Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ marks the third video game, book, and movie in the series. But, chances are you knew that. To my mind, only the Star Wars franchise has generated as many rabidly loyal fans, and I doubt any other series today produces as many child-like grins and moments of pure imagination as the Harry Potter franchise does. No corner of the Harry Potter world is untouched by the magic and creativity that permeate the stories, characters, and environments. From the supernatural haven that is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to the oppressive Muggle-dwelling that the Dursley’s call home, there is always something beyond the ordinary to see, read, and enjoy. Mysterious owls deliver mail, little house elves pop up where they shouldn’t, and hulking half-giants walk about and care for the school grounds.
They’re coming …
It Puts a Spell on Me I admit to being a stalwart Harry Potter fan. I’ve read the books, watched the movies, and played last year’s excellent Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ game. Because Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (henceforth POA) is my favorite of the stories thus far, you can imagine my giddiness when I received a copy of the game a few days before its release. Electronic Arts has always treated its licenses with proper respect, and I was itching to see their take on POA.
What I’ve found is an excellent adventure title that embraces every aspect of what makes the Harry Potter series such a unique and exquisitely detailed world. Within the first 15 minutes of the game, I had already chased after Scabbers (Ron’s rather sad rat), battled with an abominable flying book, traded barbs and spells with Draco Malfoy and his two goons Crabbe and Goyle, and watched Harry pass out as a stark and joyless Dementor floated into our train car. From the moment that first Dementor shows up on the train, I felt that warm and fuzzy feeling that lets you know you’re part of something special.
It’s All in the Details If ever there was a game best suited for clever Easter eggs to discover and enjoy, this is it. Sure, one might enjoy repartee with a painting of a knight, but it’s a kick when Harry Potter fans realize they’re chatting with Sir Cardigan. There’s also a sequence near the beginning that involves a pesky ghost, but it’s all the more humorous if you know it’s Peeves, Hogwarts resident prankster poltergeist. It’s these little touches—and there are seemingly hundreds of them—that really put you into the Harry Potter mindset.
The structure for POA breaks down much like the previous installments in the franchise. Harry and his pals have tasks to perform during the day and separate problems to solve at night. For example, the first night has Ron and Harry braving some rather mind-bending areas of Hogwarts in order to obtain the Marauder’s Map, which not only delineates the whole of Hogwarts, but also identifies anyone snooping around for our heroes. The next morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione must attend Defense against the Dark Arts class, which has its own dangers and puzzles that must be solved to receive the spell of the day.
Peeves is up to his old tricks.
Three in One One rather significant change in the game comes in the form of character control. You’re now able to fully control Ron and Hermione in addition to Harry. Not only does this allow for unique puzzle solving, but also gives each character unique abilities (so you’ll need to keep a sharp eye out for who is best in each situation). The dynamic of the three playable characters adds more depth to the game. This is true not just in game mechanic terms, but also in the way of character development. You begin to feel connected to all three heroes, rather than just Harry.
One word comes to mind when I think of this game: polish. Whether it’s the puzzles, the action, the game elements, the interaction with characters, the new spells and abilities they provide, or the obvious effort that went into breathing life into the Harry Potter game universe, everything screams polish. There’s nothing lacking in the design, and that’s what makes me want to keep going. I want to know what magic and wonder awaits around the next corner.
