Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Score: 50% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: EA Games Developer: Wartog Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 Genre: Adventure
Graphics & Sound: How does a game that uses the same graphics engine as amazing looking Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets manage to look worse? This is one of the questions that has been rattling around in my head since I first popped in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which is a remake of the original PlayStation version that came out three years ago. To its credit, this version of Sorcerer's Stone does what it is advertised to do -- give players a graphically improved version of the original. Yet, when you look at the game, it doesn't sound quite as grand, since the comparison is like saying the flu is better than pneumonia. The best looking aspect of the game is the characters all of whom feature that recognizable, yet unique style found in the other EA produced Potter games. These highly detailed models look out of place against the game world's hi-res PSX look. Many of the graphical problems that have since been resolved with this new generation of games come roaring back in this update. Animations are jerky and backgrounds become a dizzying mess of pixels and textures whenever the camera moves. Another noticeable problem is that the animation and voices during cut scenes don't synch up. There are times when a character will start talking a few seconds before the voice track begins, or the voice track will carry on after their lips have stopped moving. The game does have a few high points, although these are all overshadowed by the sub par appearance of the rest of the game. Lighting effects are handled very well, as are shadows and spell effects. I was particularly impressed with the effect that appears when learning a new spell. The game world is also large and sports a number of different locales. Anyone who played Chamber of Secrets will recognize the familiar layout of Hogwarts. The game's sound also ranks among the game's good qualities. The soundtrack is nice and has its own unique style. Voices and sound effects are also well done, although your tolerance of British accents will be tested.
Gameplay: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone follows the plot of the book instead of the movie. As well, the game follows the same events and game elements of the original with little added in to make it worth playing if you've already played the PSX version. The game opens with a brief introduction to the Harry Potter origin storyline and then puts players in control right as Harry steps into the wand shop. After choosing his wand (or rather, having his wand choose him), Harry learns his first spell and is put through a training mode by the wand shop owner. Next, he's off to Hogwarts -- which is where the bulk of the action takes place. The game follows the same structure as Chamber of Secrets. The game is split up into days, which serve as levels in the game. At the start of each day, Harry is given a checklist of things he must do. These include going to class, collecting items for homework, Quidditch games or finding plot elements. Classes are where most of the gameplay takes place and are where you will learn new spells. The layouts for spell test levels are rather good and feature some interesting puzzles and solutions as well as giving you a chance to master the multiple uses for spells. Each of these spells will be useful when navigating the game's levels -- as well as during Harry's extracurricular activities. During the day, Harry can also accomplish secondary tasks, such as collecting 101 wizard cards or retrieving lost items for classmates. In addition to daytime tasks, Harry will also have to accomplish nighttime tasks -- all of which include sneaking around Hogwarts and avoiding prefects and professors. Here the game becomes more of a stealth-based game rather than an action one. This is also an area that wasn't fully realized in Chamber and isn't improved in Sorcerer's Stone. Hiding from and avoiding prefects is more luck than skill sometimes since you aren't given a clear idea of their line of sight. There were numerous times where I thought that I was well out of sight of someone, only to be caught. The large levels don't help with this either, since a prefect could be off screen and still see you -- adding cheap factor to the game. On that same note, the AI for prefects and teachers is largely inconsistent. Whereas one time they'll be able to catch you, another time you could run right into them and they won't even notice.
Difficulty: Aside from the already mentioned stealth elements, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has a varying range of difficulties. It just depends on how you're looking to play the game. Just working your way through levels is a decent challenge, but nothing that's too difficult. Managing tasks and just getting them down isn't much of a hassle since you're basically led through most areas and told where to go. If you're a completest asshole like myself, then you're going to want to see and do everything you can in the game -- at which point the game becomes decidedly harder. Finding lost items and wizard cards are two of the tougher challenges, but are manageable. Two of the more difficult tasks, at least in my mind, involved earning House Points and getting perfect scores on the spell tests. House Points are given and taken away based on your actions during the game. Performing tasks in better-than-great ways will earn you Points, while other actions -- such as being caught by a prefect or using spells on other students -- will lose points. This aspect isn't important to the flow of the game, but is just one more thing to do. As you travel through spell tests, which are levels built around using a newly learned spell, you can collect challenge shields. Collecting all of the shields in a level (which is tough) will give you a higher grade. Again, it's not important, but it makes for a fun challenge.
Game Mechanics: Although the game suffers from a number of let downs, control is one area that remains good. The controls have a nice, tight, responsive feel, but at times it can feel a little too much so because there are times when you think you're pushing the stick enough to walk, but end up sneaking. However, this isn't a major issue since you'll either run or sneak through most of the game anyway. Spells are easy to cast and use a system similar to the one used in Zelda. Each of your spells can be assigned to one of the face buttons for quick casting. I found it a good idea to always have Flippendo and Lumos spells equipped since these are the two spells you will use most often. Tapping the button casts a low-power version of the spell while holding the button will cast a more powerful version. The trick to casting powerful spells is that there is some timing involved and if you hold it for too long, it will blow up in your face. You obviously don't want this happening during enemy encounters. Targeting with spells can also be easily done by pressing the shoulder buttons. Unfortunately, control remains the one technical bright spot in the game. There are times when the camera would either get stuck on a wall (and fail to follow Harry) or would just decide to change it's vantage point at will. The number of bugs that tend to pop up and the lack of polish are the game's deathblow. Sorcerer's Stone sets out with a good intention -- to give Potter fans the chance to re-experience Harry's first adventure through an improved vantage point. Unfortunately, Potter fans are given what amounts to a punch in the face in a game that feels like it is just trying to turn a quick buck based on its name. The game also takes away any ground Chamber of Secrets may have made in getting respect for the series, which has been generally good, from the gaming public.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Gameday 2004 (Disney's) The Haunted Mansion