Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Last year saw J. K. Rowling's impossibly popular fantasy novel series draw to a dramatic finish, tying up the narrative threads into a neat knot. However, Hollywood's ongoing recreation of the story for the big screen is still incomplete. Which means, of course, that the videogames of the films of the books have even further to go, with the game of the penultimate book only just coming in to land.
The game series has had something of a chequered history, demonstrating some undeniable high-points and good ideas but oftentimes struggling to crowbar the film’s scenes into an interactive game. Publisher EA is claiming that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is to be the best in the series so far, smoothing over past cracks and recreating the excitement and drama of the movie. The development team at EA Bright Light studio is certainly confident about how the game is coming along, with Harvey Elliot, studio head, saying: “We believe that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game represents a milestone in the movie tie-in genre.”
Elliot states that the Half-Blood Prince builds on the technological advancements of previous games in the series and that the team is placing a “particular focus on the unique control system of Nintendo’s Wii, working closely with the filmmakers to create an immersive interactive experience that captures the story, the action, the excitement and, above all, the fun of the film.”
That story, needless to say, focuses on the ongoing saga of Harry Potter, student at the magical school of Hogwarts. Harry's arch nemesis and the murderer of his parents, Voldemort, is tightening his grip on the wizarding world and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Thus Harry must work with school headmaster, Dumbledore, to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defences. Underneath the overarching struggles, the pupils at Hogwarts are also wrestling with a more universal teenage problem: hormones (plus all the jealousy and drama that they bring).
The game will present fans with the chance to engage in exciting wizard duels, mix and brew magical ingredients in Potions class and take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. There's even the opportunity to get sidetracked by Ron’s romantic entanglements as you lead the group towards a thrilling climax and discover the true identity of the Half-Blood Prince. The game's looking promising, but we'll have to wait until later in the year to discover whether it can deliver on the claims of its makers and replicate the gigantic popularity of its inspiration.