Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Written by Tom Clare in PSOne Game Reviews, Friday 2 September, 2005

Obviously didn't learn to make games at Hogwarts

Since the original Harry Potter novel hit the shelves back in 1997, the series has ballooned into one of the biggest money-spinning franchises in the entertainment industry today. It was therefore inevitable then that when the first film adaptation arrived on the scene in late 2001, a game was not far behind…

…And so we have the PSOne action/adventure Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone - excellent as a book, pretty decent as a film, but how would it fair as a PlayStation game?

Unsurprisingly, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (HPATPS) closely mimics many of the designs and locations seen in its film counterpart, and certainly shares more in common with its big-screen sibling than with Rowling's story. Many of the plot details are either simplified or overlooked completely, and though this will doubtless irritate some fans, it is fairly necessary to avoid the game slipping into 'interactive storybook' territory.

The player assumes control of the unwittingly-famous Harry Potter as he starts his first year at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. Harry's friends Ron and Hermione are on hand to lend assistance to the young hero when required, just as his arch-nemesis Draco Malfoy proves all too happy to hinder his progress.

Much of the game takes place in and around Hogwarts castle, with Harry attending various lessons (usually resulting in the acquirement of a spell); learning to fly on his broomstick and doing a modest amount of exploration via 'forbidden' corridors and forests. As you reel off the tasks set before you, the school, storyline and scope of the game gradually opens up.

Does it succeed as a 3D action/adventure game though? Yes and no, but mainly no. There aren't any glaring errors in the gameplay mechanics as such, as the technical side of Harry Potter is relatively without fault. The game was clearly developed with children in mind, but certain elements have been dumbed-down so far that the game often feels a chore to play. There are a lot of platform-based elements within that see Harry having to navigate objects, jumps and pits. This is all well and good, except there is no actual 'jump' button - this action is performed automatically when you reach the end of a ledge, meaning your job is to do little more than steer Harry around with the direction buttons. This level of simplicity is somewhat uncalled for and renders a lot of the tasks you come across as thoroughly dull; it could have been forgiven but for the inclusion of so many jump-reliant sections.

The role-playing elements that are apparent early on quickly evaporate too, which is a big disappointment. Initially it seems that you will, to a modest degree, have the freedom of Hogwarts and the ability to converse with other students. But for all the atmosphere of the book and the film, the game often feels near-on lifeless - corridors and rooms are nearly always deserted, and the lacklustre and infrequent music doesn't help establish anything like the sense of wonderment and magic you'd hope for. The sense of freedom also ebbs away quickly - Hogwarts is a big place with a heck of a lot of doors, but all too often you feel that you are being lead by the hand, as on several occasions you are forced into doing specific tasks to progress.

The difficulty level will prove off-putting both for beginners and veterans alike. The first sixty percent or so of the game is devoid of any challenge whatsoever, to the point where even relative beginners would do well to glean much satisfaction from completing the mundane tasks. And because Harry is constantly attending classes (usually for the sole purpose of spell-learning), you can't shake the feeling that the game is one big, glorified training level, and a prologue for something better and more complex. Things quickly switch from utterly-unchallenging to worryingly tough in the later stages, and after going through most of the game with a save-point placed in nearly every single room, the end section containing around nine or ten individual challenges (including no less than three boss encounters) passes by without providing the player with a single one, making it hell to play.

Despite all this, EA have tried their best to add a little variety and substance to the package. Harry can fly and play the wizarding sport Quidditch with the aid of his broomstick, which delivers some brief, simple fun. Injecting a little more lifespan into proceedings is the ability to collect Every-Flavour Beans as a means of unlocking some hidden goodies late on in the adventure, which is one of the nicer touches on show. If you are determined (or stubborn) enough to want to play the game through to the end, there is a respectable helping of longevity to be found, thanks in part to the side-quests and the ability to gain house-points for completing tasks. Trips to Gringotts Bank (with its mine-cart sections) and the Forbidden Forest (the only night-time level, creating some rare tension) are among the few highlights on offer.

Graphically, Harry Potter is so-so - nothing much to grumble about though it rarely rises above average. Characters and environments look fair enough, though come across as distinctly bland when compared to the vistas seen in the film. The frame-rate lags slightly in the bigger, more open areas but to be fair the overall presentation is none too bad.

However, the audio lets the game down still further, and is generally very disappointing - the voice-acting is, at times, quite appalling and nothing like that which was featured in the film of the same name - it is often very difficult to take seriously. As I mentioned earlier, there is a desperate need for an atmosphere-injection in some of the more boring levels, and sadly the music fails to oblige, instead choosing more often than not to remain silent.

It is ELSPA-rated 3+ of course and is suitable for anyone old enough to hold an interest in it, though it is difficult to see that Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone will appeal to anyone a great deal. For adults, it simply isn't fun even if you (like me), enjoyed the aforementioned book/film combination - such is the simplicity and linearity of the gameplay for the most part you'll simply be playing on to see what happens next, rather than because you are actually getting any enjoyment from it. Kids will probably find a little more to like, but even they will become irritated by the sudden and quite dramatic change in difficulty in the later stages, inevitably leading to them switching off the PSOne.

EA gained a nice licence in Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, but didn't make full use of it. Simple, linear and somewhat devoid of enjoyment, only the familiar characters and locations will keep many playing this to the end - it seems the developers were simply too cautious at times, designing too many training-styled tasks, and in hindsight it would perhaps have faired better on a more-powerful console (where it's subsequent sequels currently belong). It looks okay and occasionally surprises with its nice presentation, but if you strip away the snazzy licence, all you are left with is an average 3D platform game that is positively light-years behind the likes of Spyro: Year Of The Dragon. For twenty quid, you'd be better off buying the book and the DVD than this - one for the die-hard fans only.

Leave a Reply