Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ could be most aptly described as an “adventure” game. It blends platforming, puzzle solving, roleplaying elements, and a fistful of action to create something all its own: a Harry Potter game.
It's this hodgepodge of gaming elements that requires a bit more of an open mindset from the player. You can’t try to apply a strict set of rules (e.g. this kind of game should do this puzzle this way). If you do, chances are, controllers will be thrown, hair will be pulled, and curses may float from your muttering lips to the sensitive ears of developers—and we don’t want that.
With your patience in mind, we’ve crafted a few tips to help ease you into the Harry Potter world, so that you might become entranced with its elegance instead of becoming frustrated or stumped. Let’s get to it then, shall we?
Ron has a keen eye.
Three Characters, More Options We touched on this a fair bit in our Character Close-up articles, but it bears repeating here. Each character has his or her own “special ability,” so to speak, and you’ll need to keep these abilities in mind as you play. Don’t try jumping across gaps with Ron or Hermione. That’s Harry’s job. If you need to crawl under a door or gate, let Hermione take care of that. If you’re stumped and can’t seem to find your way out of a room, or you just want to look around for secrets, try switching to Ron. Secret areas will glow with a kind of magical sheen when you’re controlling him. In fact, I would go so far as to say you should control Ron when first exploring any area.
You Learn Something New Everyday Harry and friends have access to a couple of helpful reference guides at the beginning of the game. They’re easily overlooked, but they contain valuable information. In fact, you’ll be collecting pages for these books as you progress. For example, the Folio Bruti contains breakdowns of the different animals, critters, and beasts that you’ll encounter along your way. I had a bit of a bother with a flaming salamander, but a quick consultation with the Folio Bruti informed me that I had to freeze the source of their fire and not just the salamanders themselves. Useful stuff, I tell ya.
Checking out the Folio Bruti.
The Law of New Items There’s a rule in gaming that goes back through many generations of gaming consoles: When a player receives a new weapon or item, the player should be required to use that weapon or item immediately. This axiom holds true in Prisoner of Azkaban as well. For example, when Hermione gets her hands on the Glacius spell, she must make her way back to Ron and Harry. However, the environment has heated up, and all the ice blocks she used to get to the book are melted. Resolution? Break out the Glacius spell and freeze those bad boys back up. Keep your eyes peeled for such examples, and you’ll speed along in your progress.
It’s All about Perspective Say hello to the right thumbstick. It’s your friend, and it controls the camera. With this being a 3-D game with a fully functional camera, you’ll need to use it constantly to see bits of your environment you may have missed before. You can also press the white button to achieve a near bird's eye view of the room you’re in. These camera mechanics are crucial when trying to solve an environmental puzzle. Too many people ignore the camera and unduly frustrate themselves when trying to figure out what to do next.
The Weasley twins love trouble.
Marauders Map You’ll receive this handy-dandy item very early on in the game, courtesy of Ron’s older twin brothers, Fred and George. It can be invaluable when trying to find your way around, and it contains another feature as well: It marks the location of other people on your map and even indicates the direction that they are looking. It’s perfect for those moments when you need to escape detection. Use this wisely, and remember: To use it is to solemnly swear that you are up to no good. You’ve got to love those Weasleys!
You will undoubtedly uncover all sorts of tricks on your own, but the preceding tips should help ease your way into the Harry Potter world. Happy adventuring!
