Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
North American cover art
Developer(s)	Amaze Entertainment Argonaut Games Eurocom
Publisher(s)	EA Games Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Series	Harry Potter
Engine	Unreal Engine 1.0
Platform(s)	Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Color, Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Apple Macintosh
Release	Macintosh
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a Template:Vgy action-adventure game published by Electronic Arts and developed by Eurocom for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and Game Boy Advance systems. It was simultaneously developed by Amaze Entertainment for Windows, Mac and the Game Boy Color systems. An original version was also created for the PlayStation. This was also the last game developed for the Game Boy Color in the United States.

Gameplay

The general gameplay of the game is rather basic. Taking control of Harry Potter, the player goes about the magical Hogwarts campus. Throughout the course of the game, the player will encounter events that tie into the second book's storyline.

Filling the gaps between these events are various classes, where the player will learn how to fly a broomstick and learn new spells for combating bosses, among other things. Each new spell is accompanied by a challenge, which the player must get through in a certain amount of time to complete that class period. During the later parts of the game, the player will face challenges which are not time-limited and are not related to learning spells. These challenges are all based on events from the book, for example traveling into the Forbidden Forest and gathering ingredients for a potion Hermione is making.

Story

For a complete synopsis, see Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

As a young wizard-in-training, Harry Potter can't wait to leave the non-magical world behind and return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year. But during the summer holidays, a most peculiar visitor appears in Harry's bedroom with a dire warning—disaster will strike if Harry returns to Hogwarts!

As the new term at school starts, the grave prediction he was warned about seems to be coming true. Strange and terrible events occur—and Harry always seems to be nearby. Panic reigns, but nobody knows who—or what—is to blame.

With the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, it's up to Harry to solve the mystery and clear his name, before another victim is claimed and Hogwarts is shut down for good!

Versions

Publisher	Year	Platform	Type	Metacritic score
Electronic Arts	2002	MS Windows	Role-playing game	77%
Aspyr	2002	Mac	Role-playing game	(not available)
Electronic Arts	2002	Game Boy Color	Role-playing game	(not available)
Electronic Arts	2002	Game Boy Advance	"Adventure/puzzle" game	76%
Electronic Arts	2002	GameCube	"Action adventure"	77%
Electronic Arts	2002	PlayStation	"Action adventure"	Insufficient reviews to calculate an average; individual review scores were 80%, 80% and 60%
Electronic Arts	2002	PlayStation 2	"Action adventure"	71%
Electronic Arts	2002	Xbox	"Action adventure"	77%

The PlayStation version of the game is entirely different from the other console versions. The game was developed by Argonaut Games exclusively for the aging console. Firmly aimed at younger gamers, it is mostly made up of a series of mini-games that people do when not attending class.

There are also slight differences between the three other console versions of the game. The PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of the game allow the player to access a broom and enter free-flight mode. While the PlayStation 2 version allows the player to land anywhere they want, in the Xbox version the landing zones are limited. In the GameCube version, there is an exclusive feature involving GC-GBA connectivity that allows a secret room to be opened in the GC version when connected with the GBA version of the game. The Xbox version also offers exclusive features such as special challenges with scores to beat; also, the graphics on the Xbox version of the game are slightly more refined than that of its counterparts. The PS2/XB/GC versions were shorter than all of the other versions (unless doing connectivity in the GC version), it does not follow the events of the book closely at all, all the spell challenges are very short and many characters are cut including Dobby, Peeves and Professor Sprout. There was also a shortage of quests since collecting ingredients for the polyjuice potion was cut out, and unlike the PC version you cannot do duelling whenever you want.

The PC/Mac version of the game, which was created by a different developer than the console versions, features completely different levels and game play from its console cousins. It also follows the story of the book and film much more closely than the console versions. Unlike all other versions you start off at Hogwarts.

The Game Boy Color version is a typical role-playing game. However, it lets you play as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Gilderoy Lockhart at various points in the game.

The Game Boy Advance version has the least spells, but follows the events of the book very closely. It is based on the PS2/XB/GC and Mac versions. It is mostly made up of mini-quests (unlike other versions except GBC).

The PC and Mac versions of the game are exactly alike except in Mac version, everything resets often and you'll need USB disk or blank CD to turn on the debug mode.

Awards

The musical score for the game, created by Jeremy Soule, was awarded a BAFTA Award for Best Score, Game Music Category.

External links

• Official website
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at Eurocom