Despite multiple attempts, no video game has really captured the excitement or wonder of the adventures of Harry Potter. The film series captures the imagination and sweeps fans off to magical, unbelievable places, backed by an incredible set of scores which are perfectly uplifting or tense depending on the scene - the video game series simply does not match this impressive feat. The first PlayStation title has now become a source of mockery for many, thanks to the poor likenesses of the characters and the aged, ancient graphics. Looks-wise, the series improved dramatically when the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 arrived but character likenesses were the only real authenticity the series has ever maintained. The games take great liberties with the story of the films, often changing or missing out key scenes and events, causing irritating jumps in the narrative. For example, the Prisoner Of Azkaban (actually one of the better games, thanks to it's three protagonist system) completely omits the Knight Bus and Leaky Cauldron section of the film - why skip one of the more exciting scenes in the film? On top of that, EA failed to recruit the entire cast from the film to voice their respective characters - Daniel Radcliffe, most notably, never voices Harry Potter for whatever reason; a real detriment to the official movie tie-in games, especially considering the development teams worked hard to recreate the actor's likenesses. Of course, all of that would be irrelevant if the games were enjoyable but they really range in quality. There are some neat ideas on offer throughout the series (mostly in the form of short but fun mini games) but bad controls and awful cameras are a recurring issue. Bizarrely, the best games on offer in the Harry Potter series are some of the earliest released. The Game Boy Colour spin-offs of the first two films and the Game Boy Advance version of Prisoner Of Azkaban were finely crafted RPG titles which featured turn-based combat, levelling and a ton of exploration - it's a travesty that EA stopped making them. There's still potential for a good Harry Potter video game but it's hard to see developers taking risks with an established, hugely popular license. Perhaps the inevitable tie-in to the forthcoming Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them will fare better but given the series track record, it's unlikely to say the least. Agree? Disagree? Are there any other film or TV licenses that you wish developers would stop wasting? Let us know in the comments below.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
