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Beyond Disappointing

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: December 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

EA managed to destroy the game for the PC.

It hase absolutly no computer game "feel" unless you remember how games felt in 1984.

No mouse Control
No Volume Control
No Screen brightness Control.

The only "option" is weather or not you want subtitles.

Character movement is difficult to control since x and y movement is rotated off axis with respect to the arrow keys.

For a gigabyte of disk space, the graphics and cut-scenes are poor.

It gets a 1 star only because zero is not an option.

Hoping It Will Get Better As I Play It

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: November 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I agree with everyone else as far as the lack of mouse function, lack of audio adjustment (I can't wear my headphones because the sound is too loud--I'll have to see if the Windows volume controls can adjust the game volume), etc. I've got a really good gaming PC so have had no problem with the way the game runs, and I just bought a gamepad so I don't have to rely on the keyboard controls which would have been a MAJOR setback for me (that's the only thing I hated about Sorcerer's and Chamber, when in the game you HAD to use the keyboard). But, even after reading the "manual" 5 times, I still don't know how to select certain spells when I need them. And I have yet to figure out how to get all 3 characters to do a cooperative spell cast on the same item at the same time--mostly it's Harry casting a spell in one place, Hermione over there yelling "lapifores" (?? we don't need rabbits when we're tryig to put out fires) and Ron running around whining about something. I have only played maybe 5 levels and quit for the night because it was so extremely confusing and frustrating. And I'm not even bothering to collect beans or cards (if there are any at this point) since I've been concentrating on trying to keep my character from losing all his/her stamina and trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing now--it's not all intuitive; it took a while to figure out those gaps with gates on the other side needed to be crossed. I don't think the graphics so far have been good--if you want to see some spectacular graphics take a look at Syberia (or even Riven). I am going to finish this game but unless the game play improves significantly, I probably won't replay it, not even to find all the cards or shields or whatever unless someone writes a walkthrough. It's just not fun--and yes fun is important in real life when you have bought a game (this is the way some of us destress after another horrible day in hell). That one reviewer who admitted hasn't even bought the game but then compares the game to the book, well, that's nonsense. This is a game--not the book. Games should be fun, that's why we all went out and bought the thing and eagerly looked forward to playing it. I don't mind not being able to run around Hogwarts (it would have been nice but not necessary); I don't mind not being about to talk to other students and all that. However, so the only thing the characters do is shoot a spell, shoot a jinx, shoot a charm, etc. just shoot, shoot, shoot which is boring. If I'd wanted a shoot-em-up game, I'd have gone for [well, I don't know since I don't like and never play those shootnig games]. There's none of those amazing floating blocks or clouds you can climb on or rotating platforms to jump on in exactly the correct timing--maybe later, I hope. That's what I loved about the previous HP games, those very imaginative, impossibly unreal "wizardly" things that the characters had to deal with. I don't like the bird's-eye-view either--too reminiscent of computer games where the developers didn't want to bother with real perspective, didn't want to spend the money to get a more realistic rendering of people and scenery, basically just wanted to present a layout of the "battle field" you were to use--what I always thought of as "cheap" designing. I do hope it gets better because right now, I am disappointed and feel EA let the PC players down (I would have gladly paid more to by a better devised game specifically designed to take advantage of what a PC can do--most of us nowadays are serious mouse users, ya know). I'm glad the movie is out 'cause if this game doesn't improve soon, I'm just going to spend my time watching the movie instead.

Lost the charm and fun of the original three games

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: January 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

As a great fan of both computer games and Harry Potter, the Sorcerer's Stone was a game I had to buy, and I never regretted it. Along with "Chamber of Secrets" and "Prisoner of Azkaban," I spent many hours playing and having a lot of fun. All three of those games had great replay value; I've played "Sorcerer's Stone" countless times and I'm still not tired of it. With each release, the graphics have improved and the gameplay has become even more engaging. When I heard of the release of the "Goblet of Fire" movie, the first thing I thought of was the game that would accompany it.

Of course I bought the game, without bothering to look at its reviews. The game proved to be a major disappointment.

All of the charm and fun in the first three games has vanished. Most Harry Potter fans are more likely to enjoy the exploring of the castle and interaction with other people at Hogwarts. That was what I enjoyed most of all; what fan doesn't like to pretend that they go to Hogwarts and cast spells, fly, play Quidditch, and live in the fabulous castle? Just running around the castle, collecting things, interacting with other students and finding secret areas was fun. But that part of the game was completely taken away, and we are left with almost nothing but fighting.

Now, not everyone is like me, and I can understand that EA might want to attempt to cater to those who prefer casting spells at opponents. That is understandable. But the game gets one star because they didn't even manage to make the fighting work properly. The camera angle switches and can become odds, and the controls are difficult to master, plus, they can't be changed. There is no customization allowed with the controls or other options in the game. The whole thing seems more like a console game set for PC, and it doesn't flow well.

If you were a fan of the original three games, this one is almost guaranteed to disappoint you. I didn't even manage to finish playing it the entire way through, and I wish I could get my money back. Hopefully EA will return to the previous style of games for "Order of the Phoenix," but I won't be the one buying it to find out.

not PC friendly

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 11 / 14
Date: November 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Not only is it a bad game according to others you have to have a new and well equipped computer to even be able to load it. It requires a fast system and unfortunatley we dont have that. Now we are stuck with a game we cant play on our computer.

Doesn't Cut It

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: March 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

If you enjoyed the first few games at all you're wasting your time with this. It gives no freedom to explore, but instead confines the game to 'levels' more suited to a first person shooter than what should be an adventure rpg. It also plays in the style of a shooter, but with less direct control of your character. Your only real options are to shoot at things, pick things up, and make them come at you. There is hardly a story and it doesn't even pretend to give you the usual mystery to solve, it is simply attacking and running away without the small level of skill required in previous games.

There is no exploration, there are no conversations, there is no skill. If you have any desire to avoid melting your brain from mindless and pointless attacking then save yourself the trouble and don't waste your money on this game.

Another mindless violence game! Stay away!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 14 / 21
Date: November 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I wish I had read the reviews before buying this! If you are reading this before buying, be smart, believe us and stay away from this game.
If you expect a new version of the Harry Potter series forget it! This is a mindless violence game with very few options. From the moment it starts there is just fighting fighting fighting, it's not clear what you are fighting for or about! Just be efficient at killing stuff! No puzzles or hidden stuff to look for at least not in the first three tasks. I wanted to see if there was something further on but the controls are so bad that I just shut it down! Half the time you don't see where your character is going or what he's aiming at. The controls are relevant to the screen rather than to the character so if Harry is going down the hall all you see is a small section to his left. He is actually going straight but you have to press the left button, which is very difficult to master. You can't back him up- if you need to give yourself a little extra room to aim and you press the back (down) button then Harry is actually turning his back to the enemy. You can't change any of the controls if you don't like the defaults. I tried to play using a keyboard and the controls were very crude with no small adjustments. If you are familiar with the controls of the older games this is nothing like them. I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I was hoping for another version similar to the previous Harry Potter games, instead I get the "battle for middle earth"! SHAME ON EA!

REALLY GREAT GAME!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 14
Date: April 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I don't know why everyone thinks that this game sucks because it sure doesn't. Sure the camera angle is a little screwed up but that's really the only thing that's wrong with it, and I am already used to it.
Now, this game is different from all of the other Harry Potter games but it's not worse, Its actually one of the better ones. I think that the reason why everyone is bashing it is because they had 3 games that came out and they were all similar, and the one time when they change it everybody hates it...but I love it!!
It depends on what type of games you like. If you are a very action packed, adventure-type gamer, this game is perfect. And even if you are not, it's still a fabulous game.
The graphics are UNBELIEVABLE!! I mean they are CRAZY!! And I think that they use the real actors and actresses voices!
It's unbelievably accurate to the movie.
Don't let the other reviews discourage you. I thought that this game would be crappy too. But I had a demo of it on my Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire DVD. And I thought that the demo was great, so I asked for it for Easter and I got it and it's excellent! And the game is challenging but yet its not too easy....but it will still take you awhile to finish it.
So the bottom line is THIS GAME IS GREAT!!!! (well at least I think it is :)

Very poorly done

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: December 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you enjoyed the "first-person caster" perspective of the previous games, you'll want to avoid this one. Let me list a few of the many things wrong with it:

- No mouse! You have to use the arrow keys to walk around.
- No first person view! The camera is always facing north, and doesn't stay behind the characters. This means that you could be walking towards the bottom of your screen and have no idea what's there. This is probably the worst component of the whole game.
- Arcade style: This is not an exploration game -- it's a PS2 game redone for the PC. You use the arrow keys to move, and the Z, X, C, and S keys to cast spells. (See the PS2 controls re-mapped to the PC keyboard?) 95% of the game is jinxing creatures that keep attacking you while you're collecting shields. It's boring after about 5 minutes.

Stay away from this "dungbomb!"

Obviously not designed for PC gamers

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: December 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I am only at the second level of this game but have to confirm what other reviewers mentioned before: Getting the characters to go where you want them to go is a challenge and the fact that you cannot change the camera angle makes it even more difficult. You cannot choose what spells to cast and when you cast, aiming is a problem because the characters are so hard to control.

Oh well... what did I expect... This is just another moneymaker in the Harry Potter Franchise, not a game designed by people who enjoy the books and try to bring them to life!

What were they thinking???

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: December 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have All of the other Harry Potter PC games, and I love playing them still, but this one was horrible. As many of you are aware, the first PC game (Sorcerers Stone) was good but needed a little improvement. When the second one came along it was even better, and I think the third one was better still. I had high hopes for Goblet of Fire, but it was very dissapointing. Just moving your player in a straight line is a challange, directing spells is just as problematic, and I would say my biggest complaint is that you can't "look" very well. What I mean by that is you used to be able ( in the previous three) to kind of "pan-scan" the area so you could check everything out. This version has a very limited viewing range and I just don't like it. I find that these things to be so irritating that I have given up even trying to play it.

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