Name: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Genre: Adventure
Platform: Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PS2, Nintendo Wii (Reviewed on Wii) 


 

Maybe you've heard of Harry Potter. Once upon a time he was just the hero of the best-selling book series in world history. More recently, he's become a fan (and box office) favorite up on the big screen. His fans are legion, and they love anything that comes from the world of Hogwarts, whether it be candy, stationery, or action figures. Sadly though, although the stories are all classics, the same could never be said for the games. From The Sorcerers Stone to The Goblet of Fire, none has lived up to expectation.

However, early videos of Order of the Phoenix gave gamers reason to hope. We were optimistic to see that the developers broke the game free of the mediocre platform genre and decided to move it into the sandbox. The phrase "Grand Theft Potter" was born. The hype engine went into overdrive when details emerged about the smooth graphics, striking gameplay, and the control scheme for the Wii.

 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a leap forward for Wii games, getting them away from the goofy. It uses the Wiimote's motion controls to the fullest potential (at least to date). It attempts to break the console free from the mini-game spiral that we all saw it swirling down. The Wii version does not have the HD graphics of its competitors, but what it lacks in visuals it makes up for in controls. Every spell cast in the game is tied in one way or another to a motion. Swinging the Wiimote backward pulls an object toward you, pushing it forward throws an object forward, and so on.

For the most part the response works, but at times I found myself wondering why they did some things the way they decided. "Incendio" is the spell used to light a fire in the Harry Potter universe. To cast it, you shake the Wiimote furiously back and forth while selecting what you wish to light ablaze. The motion controls on this particular spell barely work. And half the time I found myself pulling the object toward me or pushing it away instead of setting it ablaze.

Still, overall the motion controls work well. If you can get over the fact that Harry’s arm looks like it doesn’t have any bones (is Gilderoy Lockhart in the room?), odds are you will not have any problems with the wand controls.


What ho? Did someone say my name?

Order of the Phoenix brings sandbox gameplay to J.K. Rowling's meal-ticket-franchise with some success. The sandbox is much better than the questing of the previous games, but I can't help but think that it should be much better. The more time I spent playing the game the more I wished EA had let Rockstar handle the game's development. Everyone knows that Rockstar are the unquestioned sandbox kings, and anyone who has played Bully knows they can pull it off without extreme violence. If the developers had even glanced at Bully's school-based sandbox environment, we would have ended up playing a much better game.

When I play as Harry Potter, I want to learn spells. I want to be yelled at by Snape! But sadly, EA seems to have mixed up Harry's priorities. While the player controls walking to class, the classes themselves are cut scenes. Where's the payoff? Where's the fun? I just walked for five minutes following hard-as-hell to see footprints (the games navigation method via the Marauders Map). I want to get caught acting up in class and be sent to Hagrid's!


Don't blame me boy-o. I jus werk here!

The game is not very long, though after beating it you are given the option to explore the school – which has been modeled and mapped wonderfully and will provide much entertainment for any fanboy of the books or movies. Much of the game involves finding schoolmates who have like-minded views to join Dumbledore’s Army, the group started by Harry to protect the school and its students from the impending attack. This is another fun addition – but not fun enough.

The school is also filled with broken crap. Statues, picture frames, and other things that one would think would be taken care of by someone other than Harry Potter. Fixing them unlocked points that enhance magic and unlock different items and bonuses in a special room of the school. Things that most games shove in the “extras” or “bonus features” section can be found in a room for you to explore and play in.

This is another distraction from the fact that there is really not much to do in the game. The missions are boring and repetitive, and even the little combat there is grows old fast. No multiplayer means no wand duels with friends, which means the replay value of this game is kind of shot.

The game could be much better, but the inclusion of a fun and unique control method does warrant this game a play. And hey, it isn't mini-game after mini-game...

While you may not be having the time you wish you could in Hogwarts you will not leave with a frown. And remember, there is always next year.