The Checkpoint 08.18.08: 3 Things the Harry Potter Game Needs?

Posted by John Curry on 08.18.2008

This week the Checkpoint examines whether the makers of the newest Harry Potter game, the Half-Blood Prince, will include 3 things that will make the game great.

This past week the news came that due to the "writer's strike" the next installment in the billion dollar Harry Potter series, the Half-Blood Prince, would be delayed until the summer of 2009. While on the outside and in public I, much like most of the men in this world, could care less if the film ever comes out, the child inside me who loves the Harry Potter series is heartbroken and furious that such a blatant excuse is being used. In the beginning I actually did not know much about Harry Potter outside of what the Goth freaks and nerds in high school said about it. When I met my wife, the first Christmas we shared together she bought me the entire set of Harry Potter books up to that point, which was Prizoner of Azkaban, if I remember corectly. I looked at her with a look of disdain in her decision to buy me freaking Harry Potter books. I do not read these type of books. After he begging me to read it, I finally gave in. What ensued was four days of nonstop reading. I hate to admit but I have seen all of the Harry Potter movies the day they opened and have been in line with my wife at midnight to purchase the books, one for her and one for me. I am a Harry Potter fan just short of dressing up like the characters in the film.

Unfortunately, with such a high enjoyment of a series comes high expectations of anything that is a product of the series. While the films have been great and phenomenal in my humble opinion, all of the games that have been created for this series have been less than great. However, the games maker, Electronic Arts, has stated this game will be much darker and grittier than the previous series games. That is the fullest extent of what they have released about the game. So this week I want to look at the three things they need to do to make a great game that is true to the book and enjoyable for all of the fans.

1. More intuitive combat

There should more focus on combat not only against creatures but also against each other. The simple matter is that the combat system has so much potential in this style of a game that there can be innovative and enjoyable at the same time. I would love to see some sort of MLB 2k8 style of control for the wands for the PS3 and Xbox 360. This would allow there to be much more challenging battles and in depth control and appreciation for the style. For the Wii, I am fairly certain that it does go without saying how this game could be transitioned into the Wii. Honestly, a Harry Potter game is perfectly conditioned to be a Wii game and if done properly could be the one game that shows off exactly why the Wii is an innovative system.


2. More grit

Let's face it the characters are no longer young children fighting trolls and spiders. These are adolescents who are almost 18 years of age who are now in a war against their mortal enemies for their lives. The game should reflect this. Make death an option and a battle around every corner not against only spiders and stuff, but against the dark army with death eaters as main battles and scattered throughout the game. It is at this point in the series that people should realize that the vast majority of the fans of the series are no longer children but young adults and older. To make the game as childish as it has been in the past, especially with the Order of the Phoenix game, is insulting to the game players of the world.


I mean look at the previews for the movie and tell me that there isn't a ton of great gritty ideas that can be done in this game.



That preview tells you that you need more grit. I am not going to give anything away about the film but the simple fact is the things that occur in this book deserve to be shown in their full adult glory
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3. More Spells

I know that maybe I am nitpicking here but after 6 freaking movies and the completion of the book series, I am tired of playing the game and only being able to use three freaking spells over and over and over again. I can pick something up. I can disarm someone and I can stun them. Come on for the love of Kreecher, this is the wizarding world. There is not excuse for there not to be at least 25-30 different spells that I can use in a game. If the system is going to become advanced we have to see some new spells. You cannot convince me that game makers cannot come up with some styles of spells that we haven't seen yet.

In the end these are things I want to see added. The truth is I will buy this game while denying to anyone I know that I have ever seen a Harry Potter movie or game. As more information comes out I will inform you as much as I can. Until then, I pray that the makers of this game at least pay attention to the fans and this column and bring us the greatest game.