Secrets of the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter™ and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a prequel of sorts to last year’s successful EA adventure hit Harry Potter™ and the Chamber of Secrets. Though Sorcerer’s Stone is the second Potter-themed adventure game released for Xbox (and shows real technical advances over the previous game), it’s actually based on the first book in J. K. Rowling’s mega-blockbuster book series. Xbox gamers will guide young Potter through his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learning new spells, making new friends, and of course, hitting the pitch for a little Quidditch. Don’t be a muggle; check out these handy Harry Potter strategy tips.

All Roads Lead to Hogwarts
Harry Potter’s adventures in this game naturally all center on Hogwarts, the hub world of the game. Each floor of Hogwarts is its own separate world, so take the time to explore and familiarize yourself with the whole place. It will help you with your later quests. Of course, first-year students aren’t supposed to poke their noses into some places, so you may be barred from some floors at first.

Map Your Own Controls
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone lets you customize Harry’s skills to fit your own play style. The key to this is to map your face buttons so that you’re ready with the spell or item you need, when you need it. You’ll want to change these button assignments throughout the game, depending on the challenge.

Stay Out of Sight
Like the Chamber of Secrets before it and the novels themselves, the latest Harry Potter game is filled with opportunities to sneak around, and at times, stealth will be your only option. Harry can sneakTom Clancy’s Splinter Cell style by just moving slowly and staying out of sight. Don’t try to rush, though, or you’re guaranteed to get spotted by the prefects.

Harry Potter and the Wall of Flattening
Harry can also do a Sam Fisher-style wall press by simply walking up to the wall and moving into it. This is useful for hiding, of course, but it’s also a great way to access platforms and upper levels that might only be accessible by a narrow ledge. Nothing is out of reach for a wizard, not even for a first-year wizard.

Don’t Think You’re So Smart
If you’re playingHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, odds are you already know a little something about “the boy who lived” and his first adventure at Hogwarts. But, while the game definitely follows the overall story line of Rowling’s book and the movie, it’s also its own universe, in a way. Study up on your wizards by collecting as many cards as you can, and talk to everyone. Even folks just wandering around Diagon Alley will have something to say about what’s going on, and you may find unexpected challenges you’ve never heard of—think of these as the scenes that had to be cut from the novel.

Crouching Wizard, Hidden Goodies
The world of Harry Potter is filled with hidden items and rewards that you might miss, if you’re not sharp-eyed. Look for areas or secret rooms that Harry can reach by crouching. But, watch out for unexpected Imp attacks. Those little creeps pop up in the strangest places.

Make Broom for Harry
No Harry Potter tale would be complete without Quidditch. This version of “wizard football” plays quite a bit differently than EA’s Harry Potter™: Quidditch™ World Cup and offers tighter, arcade-style control of your broom. As soon as you can, practice broom riding as much as possible, so you can focus on the Quidditch after you enter a match.

Flipendo, Flipendo, Flipendo
The first spell you learn is arguably the most useful for the rest of the game. Flipendo, the “knockback jinx,” lets you knock out Imps and other enemies as well as open boxes and even hit remote switches. Practice your spell casting to ensure that you can charge the spell and release it at just the right time.

By Danny Chihdo