Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1761 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2007-06-28
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review

‘The boy who lived’ is another movie hero whose video game adventures never seem to have matched up to the quality of his films (or books). Rather than simply repeat the predictable third person action of previous games though, this is something a bit different. It’s almost a sort of Grand Theft Auto: Hogwarts (or a variation on The Simpson’s: Hit & Run for those that are too young to know about Rockstar’s naughty blockbusters).

What this means in practical terms is that you’ve got almost the whole of Hogwarts school to explore from the off, with different missions of varying degrees of importance available from different locations. You now control only Harry, with Hermione or Ron reduced to supporting roles, although there are some short sections where you can play as Fred and George Weasley instead. The re-focus on Harry is a result of the sheer number of magical spells available to him now, from standard offensive and defensive magic to summons and levitation spells that help you uncover and unlock the hidden secret of Hogwarts.

Casting spells isn’t as simple as just pressing a button though, as you’re made to actually trace out a magical symbol using the controller (something that works particularly well on the Wii), which adds greatly to the sense of immersion. There’s also a range of similarly controlled mini-games, including wizard chess and gobstones, which you can play either in or out of the game. It’s all a vast improvement on the previous titles, with similarly superior graphics and a general air of effort not usually associated with film tie-ins.
Harrison Dent

Manufacturer's Description:
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizarding community is in denial about the teenager’s recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort, preferring to turn a blind eye to the news that Voldemort has returned. Fearing that Hogwarts’ venerable Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, is lying about Voldemort’s return in order to undermine his power and take his job, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, appoints a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. But Professor Dolores Umbridge’s Ministry-approved course of defensive magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces threatening them and the entire wizarding community, so at the prompting of his friends Hermione and Ron, Harry takes matters into his own hands. Meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore’s Army," Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the courageous young wizards for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead.

With the ability to play multiple characters, including Harry Potter, Dumbledore and Sirius Black, the videogame of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix offers fans the opportunity to wield a wand, explore all around Hogwarts, and experience one of the most exciting and dangerous years in the life of the Boy Who Lived.

Customer Reviews

Best Potter yet!!
After playing demos and reading reviews of Harry Potter 4, I was so disappointed that I didn't buy it, the first Potter game I haven't owned. So, while eagerly awaiting the 7th book, I was understandably not expecting much from the latest game. However, after reading a review, which touted its qualities, I took the plunge and bought it. My copy arrived this morning and already I love it. It is so different from previous games in terms of graphics and atmosphere, and the tasks are challenging enough to warrant serious effort. Whilst the controls aren't spectacular, they are steady and eassily manageable, and spell-casting, unlike previous button-bashing, is a joy - using the right analog stick to cast increasingly intricate spells.
The whole game is free-roaming, and there are literally no loading waits. It is possible to walk or sprint all the way from Hagrid's Hut to the Gryffindor Common Room. Not that you'd want to do it all that fast. With breath-taking graphics that show that the PS2 is far from dead, exploring Hogwarts is a privilege. There are many things to do in each and every room, which only you can discovere, sometimes with the aid of school friends. For instance, in the Gryffindor Common Room, small compared to other areas, there are logs to be put on the fire, wizard chess to play, portraits to talk too, and a snitch to find.
There are other small aspects to the game that make it the best Potter game yet. For instance, talking to the portraits will give you tasks to do in order to discover their password, to uncover areas of the castle. Also, by challenging schoolmates to games, you can become a champion at Exploding Snap, Gobstones, and Wizard Chess. The Marauder's map once again plays a big part, as you can select people or locations to find and then follow ghostly footprints in the game to find your destination. However, you may prefer to just wander around the castle at will, exploring secret areas and earning discovery points - a key part of the game, these can be earned by fixing things around the castle and unlockables can be found at the room of rewards.
The main thing about this game that makes it most different to the previous installments, is the feel of it. Hogwarts seems almost perfectly recreated from the films, authorized by J K Rowling - the characters are voiced by the real film actors andf, for the first time, the authentic film music is used. All of these add up to create an extra-special magical atmosphere that makes the game what it is. For once, the game is a credit to the books and the film and is worthy of the title Harry Potter.

FANTASTIC! BEST HP GAME YET!!
After being thoroughly disappointed by the 4th game is was paranoid about buying the 5th in the series but I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS!!

ITS AMAZING!! its much more like the second and third but BETTER! You can explore Hogwarts once more!! beautiful music, stunning visuals and wonderful character interaction! Not only this, but you have tons of freedom to do whatever tasks you want and there are millions of mini quests and secret passageways!

The other thing i love about it (and tbh most of the HP games) is that though it's visually a reminder of the film (especially in this game the makers have incorporated many corridoors like in the film), its also very true to the book. Little details add to the game such as like the fact that Snape sets Harry an essay on the properties of Moonstone - which hapens in the book! (don't look at me like that, i know this because i recently read the 5th book -_-)

I would definately recommend this to anyone, even if they're not a Harry Potter fan! who wouldn't enjoy venturing an enchanted castle, waving spells here and there?

Flawed, but great for HP fans!!!
To be brutally honest, the gameplay in this title isn't all that great. However, the thing that makes this game special and really worth buying is the sheer amount of effort EA has put into it. Any harry potter fan will really appreciate it!

The blueprints from the movie have been followed exactly, so every scene from the movie can be visited in this game, not to mention the added discoveries and missions to be found. The graphics are really great too, with lush outdoor courtyards and stony indoor corridors.

This game is really worth getting if you like harry potter - nearly everything from the book has been mentioned!! The game is cram-packed with funny references from the book and film, so this alone will keep you occupied for ages!!

There are tiny flaws with the game though, I have to admit. Firstly, the game is a bit on the short side; I completed the main storyline in about a week, but to be fair there are trillions of fun sidequests and minigames which add on a few hours of gameplay. Also, exploring hogwarts, without much action along the way, can get slightly tiresome.

In conclusion, if you like harry potter at all, I really encourage you to get this game for the likeness to the book/film and the graphical design in general. If you don't like harry potter (you probably do if you're reading this...) it might be best to get the game cheap or not at all.