Ahh, Harry Potter. Something which has invaded my life for many years now.
I recently bought Half-Blood Prince on PS3, almost expecting it to be ten times better than Order of the Phoenix; the game that brought Hogwarts in all its majesty to millions of Harry Potter fans around the world. I was both right
and wrong.
The game brings back what many people thought was missing from Order of the Phoenix: Quidditch. Taking the same spotlight as the Potions minigame and the improved Wizard Duels, Quidditch is now restricted to flying through stars in order to accellerate to the Snitch. Not dissimilar to the Quidditch featured in the first Harry Potter game, this version is on-rails; accelleration is controlled completely by the game, and you control where you are on screen: left, right, up and down. However, it does have it's fun moments; as you progress through the game, stars will get closer together and will require more complex manouvers to get through all of them.
The next addition to the gameplay is Potion Brewing. Taking place frequently throughout the game, it feels comfortable to play, and it doesn't feel like a tacked on part of the game, rather as if it was built around it. The controls are suitably assigned; analogue sticks are used to move ingredient bottles and pour them, as well as to stir and to heat the cauldron; it feels natural, although stirring could be a little faster!
Dueling is also a central part of the game. Due to Voldemort's confirmed return, Dumbledore has reinstated the Dueling Clubs, where students can practice spells and curses on each other. Controls for duelling are easy to remember, although some spells require movement from both analogue sticks at once, something which the game doesn't always recognise, and you may find yourself running low on health after failing to do a spell too many times. However, due to the improved 'dodge' system, duels have the capacity to get harder throughout the game, and with frequent encounters with bullying Slytherins, you will find yourself becoming increasingly proficient at duels, something which is required for the battles against Death Eaters later in the game.
While all these things have strengthened what can only be an already strong game, some changes to the game do weaken it.
The most noticable change is the removal of the Marauder's Map, and the replacement being a badly impersonated Nearly Headless Nick. While he is easier to follow, the decision to remove a viewable map that shows directions to locations and people, is a woeful one to say the least.
Another strange change is the sprint function. It changed from the X button to L2, enabling the chat/interact button to move from square to a more sensible X, but instead of leaving it as it was, they decided to boost it up and remove the ability to turn. Not only this, but you can't sprint on stairs now. You can get a good speed up in a straight or gently benging corridor, but as soon as you hit stairs, you are brought back to a crawl, breaking the mood.
The developers also exchanged discovery points for crests (found around Hogwarts) and mini crests which build up to crests. This however is a welcome change. For one thing you don't get Myrtle popping up and complaining you don't visit her like a mother-in-law every time you discover something. However, to earn the mini crests, you need to cast depulso on shining objects, and to earn the most, you have to do it at a certain time. These times don't reoccur, so instead of fluxuating and giving you constant opportunity, it happens only once, so if you miss it, it makes collecting them feel a bit futile. They respawn when you move to a new area though, giving you a chance, ableit a convoluted one, to try again.
The Hogwarts Grounds have changed slightly as well. Whilst some rooms from Order of the Phoenix are now innaccessible, there are whole new floors, rooms, corridors and grounds to explore, including an expanse of lawn near the Quidditch Gate, access to the 6th floor and Slughorn's office, as well as a few underground tunnels giving the feel of a much expanded Hogwarts. The graphics have also improved; colours are clearer, models are higher res, and textures are sharper, making parts of Order of the Phoenix seem blocky and dated.
You will definitely get the sense of being at Hogwarts in all respects with this game, and even with an patchy and unclear story, and some slightly annoying changes, the game feels rejuvenated, and possibly fresher than Order of the Phoenix. While some features won't appeal to hardcore gamers, or outsiders to the Harry Potter saga, this is a must have for fans of the series, allowing them free reign over Hogwarts; and with over 150 varied crest challenges, potions, duels, Quidditch and badges to earn, there is much to keep people playing well after the story has finished.
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