Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

$50, Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Move, Wii, Xbox 360

Teaches: logic, problem solving

CTR Review

If you liked last year's Deathly Hallows (Part 1) you're supposed to like this one more. Why? Besides being set in Hogwarts castle, "you can change between eight key characters on the fly, and more easily swap between spells in real time," according to Pete Smith, the Executive Producer of EA's Bright Light Studios. I had a preview, and can attest to the fact that this is a more fluid, visceral experience, for better or for worse depending on how you feel about violence. Content includes 12 levels of shooting, blowing things up and freezing bad guys, in this case, members of Lord Voldemort's army. If all goes well you save the day and Voldemort's rule ends, just like the movie. Besides all the fighting, you must plant carefully timed explosions, and find your way through the maze-like chamber of secrets, so there is a good deal of logic and problem solving, intermixed with the very high body count. The aesthetics of this HD title are notable, with full orchestration and dark shading. Enhanced features work with Sony Move, but there is no Kinect support. If you're looking for some fast paced Harry Potter adventure, this is a good option. Things testers didn't like: it was a short game; one player adventure; and it would be better if it could you could point easier.