Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoneby Electronic Arts
Platform: PlayStation
ESRB Rating: Everyone
ASIN: B00005NCAY
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Features:
• Action-puzzle game based on the 1st book in the Harry Potter series
• Play as Harry Potter and complete your 1st year at Hogwarts
• Interact with Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Rubeus Hagrid, Draco Malfoy, Albus Dumbledore, and more
• Battle evil creatures, uncover the invisibility cloak, and take a 3-D roller coaster ride through Gringotts
• For 1 player
Amazon.com: The history of video games is littered with translations of films--most of them bad. This game, while decidedly based on the feature film's visualization of the Harry Potter story, is actually very good in its own right despite being too easy for most experienced gamers. It's a fun, colorful experience even for the few of us on the planet who have neither read the book nor watched the movie.
Electronic Arts thankfully bestowed a lot of production value on this release rather than trying to cash in on a quick buck. Aside from the occasional pop-up problem that makes walls vanish quite unmagically, the graphics are beautiful and fun. Chocolate frogs (an appropriate health power-up) and other elements and characters from the book and film are wonderfully animated. The sound effects and, particularly, the voice acting are top-drawer, which helps suck the player into the Potter experience. Also, the gameplay is nicely varied throughout. Players go from learning a new spell in class to retrieving fire seeds for Hagrid to participating in magic fights against the Slytherin bully Draco Malfoy to riding the broom--which is especially fun. There's even a Quidditch level early on, but there's little to do and it's over very quickly.
On the downside, the game suffers from some really odd controls. Like many adventure games, jumping is really important, as many levels require you to clear obstacles or reach out-of-the-way items. But, unlike in nearly every other game in the genre, there's no jump button. Instead, players automatically jump from the edge of a platform from either a full stop or while running. It takes a lot of getting used to; if you're not at full run or full stop, it's easy to just walk right off the edge and fall. And, like too many other games, you can only save your progress at predetermined locations.
Another fault of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is its lack of challenge for experienced gamers. It's nice that the developers are trying to make it accessible to the entire cross-section of PlayStation-owning Harry Potter fans, but without varying levels of difficulty, it's less of a game than a tour through Potter's magical world. Still, it is an interesting world, and even though it's easy, the action is still varied enough to be fun. --Porter B. Hall
Pros:
Good use of characters and plot elements from the story
Varied gameplay
Great production value
Broom riding is really fun
Cons:
Very little challenge
Odd control scheme
Lethargic camera movement makes it sometimes hard to see what you're doing
Amazon.com Product Description: What if you could leave the nonmagical world of the Muggles behind and enroll in Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft? Now you can find out in the PlayStation release Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Play as Harry, the precocious wizard, and adventure with him and amazing characters from the J.K. Rowling book that started it all.
Climb, jump, and sneak as you explore 3-D environments faithful to Hogwarts and its grounds. Master your wizardry skills, such as piloting a broomstick, casting spells, gathering items to mix potions, scoring points for Gryffindor, and more. Learn your lessons and uncover wizard sweets, broomsticks, chocolate frogs, famous wizard cards, and even the invisibility cloak.
Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Rubeus Hagrid, Albus Dumbledore, and many of the book's other characters join Harry as he masters the sport of Quidditch, takes a 3-D roller coaster ride through Gringotts, and shops at Diagon Alley. Explore Hogwarts, its grounds, the Forbidden Forest, and more as you play through puzzles and minigames and battle evil creatures.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone uses colorful 3-D graphics to capture the daring and enchantment of Harry's world, rendering it in spirited detail. And as Harry, you'll experience the adventure and thrill of a young wizard's first year at Hogwarts, as well as the awesome responsibility of finding the Sorcerer's Stone and challenging He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named. But first you'll have to complete your courses.
Amazon.com Preview: J.K. Rowling's immensely popular boy wizard is set to invade the big screen and the PlayStation this fall. Set to be released in conjunction with the movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a 3-D adventure game that fans of any skill level will be able to get into. It features several spells, items, and characters found in the books and movie. While license-based titles have had a dubious history, the game's developer, Argonaut, has produced strong games in the past. At the very least, the early version we played was good-looking and diverse.
The beta contained a surprising amount of variety. One level consisted of 3-D platform action where players must guide Harry through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this level players must avoid several obstacles and collect Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Another level, which was similar to a shooter, had Harry riding on a broomstick and casting projectile spells. Of course, no Harry Potter game would be complete without Quidditch (think soccer on broomsticks). While it was too early to judge the quality of the gameplay, the game certainly has variety and that Harry Potter charm. Luckily for the millions of Harry Potter fans out there, the developers have plenty of time to make this a quality game. --Raymond M. Padilla
Customer Reviews:
The best thing since gameboy, December 17, 2002
Reviewer: Chris Mroz from Sandwich NH USA
One word cool. You can play Quidditch, you can fight Voldemort, you can cast spells. This game has awsome graphics and it follows the book+the movie. + there's more things that arne't in the book or the movie.
How could it get any better!, November 17, 2002
Reviewer: A 9-year old gamer
Do you like Harry Potter? I LOVE HARRY POTTER. This game is awsome! But there are some difficult parts in it.(For example, trying to get money in Diagon Alley.If you're having problems trying to open the pictures in Hogwarts,talk to Fred and George and they will tell you what to do.Don't get nervouse of figting you-know-who.He is quite easy. I would give this game a 4 out of 5. I would have gave it a 5 if it wasn't so easy and short! Hopefully Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be harder and longer! Maybe I will give it 5 stars.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerss Stone, November 17, 2002
Reviewer: A 9-year old gamer
This is the best Harry Potter game so far. The best part of it is playing quidditch. Hint: to open some of the pictures talk to the two boys and they'll tell you give them every flavored beans and they'll tell you the password. This game is pretty easy until the end. Make sure you explore Hogwarts and the school grounds.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stonee REVIEW, November 17, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Wooster, OH USA
The BEST GAME EVER! I hope the next Harry Potter game is just as fun!
check out this hot game!, November 9, 2002
Reviewer: A 9-year old gamer
This game is the best! It has awesome graphics. It's based on the first movie of Harry Potter! Besides the money, you should get it! It has everything from platform 9 and three quarters, to the dangerous LORD VOLDEMORT! You have to have adventure in you to play this game! But it is for everyone. Here's hints: if you see a piece of wall with a star on it, press square and you will go to a secret room! At the beginning of the game, when owls are flying around in the sky,press triangle and lightning will come up! That's why I would get this game.
GREAT, October 1, 2002
Reviewer: A 10-year old gamer
this game has many great activities. it is just like the movie! it is also way better than the computer game that has less things on it. i really recommend this item. you should buy it.
Alittle on the short side..., August 21, 2002
Reviewer: scorpion4377
This game is one of the best ive ever played. But, its too short. I beat it in 3 hours without trying. Also, there isnt much walkthrough or a map so u dont know where ur going. Dont get me wrong, this is the BEST game ive ever played, buts its easy. ON the BAD side, you cant pass the cut scenes. The Cut scene on the last level is 5 minutes long. And u have to see it EVERYtime u challenge valdamore (i dont read the harry potter books, so i dont know wats his name)Luckily, i only needed 3 chances to beat him. He is VERY hard but not frustrating, just challenging. I heard that Harry potter and the chamber or secrets is coming out, i hope that its the same great graphics and everything, just alittle harder. Anyways, RENT IT BEFORE U BUY.
IF U GET TO THE LEVEL WHERE U MEET HAGRID, THEN UR ABOUT HALF WAY DONE. IF U GOT THERE IN LESS THEN AN HOUR AND A HALF, THEN DONT COSIDER BUYING THIS GAME CUASE ITS TOO EASY.
DONT GET ME WRONG, ITS THE BEST GAME, JUST TOO EASY.
Harry Potter, July 21, 2002
Reviewer: A 10-year old gamer
I,ve only played this game once at my friends house and it is awesome.My favorite parts of the game is when you do Quidditch lessons.
DON'T BUY THIS GAME, July 16, 2002
Reviewer: An 11-year old gamer
YOU MIGHT THINK HARRY POTTER LOKS FUN AND COOL BUT IT STINKS! I RENTED IT IT WAS PRETTY EASY TO A POINT.NOTING IN THE GAME WAS IN THE BOOK. IWOULD GIVE IT 0 STARS ,BUT I CANT!
harry potter and the sorcerer's stone, July 7, 2002
Reviewer: kevin from england uk
In this game you play young Harry and you are set surtan tasks do do on your way to lesons some are very easy others ant so like at the bank collecting you money is hard and fast but you all so are on the same story line as the film !