Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

"Hogwarts has been approved by the Ministry, yet again!!!"

Introduction
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for GameBoy Advance is an Adventure game in which a young wizard, Harry Potter has enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is currently attending his second year. Harry Potter first appeared as a book series written by J.K. Rowling and now has transformed into a video game series.

Gameplay
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a fun game to play, even if some of the dungeons may become repetitive. Learning new spells, finding wizard cards and discovering secrets. The game is easy to play, but challenging to master. With Spells, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Wizard Cards, and Quidditch to complete, it becomes more challenging. The controls are set appropriately but can be changed through the options menu. Jumping and casting spells sometimes becomes confusing as the game is in an isometric view.
6.5 out of 10 stars

Story
Ever since Harry Potter had come home for the summer, the Dursleys had been so mean and hideous that all Harry wanted was to get back to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature who says that if Harry returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike. And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor and a spirit who haunts the girls' bathroom. But then the real trouble begins--someone is turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself!
7.5 out of 10 stars

Graphics/Sound
The graphics are beautifully rendered on GameBoy Advance. The isometric view is usually the source of control problems, but is also very appropriate for this game. The cut scenes are especially good and might be mistaken for a Nintendo 64 or PlayStation game. The only problem is where... some areas of the game have many details while some seemingly have none. GameBoy Advance currently cannot produce the quality of sound one might want to hear, but for its capabilities the sound for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is great. Its downfall, the music is very repetitive. With three more tunes the music may have gone along more with the settings and could've blended in very nicely. Spell effects, creaking doors, and the menu sounds blend along with the game nicely, but are overlooked because of the music.
6.8 out of 10 stars

Playtime/Replayability
The game doesn't take long to complete unless you've decided to collect all the Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans and Wizard Cards. Maybe five or six full hours unless Quidditch grabs your attention. You may want to play Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets over once or twice, but not something that has much replayability like some adventure games. Connectivity only unlocks a few secret areas so don't think you'll be occupied much by it.
8 out of 10 stars

Final Recommendation
For Harry Potter fans and anyone who can say they've read the books and enjoyed it this is worth buying. Most people may just want to rent it to find if the like it. Not really worth searching for unless your a Harry Potter fan, but if you receive as a gift then give it a try.
7.2 out of 10 stars

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/23/03