Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

"Stick it to Voldy with style!"

Just as EA turn out another FIFA, Madden and NHL every year, it is with the same certainty that we recognise that whenever another film about Speccy Four Eyes, EA's game isn't too far behind. So, with the new film comes the new game, the question is, it is so bad that it has been undoubtedly conjured by the Dark Lord, or is it something every Gryffindor should own? This game is squarely in the latter.

The plot (for those few of you are oblivious to all things Potter), is that the boy wizard returns to his magic school to find it under the control of the sinister Professor Umbridge. Thrown in to the mix the usual rivalry between Harry and super Dark wizard Voldemort and you have an interesting and enthralling plot.

The graphics are a a solid and consistent effort - the character models are decent enough, and do bear a good resemblance to their characters, for the most part. A few dodgy textures notwithstanding, the character models are quite accurate. It is Hogwarts however, that truly shines - beautiful textures, from the aqueduct to Hagrid's hut, the Owlery to the Dungeon are all beautifully realised, and look just like the film. The lighting is also great,with the sunlit halls being both beautiful and quite realistic. It all has the proper Hogwarts atmosphere. The only real problem with the graphics is the occasional inexplicable slow down, but other than that, there is no real problem.

The gameplay is a bit of a mixed bag, there is often too much traipsing around the castle, which often seems unnecessary and repetitive. The actual spell casting is pretty good, utilising a control scheme similar to the Total Punch Control of Fight Night,which effectively boils down to using the right analogue stick to move the wand. The duelling is also very strategic - its slow, methodical. To succeed you have to read you opponent, move out of the way of curses and counter attack - frenetic button mashing is not required. The result is tense, tactical combat that forces you to think before you act, as one wrong move can leave you open for a counter. In addition to this, there are numerous minigames to be going on with,such as a pretty good incarnation of chess, a twisted form of pairs, and Gobstones (marbles to you and me). None of these are going to keep people hooked for hours, but they are interesting asides all the same.

The sound is a little inconsistent. All the familiar music is here, and all the original actors are present, but some of the dialogue doesn't stand up to that of the film, and feels a little clumsy, which is a shame. But these are pretty minor, as the sound in general provides a great sense of atmosphere and authenticity.

To conclude, Order of the Phoenix is a must-have for Potter fans and definitely worth a look to all those who want something to fill the gap after completing Canis Canem Edit. Order of the Phoenix is not only one of the best film to game conversions of recent times, it is a highly accomplished game in its own right, with a few niggling flaws which, while reducing the game quality a bit, do not detract from the gaming experience one iota. Recommended.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/24/07