- Three-person co-op mode elevates
average action game to a new level of shared fun
- Better than the “usual” (a.k.a. awful) movie-licensed game
- Fans (young) of the books and films will enjoy playing through
the story that follows in the steps of its source material
- A more “realistic” character design
- Not much challenge for gamers
over 15 years old
- Camera can be problematic, especially in co-op games, when
players dragging behind the others can get “stuck”
- Won’t take too long to complete (about seven hours)
- Most enemies (fire-spouting, gecko-like beasts and massive
insect-type creatures) aren’t too scary nor are they too hard to
beat
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Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Score: 7.5 / 10
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books have been
a cultural phenomenon since the beginning of their appearance on
bookshelves. Millions of copies of the series, now in its sixth volume,
have been sold, and each has found a lofty perch on the bestseller
lists. The movies based on the magical realm of the young wizard Harry
Potter have been just as popular, easily generating in the hundreds of
millions at the box office each. Not quite as popular have been the
Harry Potter videogames from Electronic Arts, and after playing the
latest Potter game, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, it’s easy to
see why. The game is much better than the usual (a.k.a. awful)
movie-licensed game, and has a surprisingly good co-op mode. But the
enchanted charm of the Potter books and movies just isn’t present in an
average action game that ends way too quickly and is much too easy for
anybody but the youngest of gamers.
In the fifth Harry Potter game from EA, you’ll follow the same plot as
the book and movie. Harry finds himself selected to compete in the
Triwizard Tournament. All
four young wizards in the tourney have to
square off against a fire-breathing dragon, dive into the icy Black Lake
on a search-and-rescue mission, and traverse through a dangerous maze.
It all culminates in a final duel against Lord Voldemort, the requisite
bad guy.
You can play as Harry, Ron and Hermione or all three in the very good
co-op mode if you have two friends or family
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willing to partake in some Harry Potter gaming. The majority of the game
will have the three wizards making their way through various levels of
danger and under threat from bizarre creatures. There are too many waves
of big fire-spouting gecko-type creatures or huge insects that aren’t
frightening or challenging to defeat. They’re just a nuisance. Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire conjured up a basic action game spell for
its gameplay: start at the beginning, collect various items and
power-ups along the journey, and make your way to the end of the level.
There are a lot of varied levels with swamps, ancient castles and even a
final culminating battle in an eerie cemetery. But the gameplay remains
fairly repetitively constant throughout. However, having the three
characters on the screen working in unison (whether with three-player
co-op or a single-player adventure, where the two other characters are
controlled by the game’s A.I.) really brings a fresh, new aspect to the
gameplay. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the first Potter title
to use co-op play, and it’s a very welcome addition, although at times,
because three players are on-screen at once, characters dragging behind
can get “stuck” until the players further along double back.
Almost every puzzle or obstacle that needs to be overcome requires all
three characters to interact (there are many parts of the game that
become just Harry-oriented). Rusty old gates need Harry, Ron and
Hermione to each use their combined magical powers to pull down the
gate. Huge boulders must be lifted by all three. Fire must be doused by
all three. The need of having all three characters cooperating to
complete the game really elevates Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
beyond the mundane, even though without three human-controlled players
in the game, the A.I-controlled characters frustratingly don’t always
interact smartly in each situation, putting themselves and you in harm’s
way.
Using your magic with a casting system, you’ll literally feel (with a
rumbling controller) your magic spells at work. The only way to get to
the next stage and vanquish all enemies is by using a character’s magic
wand and all the power it possesses. Using magic provides a nice visual
touch, because Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire implements
exceptional neon-enhanced particle effects for the magic that pumps from
each wizard’s wand. The jelly beans that serve as your health power-ups
also receive a healthy dose of bright coloring. Each of the levels
incorporates better graphics than might be expected, including the new
“realistic” character models. You won’t be overly impressed with the
game’s visuals as a whole, but they certainly are more than
satisfactory, particularly for a game focused towards young gamers.
But that kid-friendly focus may have gone a bit too far, because Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire is devoid of a taxing challenge level.
This game may be too easy for all but the youngest of gamers. On top of
that, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a too-quick gaming
adventure that can be completed within seven hours or so.
While not many who aren’t a fan of all things Harry Potter will find a
reason to play Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, wizard-wannabes
under the age of 15 will be infatuated. A sharp, visual style and a
great co-op mode that overcomes the average action gameplay provide a
wonderfully wizardly good time despite a too-short and too-easy
escapade.
