New Game Plus

Hey everyone, Meghann here.

I think most of us know how huge the Harry Potter books and movies are and the widespread mania over each of them. It took me a couple years, but I finally surrendered and read all the books (available at the time) about a year and a half ago. With my induction into the world of Pottermania, I was excited when I found out there were Harry Potter games. I had played the first one with some kids I babysat, but beyond that I hadn’t experienced much else. To my delight, I found Harry Potter and the POA (Prisoner of Azkaban) at blockbuster for an unbeatedly low price. Being the cheap and frugal person that I am, I hurriedly bought it and brought it back to school with me.

Begin a long span of time where all I did was eat sleep and drink this game. It was SO fun. The storyline was obviously good and the game’s progression was great as you were able to explore more and more of hogwarts as you completed tasks. It was all very continuous and it was like you were able to experience the school and feel connected to the story and game – it wasn’t just a task or a level to beat. By far, it’s been one of my favorite games and I have already beaten it a couple times. The game’s side missions are also fun too.

This was the level where you get to learn the patronus spell. It is seriously freaky and really fun. And also a puzzle!

After all this, I was hooked on Harry Potter games and wanted the next one ASAP. Seriously. So, a couple months later, I went to the mall and got Harry Potter and the GOF (Goblet of Fire). This was a MISTAKE. It was terrible and here are the reasons why:

-In the way that POA weaved a story and allowed you to explore a world, GOF had a title screen (a pensieve) that you came back to everytime you unlocked a new level. Each level consisted of a section of hogwarts that did not connect to the level you just came from.

-It’s painfully obvious that this game was made in a hurry. The levels are so random: Hogwarts Exterior, Forbidden Forest, Triwizard Task – The Dragon, Prefects Bathroom, Herbology, Triwizard Task – The Lake, Triwizard Task – The Maze, Voldemort. It’s like they got lazy at the end as only the tasks became important and then all of a sudden you’re fighting Voldemort? Their choices in levels were weird.

This highlights one of the more irritating things in the game. You have to pull back on those plant looking things and aim them at mushrooms. Although it’s incredibly annoying because most of the time they a) don’t go anywhere and splash you with goo or b) go anywhere but where you want them to go.

-POA took up a lot more of my time. I could get invested in it. GOF took me a couple days, but this was because I would leave it frequently and come back to it later just because I wanted it to be done.

-The navigation was harder than POA. As annoying as it was for Ron to spell out certain tasks for you, it was helpful instead of having to wander around wondering why things wouldn’t work. I would get through an entire level and would find the wrong shield and have to play it all over again.

-The controls weren’t as good as the previous game. It automatically chose what power you wanted to use which didn’t allow you to play around and figure it out for yourself.

On the postive end of things, it had some cool graphics and there was more than one quest to complete in each level. But I was so spoiled with POA that GOF just didn’t live up to the same standard. I”m really disappointed that EA games rushed this game out – it could’ve been so much better. But, if you’re looking to play one – go with POA. You’ll be happier.

Okay, I’m done.