(Playstation Version)
Genre: Action/Adventure Platformer
Developer: Argonaut
System I played On: Playstation
Year: 2001
Before I begin I’ll give my background with this game and the Harry Potter universe. I’d seen a few Harry Potter movies back when I was really young, and thought they were good. (When your that age everything is) And back then I hated reading. I was bored and about to go on a long car ride, and I needed something to do, and my mom told me to read a book. Reluctantly I grabbed the first Harry Potter book, and after the long car ride I didn’t stop reading. I read all the Harry Potter books and became interested in reading, and eventually writing. But before I read the books I’d had this game on my Playstation. I didn’t get far, but my brother had made it near the final boss, and I remembered it well surprisingly. I felt like playing this game again, but I couldn’t remember if it was Chamber of Secrets or Sorcerer’s Stone, so I bought Chamber of Secrets. I played through that game, and also the Order of Phoenix, but still wouldn’t mind playing this game. Finally, and right when I needed some Playstation games, I found it for a quarter. I waited a while to get a Playstation memory card, and now that I finally have I played through this and will now review it. One thing I have to mention however is that I have little to no business with this console system. I’ve barely played anything on it, and this is the first game I actually finished on it. So take that into affect, and also I think there is a PS2 version of this, but I’m going to review it on the console that brings more memories to mind. First I want to talk about the good, then the bad. First, unlike some other Harry Potter games, it felt like the developers were trying. Maybe not all of them, but a good amount of them. This was also the first taste of Hogwarts that players got, and exploring it back then was actually really cool, especially since back then we didn’t know how Hogwarts was like and which rooms went where. (They don’t match the later versions in later games or even movies but that’s expected) Another thing, casting most spells is kind of fun, going to classes is actually more fun than the actual classes, and riding on a broomstick makes it a little more fun. I like that it took liberty with it’s boss battles even though Harry never really directly fought Draco or the final boss, he does in this game. The gave has what seems like dozens of little games and challenges, on top of it collecting the every flavored beans and wizard cards is fun, even though it’s somewhat frustrating at times. And getting the rewards behind the pictures is fulfilling I’ll admit. It definitely has it’s moments, holds your interest enough to fight through, and keeps it away from being a bad game. However there is plenty of bad things. First I got sick of the amount of little games eventually. I couldn’t even go to the bank without some little goblin telling me I have to do shit I don’t want to. Second the characters are not like they are in the movies/books. Sure they’ll seem like it, but in the end most pissed me off. Hagrid in the books and movies was a bad ass, but in this he makes me get his damn money to get his damn ingredients for his damn dragon, and meanwhile he’s getting wasted in the pub. That thing is not Hagrid, it’s a fat asshole. The story in the end is eh, but it keeps true to the story enough, and doesn’t have me complaining. One thing I didn’t like was how forced and limited it felt at time. It felt like it was forcing story bits in just to be in there, and it was forcing me to certain areas to the next when I just felt like exploring. And it felt when I had options to explore Hogwarts it didn’t want me to. There were locked doors that never seemed to have opened, there were supposedly more of the beans and wizard cards, but I didn’t have the slightest idea how to go back and grab what I missed. And when you finish the game your not even allowed to explore anymore, your only allowed to look at your stupid wizard cards, which is a real let down. Also house points felt really forced. For instance I made a certain amount of points it showed, and I had less than the other house, so when I died and had an option to get more points, I did. But when I got more points the other houses did to, so I had less than them no matter what. I’m convinced in the end it doesn’t matter, which takes the point out of them. I’d rather lose by being lazy then win by being given the cup. Anyway, there is a good amount of problems ranching from the invisibility cloak being dumbed down to Harry only talking when he’s reading or casting spells, but in the end they don’t bother me a whole lot. In the end it’s an average game, but I still look at average games positively. I remember the good moments, and almost want to play them again. If you’re a game collector and like Harry Potter, don’t feel afraid to buy and play through this game. I had fun, and maybe you will to. Also it does capture some of the tone and feeling of the movie, and even the book, and in the end capturing some of the magic of Harry Potter is it’s greatest achievement.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone gets a 2/5
(Received No Badges)
Spoilers: Not much spoilers besides I hate every goblin in that stupid bank, Harry’s friends are useless, the movie and book was better, this is the most dangerous school you’ll ever go to, and nobody stops children fighting even when they’re doing it at the entrance of the school.
