Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup

"Finally, a decent Quidditch game!"

After playing both PC Harry Potter Games, I was rather disappointed at the quidditch in both of em cuz you only act as the seeker in both! There's not much depth to the seeker's moves either. Well, HP: QWC brings you a full quidditch game and then some.

Graphics: 7/10

The players are quite detailed and the stadiums look really good. Effects from each of the game's balls and brooms are good enough as well. Perhaps the only flaw i noticed was lack of lip-synching! Harry and company talk through unmoving, semi-opened lips! Also, they don't seem to have the ability to bend their fingers in this game.

Sound: 9/10

While the music gets a tad repetitive at times, it adds a feel of action to the game. Lee Jordan/Ludo Bagman's commentary is spot on, with no obvious voice gaps. (like: Chang.... is after.... the golden snitch!) None of those, thankfully. Also, there are different commentary guests for the World Teams as well.

Gameplay: 8/10

This game enables you to play each quidditch role except for the keeper. Before hand, you get to practice different aspects of quidditch with the Hogwarts House team of your choice. In the game, Chasers are well played, with special combos and moves that can be done. Seekers are simply played, but are ok nonetheless. Beaters on the other hand, only play a ''special move'' type of role because you NEED to have a bludger special for you to command your beater to hurl a bludger against an enemy chaser. As for the keeper... see above. Team specials are also present in the game, and they serve two purposes: 1. They look cool! 2. They are unblockable no matter what!

Controls: 8/10

As a WASD gamer, I usually ignore arrow keys. This game forces you to use arrow and numpad keys(or the mouse). It isn't really a problem after getting adjusted. My solution? Move your keyboard to the left!

Replayability: 7/10

It's really fun at first, but it wears of quite fast. There's not much to do, except for unlocking cards and difficulty levels, but you need to if you want to unlock more moves and teams(Bulgaria needs 65 cards). Quick exhibition games are present if you just feel the need to shove a quaffle up Slytherin's hoop.

Requirements: 9/10

500mhz, 16mb video card, 128mb of RAM.... not much. Most of you would be playing this game at very playable frame rates, no doubt. My machine is a Celeron 633, 256megs of ram, and a 64meg Geforce4mx440. I don't experience any slowdown whatsoever.

Final Score: 8/10

Rent or Buy? If you're a HP fan, by all means, buy it! If not, rent first to see if it will last you long... Heey, for the first time, Cho Chang makes her appearance!!!!XD

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/16/03