Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Review

Okay, so as a living, breathing member of the adult gaming community, I think I've trashed this one for long enough. There are some mini-games and bonus areas in there that can be fun even if you're a Harry Potter skeptic. But, all the same, the simplistic design and lack of gameplay depth will ward off anyone who's after a more serious challenge that actually entails addictive game play. The overall emphasis on platform-style action is fine and all, but doesn't keep the player's attention for more than a few hours.

I'll be having rabbit-stew for lunch.

Watch where you're poking with that thing, young man!

Graphically, the game is colorful and bright and has everything a platformish action/adventure needs. Characters are well-animated and they all resemble their movie counterparts. On the technical aspect, the game didn't exhibit any issues whatsoever. But, the backdrop could definitely use richer textures and more polys (some objects look really lame) - this goes for both indoor as well as outdoor environments.

On the plus side, you'll hear some splendid voice acting, excellent music and cool sounds. The first-rate audio, of course, comes as no surprise. EA almost never faltered in that department and this game is no exception. To those Harry Potter enthusiasts, the developers have also prepared a detailed audio description of every mythical character on the collector's cards.

The general feel that Harry Potter is mostly for younger audiences is perpetuated throughout the entire game. In itself that is perfectly fine, but the game lacks certain core elements of game play that usually appeal to gamers regardless of their age group. And that's its main fault really - it needs to be more fun to appeal to any gamer - young or old. That's assuming you're not completely potty about Potter.

With very little effort Harry Potter the Prisoner of Azkaban can be finished in a single evening which indeed stands out as a serious drawback. Once you complete it, chances are slim that you'll want to try the whole thing again. If you're looking for a challenging and lengthy action/adventure, I see no reason why you should waste your time on this game. If you're that desperate to purchase the game, you'll be happy to know that the PC version carries a $29.99 price tag, unlike the console version which is worth 40 bucks. So at least you'll save some money if you decide to play it on the PC.