Techtite's PC Game Reviews!

"Regardless of ease, Prisoner of Azkaban is a fun ride. Even when Hermione animates a little fluffy bunny, the animal is so well animated that even the most stouthearted macho gamer cannot grin at the experience."

---from the review

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Sidebar :

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Children's books; children's game. ...right? Well, yeah; right. This is actually a very good strategy. However, when the movies have now seemed to almost completely forgo such children's ties, and go for far grittier, darker undertones, the games themselves are decidedly easy. The contrast is hard to ignore, and when looked at this way, one may wonder if a more challenging game, for older kids, is not a better idea. However, given that the fan base for these games is now built, people probably expect easiness in these games, since that's how they've been for three games by now. It's also much easier for mom and pop to play the game for their kids, when little kids get stuck! It's all a matter of how fun the game was in the end. 

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Harry Potter and the 

Prisoner of Azkaban

Click picture to order this game (PC/windows version)

A Techtite Review

While most movie tie-in games try to be "exactly" like the films they're based on, Harry Potter games have, so far, marched to the tune of a different drummer than the films. While both are based on the same source material --the bestseller book series by JK Rowling-- the films try to appeal to an older age bracket, while the games have so far been geared for the very younger gamer. Will this matter to fans of the books? No. These games still, in the end, offer lots of fun for would-be wizards. Who wouldn't want to freely roam Hogwarts School of Wizardry at will?

One may wonder what's new in this third game, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. For starters: the graphics are far better. Earlier games were graphically admirable, yet could never compete with the "big boy" games, with the superior graphic firepower. This time around, no child should feel embarrassed when playing this game on a PC next to an older kid's Prince of Persia or Knights of the Old Republic; these character models are that good.

Here's the best feature they added: you get to play as all three heroes! In the first game you controlled just Harry, with Rob and Hermione only present for cinematic sequences, to move the story along. This game is different: you get to play as Harry, Hermione, and Ron, at alternating parts of the story. While it isn't possible to switch freely between characters, each has unique spells that make this more than simply a case of "same game, different character." Harry has learned how to turn anything into ice; even fire. Ron has learned a spell that attracts his wand to various objects; either pulling him over large chasms, or yanking whole areas of brick from the wall, so he can climb them like a staircase. Hermione has the coolest spell in my opinion, which allows her to animate small animal statues, and then control them! Yes, this includes a dragon statue, and yes, she gets to make the dragon breathe fire. You go, girl.

The overall game structure has improved as well. Various portrait "short cuts" jump to any of the 8 levels of the house, making it no longer necessary to climb 6 or more staircases just to reach your next objective. This enhances the "free roaming" style introduced in the prior game, where you can either run directly to your next class (i.e., the next part of the story), or you use the time to look for numerous secrets and side quests. Three mini-games await the observant, with five levels of difficulty, each offering a different "wizards card" as the reward. Speaking of which; this game is different than the prior game in that you must complete all tasks to get all wizards cards, for an added challenge.

This game isn't too challenging though; a fact which will please some, yet slightly disappoint others. Most secrets are as easy to unlock as remembering to hold down the cast button longer (doing so, in this game sequel, has all three young wizards combing their strength, for more powerful spells). There are also two new items to look for: cauldron cakes, and pumpkin pasties. However, little was present to keep this old-school gamer from completing the game in just one weekend.

Regardless of ease, Prisoner of Azkaban is a fun ride. Even when Hermione animates a little fluffy bunny, the animal is so well animated that even the most stouthearted macho gamer cannot grin at the experience. This is one of many moments that may not be difficult, yet is very fun nonetheless. Likewise for the way just about every room has at least one item you can cast a spell on. Try to cast spells on flags, statues, books, and just about any prop that looks out of the ordinary. This game may not be awfully challenging, though it's still very interactive.

There are the lingering problems with this game series, that I feel the need to reiterate here. For one thing, there is this game series' lack of backtracking, or more specifically, multiple game saves for any one game. In a DVD of the films, you can always rewind back to a favorite moment; in the books, you can "dog ear" a favorite page and read it again later. In the games so far, progress is saved automatically, over your current save file, making backtracking impossible. This is all the more confusing in this particular installment of Harry Potter, where a time travel subplot made it very easy to explain "replays" of missions by the end of the game. This save game limitation is a bad flaw that needs to be corrected in any future games.

This is still enormous fun, though. Being able to play as Hermione and Ron is a treat; likewise for their new spells. However, there's still room to improve the inevitable movie/game tie in for next year, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Let us switch between characters at will. Let us save multiple save games, to replay our favorite moments at will. Sure, this may lead to as many as 50 saves, of all out favorite moments of the story! That's the surest sign of a really good story...and a good game.

---Techtite