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unlike any pc game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 21 / 26
Date: November 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

this review is for pc version

basically the game lacked any customization.
but my biggest problem with this game is its camera system.
You don't have free third person camera. The game is only top view similiar to RTS games.

There are a lot of things missing in this game
1- camera is not what used to be ( previous harry potter games had mouse/camera free movement).
2- no mouse support
3- no video settings
4- no audio settings
5- no key reassignment.

Disappointed

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 127 / 146
Date: November 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I'm so disappointed with the new Harry Potter game. It was not made to be played on a PC. The controls are terrible. The perspective is confusing. You're not always behind the character, but when he turns around he starts walking towards you. I can't even make Harry walk in a straight line. I think he's a little drunk. And the bertie botts beans actually jump out of your way, so they can be hard to pick up, which is really annoying. I can't even cast a normal spell, because I'm not sure how to get my character pointed in the right direction. The cut scenes even suck; they're not even animated. The first level is just running around the campsite at the quidditch world cup button mashing monsters that get in front of you. The second part is the same darn thing but you're supposed to be in different rooms of a defense against the dark arts classroom. Boo hisss. I was just playing the third game last night and I've played that through more than once and it was loads more fun than this one. Really, the GOF game is just a playstation game that they tried to make work on a PC, and it totally doesn't. All the secrets and fun are gone (at least in the first two parts), so what's the point? I was already getting bored and frustrated, and I only played for a few minutes. Maybe it gets better??? I can hope.

Throw this game in the goblet of fire.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 21 / 24
Date: November 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Apparently EA Games decided it would be wise to sacrifice fun for the sake of graphics. I loved the first two games in this series and liked the third (though not as much as the second). Goblet of Fire is completely different. To start off with, the controls are so different from the previous three games that it takes some adjusting. Once you have adjusted, though, you realize that the game is nowhere near as challenging or fun as the first three. The visuals are better, sure, but who cares if the game is no good? I miss being able to control the angle, explore on my own, use the mouse, etc., etc., etc. Plus, this game costs a lot more than the others did!! I wish I had that money back.

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!

Don't waste your money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 27 / 28
Date: November 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

After playing the first three HP games with my daughter, we both looked forward to #4. What a huge disappointment. Gone are looking for secrets areas. Gone are the amazingly beautiful graphics of the Hogwards interior or the school grounds, the bean bonus room and spongify. No cool games like flying Buckbeak and dueling matches.

What replaced the stuff that made the other three HP games so much fun? An impossible player control system. Playing with the keyboard controls (which can't be customized) is the definition of frustrating. Even with an external game controller, it isn't possible to accurately cast a spell or even make a character walk in a straight line. The extremely high view angle (which can't be changed) often causes walls and other things to completely block the view of your character. There is no control whatsoever of any video or audio settings. In fact, the only customizable item on the "Options" page is toggling subtitles on and off.

The various areas to explore are disjointed and unrelated to each other. There doesn't seem to be any point in progressing from one area to another. Another change from HP 1-3 is a system of collecting cards which then can be used to augment a character to add stamina, cast better charms/jinxes and to be more effective against certain creatures. But when the final big battles occur in the maze and Voldemort stages, the chance to beef up Harry to prepare for the battle with collector cards is suddenly gone. Really dumb.

One cool feature of GOF is the ability to let multiple players enjoy the games at the same time. Up to three humans can each control either Harry, Hermoine or Ron. External game controllers are required for 2 or 3 player game play. Be aware though that when my daughter and I played with a controller and keyboard, the game lost track of the character controlled by the keyboard whenever the game action got heavy. The keyboard character would just stop reacting. In an area where it takes 3 to levitate a block, an uncontrollable character is a showstopper.

The GOF system of charms and jinxes is a mystery, even after finishing the game. There are about a dozen jinxes available, but except for about two, there doesn't seem to be any way to intentionally cast any of them. The strange part is that after each stage, the game shows the progress made in developing each jinx...as if it's important and something a player has any control over. In battle, just pressing "X" as quickly as possible results in random jinxes. Unfortunately, all it takes to win the battles is a quick finger. There isn't any strategy.

To summarize:

Pros:

- Multi-player control of characters
- Nice graphics

Cons:

- Impossibly frustrating point of view and character control system
- No customization of any game features
- Radical departure from all the things that made the 1st three HP games so much fun
- Pointless succession of game scenes

EA really blew it on this one. Don't waste your money.

A Disappointing Change to say the least...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 21 / 22
Date: November 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I recently purchased the new Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire game from Electronic Arts. I would have to say that although the graphics seem more realistic, that has been at the expense of game functionality. The game no longer has mouse support for spells and the whole setup of the game is different than the first three and I find it boring and hard to function. Anyone who loved the first three games, save your money on this game-its just not worth it and if you decide to purchase it, will find yourself disappointed too. Electronic Arts-the game wasn't broke the way it was set up-why did you try and fix it! Very Disappointing Indeed!

Shame there's no Zero star rating

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 17 / 19
Date: November 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

They've got to be kidding. It isn't a PC game its an arcade game or ought to be. The user controls on this game are so unfriendly that even my husband the computer genius of the family washed his hands of it after 10 minutes. My 13 yr old daughter loved the first three games but wants her money back for this one. No one in my house wants to play it except my four year old son and he keeps expecting us to fix it.

Unlike every other HP game that has been released... saddly..

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 93 / 109
Date: November 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Unlike every other HP game that has been released... saddly..

I enjoyed the last 3 HP games, so much so that I would sit and play them until they were complete. They were fun little games, secret areas to explore, colorful graphics and fun side games. This game lacks all aspects of the previous. It's not fun, the controls are difficult at best,and there is no mouse support.

I can only hope that EA learns from their mistake and takes this back to it's original charm of the first three.

In a few words, if you want to play a fun Harry Potter game, buy the first three games and enjoy.. avoid this one at all cost.

Please Please Don't Waste Your Money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 16 / 17
Date: November 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

My daughter and I have played and replayed Harry Potter 1-3, spending hours in thorough enjoyment. This one is TERRIBLE, AWFUL and HORRIBLE! Impossible to control your character, move, cast spells, explore and all the other things that made the previous games fun. We hope EA reads these reviews and offers to refund or redo this game. You'll want to throw your computer out the window after about 5 incredibly frustrating minutes!!!

Very disappointing

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 17 / 18
Date: November 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I completely agree with the other reviews. I loved the first three HP games, but this one is very different. It's difficult and awkward to control the character you're playing... you're just shooting jinxes at random hoping it hits whatever's coming at you. I really miss the more realistic controls and camera movements from the other games. For those thinking about purchasing this game in hopes that it'll be as much fun as the others, just be forewarned that it's nothing like them!

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