Spellcasting 101

The whole "one boy vs. evil warlock Voldemort and an army of supernaturally-gifted henchmen" thing can prove problematic from time to time. Luckily, in the all-new 3-D outing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™, being a boy wizard has never been easier ... at least from a pure user-interface standpoint.

Jinxed and charmed. In a word: Ouch!

Thanks to a revamped spellcasting system, our three heroes—Harry, Ron, and Hermione—can all cast rare and powerful magical incantations with a simple press of a button. The way it works is simple and user-friendly: it automatically picks the spell most appropriate to each situation, and all you have to do is activate the enchantment.

Don't be fooled, though—this isn't as straightforward as it sounds, especially when you're being attacked from all angles by Dugbogs, salamanders, Vampyr Mosps, and Blast-Ended Skrewts. Simultaneously casting spells while using the thumbstick is the key to mastering your magical arsenal. For instance, if you want to move an object, cast your Carpe Retractum spell, and then move the thumbstick in the direction you would like to push or throw the item. When you evoke more powerful spells you will have to push toward your target to keep yourself from being pushed out of range.

A wizard is nothing without his wand.

Increasing your abilities is a cinch too. Simply collect blue beans to help fill the Magicus Extremos bar. When activated by the B button, the bar bestows improved magical performance. You can also grab green beans, which are hidden in every nook and cranny of various stages. Blast or destroy certain scenery objects, and defeat enemies to find even more. Between missions, you can spend this magical fruit (as in, "the more you eat, the more you toot") on collector's trading cards, which give talent-upping bonuses when a equipped.

This is the slickest, most streamlined entry in the Harry Potter series yet. Although it's mostly a beat-'em- up, with light puzzle-solving and role-playing elements, you'll primarily find yourself slinging spells at angry opponents. But hey, that's just the way most of us Xbox® owners like our fantasy fare ... light on the verbose dialogue, yet heavy on opportunities to turn toothy monsters into harmless rabbits.

Can't catch me! I hope...

Here's a sneek peek at but a few of the many attention-grabbing enchantments in the game. You'll just have to play through it yourself (to find the others:

Accio
Hold down Y to draw objects closer to you. This is a great way to grab hard to reach rewards such as beans, pumpkins and cauldrons sitting on top of high platforms or remote ledges. Who needs exercise? Simply squeeze the button and goodies come floating straight into your greedy hands.

Carpe Retractum
This is a charm that gives you the power to pull objects (e.g.: gates, drawbridges, and logs) toward you. Use it to unblock pathways which are choked with rubble, move fallen trees from the road, or send Death Eaters foolishly standing on piles of stones tumbling to their doom. It also works to catapult Bubotubers into the stratosphere.

Ebublio
Surrounded by opponents? Try this jinx, a favorite amongst those who love taking baths. Call upon its powers, and you'll either surround an enemy with, or turn them into, a cloud of soapy bubbles.

Aqua Eructo
An essential tool in your salamander-hunting arsenal, this spell sends a jet of water shooting forth from your wand when you hold down the X button. Employ its powers, and you can extinguish roaring blazes and jets of fire, douse heat-loving monsters' flames, and otherwise leave certain adversaries and traps looking all washed up.

Orbis
Whoa—this one will surely make you dizzy! Cast it on a a creature to make it spin around like a top, then drive it into the ground. Probably best avoided by those who suffer from motion sickness.

Article by Steve Richter

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ Official Movie Website