Harry, Ron, and Hermione go together like rock, paper, scissors. And, in the latest Xbox game, they’re about as interdependent. All three friends that make up the heart, loyalty, and brains of the Harry Potter series. While Harry may be the star, his two cohorts are hardly less valuable to the stories and adventures. While they certainly weren’t ignored in previous Harry Potter games created by Electronic Arts, they are now at the forefront of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ as fully playable—and essential—characters.
Our heroes stand their ground.
All for One and One for All The makeup of the game changes dramatically with this three-player setup. It alters and colors every situation where more than one character is present, and this changes the way a player confronts the game’s challenges. Part of what makes Harry, Ron, and Hermione so interesting, though, is their different personalities. They are not cardboard-cutout stereotypes. They have very individual characteristics and feelings, and even if you have never read the books or seen the movies, you’ll discover this by playing the game.
Now that he’s no longer a freshman wizard, Harry is beginning to feel at ease with the constant surprises the magical world has in store, such as talking portraits, jumping chocolate, and resident ghosts. He also remains as earnest, brave, and protective of his friends as he ever was. Ron maintains his befuddled, but intuitive, state of mind. He’s just as likely to have a spell backfire on him, as he is to crack a puzzle that has everyone else stumped. Hermione remains the fiercely proud Muggle-born intellectual of the group. She huffs and puffs about her homework, reads books no one else has heard of, and can rattle off a detailed history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in her sleep.
Ron doesn’t take any guff.
Three’s Not a Crowd Beyond the personalities, there are some important gameplay differences among the characters. With his background in Quidditch, Harry can apply his athleticism when needed. Should a dark chasm demand a good solid leap or a rope require climbing, Harry’s the man. Ron has a nose for trouble and exploration—inspired by his prankster older brothers, no doubt—and if there is a secret passage to be found or an every-flavor-bean hiding on an old bookshelf, he’ll spot it. Hermione is the brains of the group and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion when things look bleak, so listen to her if she pipes up. She also has the uncanny ability to fit through small cracks and crannies, where others can’t.
You’ll need to know each character’s strengths and abilities and use them appropriately. For example, if you can’t find a way in (or out) of a place, try switching to Ron to see if he can spot anything. If Ron and Harry can only lift a gate a few inches off the ground and neither of them fit under it, come back later when you have Hermione in tow. Gone now are the days where you only had to consider one player’s abilities.
She’s a take-charge kind of gal.
There Is No “I” in Team Much of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban comes to down to teamwork, as in the books and movies. It’s also paramount to the experience and adds richness and depth to the game. Other more traditional adventure games are typically restricted to puzzles for a single character to solve because that character was typically working alone. Now, there is the opportunity for new kinds of puzzles and other challenges. It takes more than one person to activate switches simultaneously, on opposite sides of a room, and it’s easier to scale a 10-foot wall when there are shoulders to stand on. It’s all about a team-centric mindset, and this sets apartHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban from other games.
The Harry Potter adventures have always focused on the wonderful characters, and now you can control Harry or his best friends to aid him in his quest to uncover the mystery of the Prisoner of Azkaban.
