|
Video Games: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Date: Wednesday, 07 January, 2009 :: 14:54
|
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Brand: Electronic Arts
List Price: USD $19.99
Price: USD $11.98
Product Group: videogames
Manufacturer: Electronic Arts
Model: 15405
Release Date: 2007-06-25
Studio: Electronic Arts
Features:
- Immerse Yourself in Magic?Interact with magical objects, ghosts and portraits in every room, corridor and courtyard?all faithfully recreated from the movies.
- Perfect Your Wand Work?Cast spells to unleash powerful fifth-year magic.
- Lead Dumbledore?s Army?Recruit fellow students and teach them defence against the dark arts.
- Relive the Magic of the Movie??from the Dementor attack in Little Whinging to the epic battles at the Ministry of Magic.
- Unleash Advanced Magic?Play as Sirius and Dumbledore as they fight Lucius, Bellatrix and Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic.
|
Reviews:
Average Customer Review: 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Summary: Order of the Phoneix steps it up, better than Goblet of Fire
Date: 2008-12-13 - 
Comment: It was so much better than Goblet of Fire, sad that I couldn't go around the castle grounds and play some quidditch, but still good game.
Summary: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Date: 2008-08-26 - 
Comment: This game is OK it has a few flaws and it can be a little slow, Also when you are to do something it doesn't always do it. But it is OK.
Summary: Leaving much to be desired
Date: 2008-06-26 -
Comment: Ah Hogwarts... so much has changed in the gaming world over the years. Technology has come along was since the days of Pong. Unfortunately, maybe a little too much emphasis was placed in the graphics this time around. Because although they were simply stunning, compared to the imagery, the plot was left in the dust. The storyline was not clear or well developed, in fact, I would say it was pretty much all over the place. If you had not read the books or seen the movie, you would probably be sitting there scratching your head. That being said, I will give both the pros and cons to the game:
PROS:
-The graphics were splendid! Although the characters were slightly lacking, Hogwarts really seemed to come alive. It was very beautiful and realistic. Maybe a little too realistic... it took me a very long time to get from place to place to complete the tasks. At first I wasn't bothered by this, but it became tedious.
-The voices were completely true to the movie. They used the voices of most of the actual actors: Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, etc. This makes it seem more believable and gives it an edge over other games. The only voice not quite spot on in my opinion, was Professor McGonagall.
-The music is very pleasant and does not get repititious whasoever. I recognized some scores from the older games, but apparently, new songs were incorporated as well.
Cons:
(I am sorry to report there might be more of these than the pros...)
-Everything you do seems like a chore in this game. When you have to round up Dumbledore's Army, it gets old pretty quickly. You basically follow footprints and solve the characters' mindless tasks that do not aid the story whatsoever. Its okay the first few times, but after person number twenty eight, I was pretty relieved it was over.
-I found the different spells unnecessary and slightly difficult. Especially since the controls you use for dueling are the same as the spells you use for everyday use. This makes it a challenge to remember them all. In addition, it was nearly impossible to get anything better than a "Troll" (the equivalent of a failing grade) in Professor Flitwick's charms class. Casting wingardium leviosa on specific objects was frustrating due to the fact that Harry couldn't really focus on just one object without the focus switching to the other.
-Despite being true to Hogwarts, the changing staircases were quite a nuisance. Just as you are about to step on one, it moves and you have to wait a minute or two for it to come back. Sometimes I fervently wished I could just avoid that staircase altogether.
Overall, it might be better than Goblet of Fire, but you may want to avoid purchasing Order of the Phoenix unless you are an avid Potter fan with sentimental feelings about what it might be like to be in the (not-so-homey) Hogwarts.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Summary: 26 year old harry potter fan
Date: 2008-04-21 -
Comment: i got into the harry potter books when the fourth movie came to theatres, from then on i have read the entire series 1 - 7 3x over, then this game came out, i was already a gamer. so i tryed it and loved it from the first second i played. not only can you cast spells in corridors at students to start a fight, then theres the portable swamps you set off, then the best sidequests for book fans. alltogether its a good game, a re-explorable game for harry potter fans.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Summary: !Great! for a HP fanatic, but. . .
Date: 2007-10-09 -
Comment: This isn't a game for someone not too into the books or the movies.
**PROS**
Hogwarts is a sandbox. You have free-reign to roam all over the castle and some of the grounds, and they are extensive and extremely detailed. They made it from sketches and maps made by set directors and Rowling herself. It can take a while to get to places you need to go - even with the numerous secret passageways you'll uncover. But it's not a bad thing for a HP fanatic such as myself. 7/8 floors of corridors, rooms, and classroooms. Then you can go to other areas of the castle like the library and the greenhouses. Then you can get away from the castle to Hagrid's hut and beyond or the owlery. Dungeons, the Great Hall, numerous court yards . . . The way the place is put together makes perfect sense, transcending the confusing changes and diffrences you see in the movies.
There are some minigames like Gobstones and Exploding Snaps here and there as well as dozens of portraits and students needing you to fulfill some task or another. You even take a class or two and revise for the upcoming Owls.
The game has a few treats especially for the fans of the book. Ron and Hermione are prefects and they even mention Ron being Quidditch Keeper. In one mission you lend Fred and George a hand in setting off swamps around the school.
There's also the wandwork: All your spells are cast with various movements on the joystick making you really feel a part of the action. You can lift things at will or repulse/pull them, and you can ocassionally pick fights with some Slytherin for some pretty fun duels.
Graphics aren't bad for PS2 and like I said before, there's a whole lot of detail.
NO LOAD SCREENS. You flow effortlessly through the large map. It's as easy as pushing through a door to immediately keep walking. Makes it feel very natural.
**CONS**
The gameplay, graphics, and free-reign over the school are awesome, but the game's plot and storyline are TERRIBLY done. The cut scenes are weak and jumpy. It really feels like the developers were in a hurry and didn't put much into making it very coherent or interesting.
There could have been some more features at the castle. You only get to actvely practice three subjects. They were fun, but it would have been great to do more.
THERE'S NO QUIDDITCH. What the hell? I don't think it would have been too hard to at least throw some leisurely broom riding in there. No Quidditch Pitch and no Quidditch.
**CONCLUSION**
The sandbox style, vastness, and detail of Hogwarts is a fanatic's wet dream. So much to do. It's fun to use your wand to levitate and move objects as well as jinx schoolmates and Slytherin enemies. Walking around and exploring a place you always wish existed is simply magical.
If you're looking for a good, solid, coherent plotline - or are otherwise not into HP to begin with - just forget it and play Bully.
Me, being the fanboy that I am, would gladly plop down twenty or thirty bones for this.
|
|
Accessories:
PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Play
Tips & Tricks Magazine
|
|
Similar - People who bought this also bought below
Harry Potter Collection
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
PlayStation 2 Memory Card (8MB)
|
|
|
