Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Review

8.0

Format PC

Developer Electronic Arts

Publisher Electronic Arts

Genre Adventure

As the most powerful of the formats in the initial line up, does the PC provide the most powerful recreation of Rowling's astonishing world of magic and mystery?

For the PC version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, developer KnowWonder has opted for a 3D arcade-adventure that seems initially similar in style and approach to Argonaut's PSone Potter title, but in practice feels far more expansive with an emphasis on exploration and adventuring. The PC's capabilities naturally far outstrip those of the PSone, GBA and GBC, so the potential - and therefore pressure - to bring J K Rowling's fiction to life with aplomb is obviously enormous. Thankfully, Potter fans won't be disappointed. Working closely with Warner Bros. and David Hayman, producer of the movie, KnowWonder has created a vibrant, colourful recreation of the interior and exterior of Hogwart's - though hardly cutting edge Potter PC is easily the most beautiful of all the titles and has been specifically designed to be played on low spec machines so as many people as possible can enjoy the experience.

The game also excels in the sound department, with a stirring, epic orchestral score that underpins the action beautifully. Voice acting is also refreshingly competent and EA specifically hired people who sounded like the respective actors in the movie, and very successful it is to, adding an extra layer of immersion to the experience.

The game is structured around key scenes from the novel, with Harry having to complete specific tasks in order to continue his search for the Philosopher's Stone. KnowWonder has made the experience an extremely accessible one, easing gamers into the adventure via a training level in which you learn to use many of Harry's abilities. An option has also been included to switch on auto-jump, so younger gamers needn't worry about having to time those precarious leaps to perfection. As you journey through the game you'll learn a number of unique spells, and these must be used in order to solve the game's myriad puzzles. Spells are gained via a mini-game in which players must trace a shape against the clock. If you are sufficiently accurate, the spell is yours.

An example of how spells must be used to progress can be seen when Harry dons the cloak of invisibility and attempts to evade Filch and Mrs. Norris the cat as he sneaks around the school at night. Spells must be used to unlock doors and manoeuvre objects, but every time you wave your wand, Harry becomes visible so stealth is a priority. The game is filled with similarly well-designed scenes that serve to provide tense, exciting gameplay that has the power to enthral while remaining faithful to the fiction. Quidditch, in particular, is one of the game's highlights and the feeling of freedom and exhilaration gained from swooping through the air and grasping for the golden snitch is quite spectacular, and one fans of the book will soil their robes over.

A vital thing to note, however, is that this game is pitched squarely at children. Experienced gamers may find the game a little too easy, and since it's not the longest game in the world either, it won't take them long to get through to the end. Nevertheless, EA has made it clear that the games are targeted at 8-14 year-olds, and since Harry Potter commands a fan base split equally between the sexes - many of whom are very young, so the games have to be accessible to this core audience.

With that in mind, fans of the book and film will find a tremendous amount to enjoy in this title, with classic scenes recreated with frequently impressive vision and precision.

Johnny Minkley