Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
© 2009 Electronic Arts, Inc.
Richly illustrated and fun to explore, this mostly one player Harry Potter game gives you what you expect... a nice concoction of mystery, duels, adventure, and fantasy. In the game, you steer Harry around the 3D maze-like halls of Hogwarts in an attempt to make it through the sixth year of wizard duels, needed to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. Testers liked the ability to join various clubs in the game, which are helpful for learning spell dueling, potion making, Quidditch playing, and so on. As you explore, you can collect 150 "crests" (old club emblems) hidden in different nooks and crannies of Hogwarts. These can be combined to create one big crest for a hidden secret. Especially noteworthy with this edition is the way the Wii controls are used. Because the motions have been simplified, they make spell casting fun and easy to learn. You can "stun" with a simple flick with the Wii Remote, for example. But a heavier and more defensive spell requires crossing your arms to create a shield around Harry. This follows your basic instincts, making it easier to learn. Obviously, it is a feature found in the Wii version (we did not test other versions, besides the DS, see below). Another use of the gestures are with potion making. If you want to heat an ingredient, move the Wii Remote in a small circle to see bubbles. If the cauldron needs heating, shake the Nunchuck and Wii Remote together. These tiny details help to make this game easier to learn than previous versions; and a good consideration for a younger player. Games are saved automatically, and there's enough content for a solid weekend of play. Testers noted that the game play felt repetitive after ten straight missions, however. For example, Harry might encounter a lengthy Quidditch match that could be frustrating for younger players, so be on hand to help. The Nintendo DS version follows the same basic design and story. Differences include the need to collect ingredients for potions by moving around, and a different version of Quidditch that involves a points system instead of just catching the Snitch. In addition, casting spells is done by touching the screen with the DS stylus, similar to previous DS Harry Potter games. The bottom line? In the Half-Blood Prince, you'll get a great Hogwarts experience on any platform.
$5040300, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PSP, Windows
Teaches: logic, strategy
CTR Rating: 90%