Full Review

If you are a Harry Potter fan, in which I am, even though it is against all of my beliefs and upbringing, then you will enjoy the walk on the semi-dark side with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban


I call it the semi-dark side because of the wizardry. However, you can’t get to much more innocent than when you play with Harry Potter.

The object of the game is to save Sirius Black. Although, from the beginning, just like in the movie, you are lead to believe that Sirius is evil. The truth comes out as you move further along in the game.

The graphics in the game are done rather well. The scenes look cartoonish, but truthfully, they still look a lot better than some of the games I have played.

Some of the scenes you get are;

• The Grand Entrance
• The famous Staircase that leads to the common rooms
• You get the Griffindor Common Room
• The Dungeons
• The mazes
• The grounds,
• Hagrids Hut
• The forest
• The Great Hall
• The Portrait Room (where you can walk through the pictures)
• The Library


These are a major portion of what you will see throughout the game.

While playing the game, you bump into glowing lights that draw you into a battle with the enemies. Some enemies are

• Spiders
• Crabs
• Knights
• Wolf type creatures
• Bats
• Snakes
• Monster books
• Trolls


This too is just a small list of what you will battle. Each enemy is defeated by using certain spells against certain creatures.

How you battle is, once you meet up with Hermonie (sp?) and Ron, the three of you will stand side by side, facing the enemies (or enemy). Each of you will take a turn and cast a spell against said enemy. Once your turn has passed, the enemy takes ‘his’ turn by lashing out at you. When you or your opponents take a hit, you lose life points. Each time you use magic to cast a spell (which is the only way to battle) you lose magic points. To lose the battle is the result of all of your magic points and life points being taken away. However, if you have acquired magic potions to restore these things, then you can continue battling until the enemy runs away. (The enemy never dies, simply runs away. Nor do you die, you simply fall down and ‘pass out’)

As the game progress, you gain experience. The result of the experience is moving up to a higher level. The more you battle, the more experience you get. You will need this experience in order to beat the so-called ‘bosses’ in the end of each level.

It took three days for me to defeat Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. For an adult, it was pretty simple, cut and dry. You battle, you gain more experience to defeat the enemies that are coming up in the near future.

My children also play Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkanban. My two older boys picked right up on it and have enjoyed playing it. My youngest son, Nathan who is five, after showing him how to move between Hermonie’s, Ron’s and Harry’s magic spells, and being told when to use what, has since enjoyed playing it as well.

It’s a fun, simple game that is without death, gore, blood or actual evil. The bad guy, just like in the movie, turns out to be who you expected. He puts up little fight, but in the end, your real battle turns out to be with one of your classmates.


In that sense, the game is much like life. Who you thought was your enemy wasn’t much of an enemy after all. It’s who you never expected to have to ‘battle’ with that catches you off guard.


If you put this game in a child's hand, they will probably play it for a while before defeating it. (depends on if they are a game-pro though) However, put this in an adult's hand and you've got a game ending after a few hours of playing.

If you are like me and don't have a lot of time to play games, but really like to finish them, then you may want to play Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It's a fun way to spend some quiet time...


;o)

Thanks for reading!!
© 2004 Ac