13.9.2004

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban is a great game, but I think it falls far short of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in terms of gameplay, atmosphere, and most certainly duration. I enjoyed the chance to play as Ron and Hermione, but it's not as if you choose one for a certain situation - it's all predetermined by the game itself. I was happiest when the trio stayed together and worked as a team - a number of different actions require the skills of more than one of our young wizard characters. Nice new additions such as this to the HP gaming experience turn out, unfortunately, to be few and far between. Much more is lost than is gained here.The graphics are quite good,for the most part, but they just don't make Hogwarts come to life. In fact, Harry is pretty much just thrown down in the middle of the place and sent to class without any adequate introduction - there's no animation clip of Harry's departure from the Dursley household, no get-together in the Great Hall, only the briefest of welcomes from Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, and little chance to really settle in. Hogwarts itself seems to lack character, especially when viewed from outside the grounds - I never felt as if I were really "home." The experience is further diminished by the nonexistence of Quidditch matches, a House Points Championship, or extracurricular activities such as wizard dueling. Then there's the length of the thing. Just as I was settling in and planning to get start exploring the place in earnest, I found myself almost at the end of the game. This feels more like a demo than a complete game. You basically only learn three new spells here, and the spell challenges are much shorter than those of the earlier Harry Potter games. And even though Hogwarts looks bigger in this game, there is much less to do and explore than I was expecting based on my memories of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The only association you really have with your professors is in the challenges; in fact, there is hardly any interconnection with characters other than Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the entire game (even Draco Malfoy is kept out of the picture almost completely). Things come much too easily, even when Harry has to battle a horde of Dementors. As bad a player as I am, I had little trouble advancing quickly past all of the challenges - that is a clear sign that the game is much too easy.The game does have its good points. Flying Buckbeak is loads of fun and makes for an almost serene experience. Expecto Patronum makes a fine addition to Harry's repertoire of wizarding skills, the ability to create and temporarily control small dragons makes for a bit of a fun challenge, and Carpe Retractum offers up a different and rather risky way to get around inside a challenge. The ability to create little rabbits and send them out to explore the local area is fun at first but eventually feels a little silly. I also have mixed feelings about the new Glacius spell, largely because sliding down frozen streams of water just doesn't seem to jibe with my concept of Hogwarts and Harry Potter in particular. All of this points to the most problematic issue with the game - it all too often wanders far afield from the events of the novel and movie. This renders the whole Sirius Black storyline as almost incidental and anticlimactic at best. Giving the game designers such a free hand in terms of content seems to have led to a concentration on the gaming aspects rather than the storyline, and that weakens the whole experience.Harry is basically just going through the motions in this third installment of the HP gaming saga. When I finished the Chamber of Secrets game, I went right back in and played it a second time. Having finished The Prisoner of Azkaban, I feel no such commitment to the experience and may or may not ever return to this adventure. It's still a fun game to play, but give me HP and the Chamber of Secrets any day over this newest addition to the HP gaming series.

14.8.2005

Ok, when you think of a game based on a film you don't want to buy it due to bad experiences in the past. Also EA are known for putting out games that should basically not be put out. But how wrong can you go with Harry Potter? It is a good book, good film and now a good game....Graphics 8/10Brilliant, that basically sums them up in one word. The characters and rooms that you go in have loads of detail on them. The spells look mildly the same though, the only thing different about these are the colours. This could have been improved on and is one of the reasons why I do not give graphics the full 10. The cut scenes are very good but could have been improved on as they are not integrated with the game well.

30.12.2006

First of all, don't listen to the review by L.ransom below. Its not true at all.This is the best harry potter game I've played ever (ON ANY CONSOLE!!) It is better than the pc version, and the goblet of fire game, which was incredibly boring.Good things:-AMAZING GRAPHICS (Just fly buckbeak and you'll see),-Great controls and wand control (unlike the pc version, you can press R1 and lock on to a target),-Unlike the PC version, there is a large puzzle element, because you have to choose the character and spell that is right for the situation!-The characters speak a lot, even when roaming the grounds; I think this adds a bit of realism- You can explore hogwarts and the grounds completely freely.

28.12.2004

I received this game for christmas 4 days ago, and I've already completed it. The gameplay is too short really, and could have been better with a couple of comprehensable side games (i.e. like the gnome throwing in the HP2 PS2 game). The graphics are spectacular, especially in the cut scenes. The lip-sync is spot on, and at some points it was hard to tell whether Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were voicing them themselves.Instead of just having cut scenes play through the end Whomping Willow - Shreiking Shack parts was dissapointing. A nice long battle with an enraged super-natural tree would have rounded off the bank holiday weekend nicely.There also should have been time spent

20.6.2004

I thoroughly enjoyed Chamber of Secrets and this next game is almost as good. Not so challenging and scary (no giant spiders or snakes) but loads of things to collect and trade. Graphics are top class, soundtrack wonderful, and story line good. On the debit side, you MUST close down all virus protection and firewall applications and any other background "stuff" otherwise you get a complete crash. Tricky for young players!! Annoying that I couldn't use my Gamepad and, Oh dear, those unexpected save points. Loading points take a long time. When moving from the entrance hall to the grounds go and make a cup of tea while you wait. The game ends a bit of a damp squib,

12.11.2005

Hi there, I'm 11 years old, and i think that this game is one of the best ever made! I believe this is the best Harry Potter game so far. You get to do loads more than in the 1st and 2nd ones. For example, in this one you can buy scrolls from Fred and George's shop that let you get into secret passages, along with cards you get with Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Pumpkin Pasties and Cauldren Cakes. The spells are loads more interesting. You can turn into rabbits and dragons, turn water to ice then use it as a massive slide, and much more! Unlike the other 2 games, you can be Harry and all his friends, and use linked spells for more power. You face more enemys, more challenges, and more fun!

15.8.2010

Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban is a great game and is very enjoyable!It has some very good graphics and some very nice sound effects and backgound sounds. Its sceneries are fanstastic and come with lots of colour and detail. The game itself is good with some good combat, puzzles, secrets, pick-ups, spells and of course Magic! Its a good experience for fans of the Harry Potter franchise but I think it would also appeal to the other audiences.The game itself is not very long and it only took my son a day to complete but he still thought it was highly enjoyable and he very much found it fun to search for the hidden treasures.My son loved this game and as he is a big HP fan its not surprising but its a good game.

31.12.2015

I'm pretty sure everyone had this when they were younger and as you grow up you sell and trade games in, This is one of many games that I did this with but as I got older you kinda miss old games so you have to buy it again just to re-live that magic that only old games have, So if your new to gaming or seasoned and love Harry Potter when are you even reading this you should be adding to your basket and checking out!!!(J.K was clearing a Dragonball fan as there a few hidden Easter eggs in the book, films amd games referencing dragon ball proof Goku's Nimbus cloud giving to him by Master Roshi Harry Potters first broom Nimbus, End Battle Harry and You know who,

13.7.2009

If you are thinking about bying on of the Harry Potter gamesDont go for one of the new games thinking it will be betterIt looks a bit better but this game is greatThe story through out the game so very goodThe best thing about this sad that it has not been carried into the next gamesYoy get to play Has Ron and Hermione when you go to the lessonsAnd you get to exlpoer the School and you have to find secrets in order to finish the gameAnd the three of you have to do exams at the end of the spells that have leared very good fun you get gradedYou have to get this game i have played it like 10 times right through the whole gameGetting it would be a very good thing

6.1.2007

I like this game but it sometimes dose get a bit boring when you get stuck write in the middle of the game.But its not all bad I do like the way you can be not only harry like you do in the two before this one you get to be ron and hermiany and its even bettor when you have an eye toy because in minigames you get to play some cool games with eye toy . But there is one down side about the minigames because you can not play any games without the eye toy.But then story mode is still good if you are good at these sort of games.If I was you I would buy this game if you have an eye toy or if you are good at advenchure games if your not then do not bye it

22.8.2007

Although this game is rather expensive it is a MUST in your household. Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban is both fun and challenging at the same time. It is much more enjoyable than the last two games and it offers more of a variety of challenges.It is a definite hit in my household and everyone no matter what age is desperate to play on it. Any age will enjoy the game.Please note: the camera can make you feel a little bit dizzy at first, but it's part of the fun, so don't worry about it.I DEFINITELY recommend this game if you don't buy it then you're mad!!!!!!!!

22.12.2011

I used to play this such a long time ago when I was little, but I'd lost the cd so I decided I would buy it again from amazon. And oh my gosh. I thought, because I was older, I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I used to... but I did. Moreso infact. Because now I'm older I was able to go through the entire castle and find all the secrets instead of just trying to complete the game. Which I loved doing! And just... ahh. I love this game so much! Deffo worth the price. And deffo the best game out of ALL of the games. Awesome. Great buy.

24.1.2014

I got this game when it first came out as an avid Harry Potter fan when I was 8. I remember thinking that it was even better than the first two and now, 10 years later as an adult I still really enjoy the game. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone, the graphics are great for a 10 year old game and the gameplay is still brilliant with all the different spells and tasks. Absolutely love it, it has to be my favourite out of all of the Harry Potter pc games.

15.4.2012

This game is unbelievable! Its got the classic music from the first game but with new and brilliant graphics (for a retro gamer anyway). If your a fan of the first few games you should definitley get this one! The spells are great, you even get to play as Hermione and Ron too!! And as always it sticks to the detail of the books instead of the films which is a brilliant thing too. Probably my favourite game out

7.3.2011

this game is amazing! There are so many little things that make it good, such as little puzzles and riding buckbeak. Also, you get to play as ron and hermione not just harry and learn different spells. You also get to go in the bean bonus room.Here is a little secret: once you have completed the game, go back and ride buckbeak, you can change his colour!

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