Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by Electronic Arts
|
List Price: Category: Video Games See more product details |
|---|
(Click here)
Video Game Reviews of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Customer Review: Still Addictive and Fun, but Some Disappointments
Summary: 4 Stars
Another really fun installment (for PC) in the series, but there were several disappointments.
Pros: - Challenging levels with replay incentives
- Fun and interesting secrets, gorgeous graphics (the rabbit in Hermione's challenges & final exam almost looks real)
- Interesting flying aspect with the Dragon and Buckbeak (although the Buckbeack challenge is supremely challenging to the point of frustration)
- Familiar musical cues as in previous games
- Exciting dramatic sequences
- Love the addition of Fred & George's shop and the picture passwords - added a whole new level of fun.
Cons: - Where the HELL is Professor Snape??? One of the MAJOR characters in the series is MISSING from this version of the game COMPLETELY. This is inexcuseable.
- In fact, MANY of the other characters seem to have been edited out or forgotten entirely. Madam Pomfrey (a part of the last game)? You can't even get to her ward, let alone catch her anywhere in the game. Professor Sprout (also a part of the last game)?? Professor Trelawney?? Surely some little mini-game could have been devoted to HER. The list goes on...
- And why don't we get to go to Hoggsmeade?? That would have been a really enjoyable sideline.
- These aren't the only changes you see from the last installment in the series (PC version) -- the layout of the castle itself, in addition to the grounds, have changed COMPLETELY and drastically (similar to what they did with the set for the film of the same name). Sure, the game itself LOOKS better, but why did they decide to completely delete the Great Hall, for example?
- And why aren't the house points important anymore (no hourglasses, etc. anywhere to be found)??
Much of these deletions or edits add up to a very fun but very short game. The parts of the game left are really enjoyable, but there just aren't enough of them. Consequently, what I found particularly frustrating was reading about the versions of the game designed for other platforms -- these versions have whole spell challenges completely GONE from the PC version, as well as numerous other mini-games and levels, etc. Frankly, that really ticks me off -- the whole reason I play PC games and not console games is because the graphics are better and in general (up until lately, it seems), the games were better. Yeah, my 'platform,' the PC, costs more than a silly little PS2 etc., and I have come to expect getting a superior game for that reason alone, not to mention for paying the high retail price. So to receive a drastically shortened and over-edited game is very disappointing. Just when you're really settling into enjoying your progress in the game, the term is over, you've collected almost all of the cards, found all the secrets, beat all three (only THREE?!?!??) of the spell challenges and passed your final exams, completed the paltry few mini-games there are, and the only thing left to do is finish those dratted Buckbeak flying sequences (which really do become ridiculously challenging towards the end of the set of five). Where's the rest of the game???
Overall, I recommend this game as a really fun addition to the series, but it definitely leaves you wanting more, more, more (and if you'd paid the asking price when the game was first released, it probably also left you feeling like you'd wasted a lot of money). Buy it at the current price, if you haven't already -- it's worth an amount much closer to that.
Customer Review: Better and Better
Summary: 5 Stars
This game is unlike the others. It is a lot more fun and interesting! You start out in a train where all the students have something to say. You are already battling monsters and exploring the train. After that you start lessons and you get to be all the characters! You do so many things and a lot of it you can do over and over. So buy the game, pleasant encounters await you!Customer Review: The Best Potter Game Yet!
Summary: 5 Stars
This game is a blast! Alright, it is short, and can be easy, but it is one of the most fun games I have ever played.
The benefits of a short easy game, are that you never get tired of the game, for you never really play the same level more than once, and that is cool.
The levels all have beautiful, lush envirovments, and the characters are very convincing.
Customer Review: Not as fun as the others.
Summary: 4 Stars
Good: The character designs & textures were much better...& there were no glitches! Finally! The reward count is far more generous, & it's got Weasley Twins big time!As usual, the voices matched the movies vey well. Harry looks pretty bishie, but that's the deepest voice I've ever heard from a 13 year old. If you love video games & suck at them so bad that even a 5 year old can beat you, you will just barely manage to pass this game not cheating & only minor stress. (the Dementor part is a real pain in the fingers.)
Bad: The castle looked TOO different & was much smaller. No debug cheat to explore with....no cheats at ALL actually, not that the scheduling system the game runs on doesn't allow much for exploring. Too many locked door that never get unlocked, no Potions Class, no Hogsmede, No Snape >.< The main characters hair colors are incorect. If you're very good at games, this game will be a cakewalk & barely challenging. The feeling you get watching Ron accidently jump to his death durring a challenge is more impressive than the design for the dementors.
Overall, it's a piece of good fandom, a little eye candy, & something to hold you off untill you buy another PC game, you packrat gamer you ^_~
Customer Review: A kid's review
Summary: 5 Stars
My 9 year old wants to let any compadres know that:
Compared to this game other games are like smelly feet. The reason I like it is because you can see where you're going, it rarely goes out of control, and it's fun, fun, fun!!!!!! I think it's beautiful and glorious. If I had a choice between this game and my brother I would choose this game.
The reason I like it is because the levels are great, the pictures are good, and there's this one level where you have to do this mirror thing where you connect the mirrors to a crystal ball.
So buy this game and if you don't you're just sick.