Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)

Infobox VG
title = Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


caption=
developer = Eurocom (PS2, Xbox, and GCN versions)
Amaze Entertainment (PC and GBC versions)
Argonaut Games (PS1 version)
publisher = EA Games/Warner Bros. Interactive
designer =
engine = Unreal Engine 1.0
released = vgrelease|North America|NA|November 14, 2002
vgrelease|PAL Region|PAL|November 15, 2002
vgrelease|Japan|JPN|November 23, 2002
genre = Action, Adventure
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: Everyone (E)
ELSPA: 3+
OFLC: G
platforms = PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, PC, PSone, GBA, Mac, Game Boy Color
media =
requirements =
input =

The video game "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was released in 2002. It was published by Electronic Arts and developed by Eurocom for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube systems. It was simultaneously developed by Amaze Entertainment for the PC the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color handheld systems. An original version was also created for the PlayStation One. This was also the last game for the Game Boy Color in the United States.

Cast

This is the list of the voice doubles of the film cast:

*Stephen Fry - Narrator
*Tom Attenborough - Harry Potter
*Greg Chillin - Ron Weasley
*Jonathan Kydd - Albus Dumbledore
*Emily Robison - Hermione Granger
*Victoria Robinson - Ginny Weasley/Moaning Myrtle
*Joseph McFadden - Fred & George Weasley/Percy Weasley/Mr Weasley
*Daniel Irving - Draco Malfoy/Slytherin Student
*Charlotte Fudge - Eleven students
*Ben Avis - Fourteen students
*David Coker - Rubeus Hagrid/Severus Snape/Tom Riddle

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.

tory

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

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger return to Hogwarts School of Magic to begin their second year. Not all is peaceful, however: various students (including Hermione later on) are found magically petrified and there are rumours of an Heir of Slytherin being behind it all. Suspicion turns to Harry being the culprit behind the attacks. But when Ginny Weasley is kidnapped and taken into the Chamber of Secrets, Harry and Ron are forced to go inside and try to rescue her.

Characters

:"Note: not all characters appear in all versions of the game."

*Harry Potter: a brave twelve-year-old wizard. Main character and is a playable character.
*Ron Weasley: Harry's best friend, usually seen leading Harry to class or to the Quidditch stadium, or in cut scenes. He turns into Crabbe (not in PC nor Xbox version) when Harry turns into Goyle.
*Hermione Granger: a brainy girl who is rarely with Harry most of the game, except in cut scenes. She is Petrified (temporarily paralysed) toward the end of the game.
*Ginny Weasley: Ron's little sister, who Harry has to rescue at the end of the game. In the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube versions, Harry also has to find several things that she lost in Diagon Alley.
*Fred and George Weasley: twins, older brothers of Ron and Ginny. They have a very minor role in the PC version, but in the PS2/Xbox/GC versions, they give Harry a refresher on the "flipendo" spell, teach him how to toss gnomes, and once back at Hogwarts, they open a shop in Gryffindor tower where Harry can purchase items like stink pellets and non-explosive balloons (to assist in evading prefects), potion vials, "Famous Witches and Wizards" cards and the "alohomora" spell book. The shop is only open at night.
*Neville Longbottom: one of Harry's roommates; a clumsy, forgetful boy. In the PS2/Xbox/GameCube versions, he is trapped behind a tapestry, and Harry has to find the "diffindo" spell in order to free him.
*Draco Malfoy: Harry's archenemy and seeker of the Slytherin Quidditch team, usually found sneaking around at night.
*Moaning Myrtle: a ghost who haunts the second-floor girls' bathroom.
*Albus Dumbledore: the Headmaster of Hogwarts. While normally absent from a good part of the game, he features prominently in a cutscene in which he tells Harry that he does not think that Harry is the Heir of Slytherin. He also appears at the end of each day to announce the latest house-point totals.
*Professor Snape: the Potions teacher. Known for being unusually strict, he is usually to be found in the dungeons, near his classroom.
*Professor McGonagall: the Transfiguration teacher. Her classroom is located on the right side of the first floor.
*Professor Flitwick: the Charms teacher. His classroom is located on the right side of the second floor. Also head of Ravenclaw House.
*Professor Lockhart: the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. His classroom is located on the third floor.
*Hagrid: a very large half-man, half-giant, usually found in his cottage on the grounds.
*Professor Sprout: the Herbology teacher. She teaches in the greenhouses, which are located on the right-hand side of the grounds.
*Madam Hooch (PS2/Xbox/GBA): the Flying teacher. She teaches a flying lesson in an outside lawn area, and thereafter is always found there during the day if Harry wants to try to improve his score on the flight-training course.
*Oliver Wood (PS2/Xbox/GBA/PC): Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. He calls Harry to his first Quidditch practice of the year, and thereafter is always found at the Quidditch stadium during the day if Harry wants to try to improve his practice time for catching the snitch.
*Percy Weasley (PS2/Xbox/GBA): a Gryffindor prefect, older brother of Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. Percy can be found in the Gryffindor Tower study room at night; he does not like to be disturbed, and will throw Harry out of the room if he sees or hears him. Unfortunately, the only way to reach Fred and George's shop (see above) is through the study room.
*Peeves (PC): A poltergeist that enjoys making chaos around Hogwarts. If Harry runs into him, Peeves will cause trouble for him until Harry has gotten rid of him.

Differences among versions

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 PC version of the game, which was created by a different developer than the console versions, features completely different levels and gameplay from its console cousins. It also follows the story of the book and film much more closely than the console versions.

The Game Boy Color version is a typical role-playing game. However, it lets you play as Harry, Ron, and Hermione at various points in the game. The Game Boy Advance version is an isometric adventure game. It tries to bring the console version as a whole to the GBA.

Awards

The musical score for the game, created by Jeremy Soule, was awarded a BAFTA Award for Best Score, Game Music Category. [http://65.61.32.89/index2.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.eurocom.co.uk/index.php/video-games/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets] at Eurocom
* [http://harrypotter.ea.com/# Official website]
*moby game|id=/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets |name=Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)