed reading the Harry Potter books...only books that have really grabbed my attention in the last 3 years

11-17-2002, 11:27 PM

nope the game sucks and so did the movie