Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2476 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Electronic Arts
• Released on: 2005-08-23
• Platform: PlayStation2

Manufacturer's Description
Continuing the game design style first used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the graphics and gameplay for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone--previously available for the PlayStation, PC, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy Color--are updated for next-generation consoles for an even richer experience in Hogwarts year one. Making the most of new technology, the locations in and around Hogwarts and Diagon Alley are displayed in 3-D.

Players take the role of Harry Potter as he arrives for his first year at Hogwarts and embarks on a journey to unravel the mystery of the Philosopher's Stone. An adventure full of fun and magic, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone allows players to explore a variety of multi-layered 3-D environments. The game includes encounters with many of the characters familiar to readers of the fiction, including Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Rubeus Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, and his nemesis Draco Malfoy.

Customer Reviews

Definitely the best Potter game to date
This was a very enjoyable game. It is based on the same castle as used in Chamber of Secrets, but with some differences. For example, you no longer need any special spells to use the main secret passages, allowing you to explore/use these from the beginning. Also, instead of simply going into a classroom and seeing what chests are there, there is a puzzle element to relealing these chests - different in each room, which is quite nice.

The variety of spells is quite good, if slightly samey to players of previous games, and the puzzle element is excellent.

On the negative side, you have no access to the Quidditch pitch in this game (although you do have to play a single game of Quidditch) - there is a disappointing lack of flying challenges available. On the other hand the flying sim seems much better, and you can go through archways, and through passages without banging your head on the ceiling! You can also fly at night, once you (eventually) get your broom.

Another minus point is that there is still no mechanism for skipping cut scenes - not so much a problem first time through the story, but very irritating when you have returned to a save.

There are one or two tedious bits, but nothing in comparison to the previous Potter games. On the whole, this is a good game, but if you already have Chamber of Secrets, it's not worth the money atm - wait till the price drops, or buy it second-hand.

Surprisingly good
If you've read the description on Amazon (as of 18 December this was unchanged) have no fear: they're wrong. This game is not the PS1 version upgraded, it's a completely different game and worth the money.

Using the same background as Chamber of Secrets, the graphics are crisp and clear and the game enjoyably playable. The spell challenges are challenging enough without being too complicated for younger players, and the monsters are suitably monstrous, and some quite difficult to defeat. The story is, of course, essentially the one from the book, adapted to a game, but it is only in this that the new game resembles the PS1 version.

In short, it's lots of fun for HP fans.

Philospher's Stone Game - Best Harry Potter Game
I'd read the books and seen the movies, so when I saw that there was video games I thought I would give them a try. Philospher's Stone was the first one I got and I love it, there was so many puzzles and tasks to keep you entertained for hours. All the tasks are taken from certain situations that Harry has to overcome in the books and movies but with a twist, the situations can't always be solved how you know there suppose too. so you do have to use the little grey cells to make it all the way through.

Some people might say its too easy for adults, but some of the puzzles aren't that easy to figure out, and the tasks are all about what you have do do, pick up or achieve to overcome the next task. I would reccommend this game, for not just children but adults as well.