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For the first time gamers will play as friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as well as Harry Potter, switching between characters and utilizing their key attributes and skills to resolve challenges and overcome enemies. The three friends will need to combine their strengths and master a variety of new spells as they face Harry's most terrifying opponents yet: the escaped convict Sirius Black and the Dementors, the sinister guards of Azkaban prison. From the opening scene on the Hogwarts Express to the climatic finale on the shore of the great lake at Hogwarts, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban videogame will immerse players in the magical world of Harry Potter. Players will unravel the mystery surrounding Sirius Black and his escape from the infamous wizard prison Azkaban, as they take part in the most exciting and challenging Harry Potter videogame adventure yet. Gamers will encounter a host of new characters and creatures, engage in a variety of sub-quests, fly on a Hippogriff, reveal the secrets of the Marauder's Map, and take on their friends in multiple two-player challenges. [Electroinc Arts]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 80
Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
A genuinely good third-year romp for Harry. Accomplished and absorbing, it's not quite magical but it's certainly no muggle either. [GamesMaster]
 80
Next Level Gaming
It is by far the best Harry Potter game made to date.
75
Play Magazine
I only wish they didn't vocally prod you to death to such a mind numbing degree. [July 2004, p.73]
75
GameSpy
Being able to explore Hogwart's as not one, but all three of your favorite characters is, as Ron would put it, brilliant. Older gamers will find little challenge in the game's simplistic block puzzles.
75
Worth Playing
A person who loves the Books and/or the Movies should enjoy this game. Their love of all things Harry Potter will get beyond the game’s few shortcomings.
73
Game Over Online
It poses a relaxed mental challenge. Most of the obstacles are not time-sensitive meaning those in the younger crowd can take longer to figure out what they're supposed to do to get to the next area.
72
Xbox World Australia
It doesn’t stray much outside the established action/adventure genre, and while not particularly challenging, it is quite fun to play and would be particularly well suited to those who like their games to be quite cruisey.
70
Yahoo! Games
The combat difficulty level is forgiving, and the game guides you through the puzzles with helpful clues and hints from the other characters. Less experienced gamers -- who, let's face it, are really the ones the game is aimed at -- will find its light touch very rewarding.
70
Official Xbox Magazine
Plus there's no Quidditch - what's with that noise? [Aug 2004, p.78]
70
GameSpot
A by-the-numbers movie-licensed game that makes pretty good use of its source material without really doing anything too surprising. It's perfect for kids.
68
WHAM! Gaming
Fans of the books and films will enjoy the chance to explore the Hogwarts grounds and do things like ride Buckbeak the hippogriff and collect all of the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, but there's not a lot in this game to appeal to your average Muggle.
68
GameZone
A step down from the enjoyable "Chamber of Secrets."
67
Team Xbox
The game does have issues, such as poor collision detection and very clunky controls. Add that to the relatively easy gameplay, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has some problems.
67
Gaming Age
The game is very linear and hopefully one day the EA team will expand this title with a bit more freedom.
65
Game Informer
I wish I could say that Prisoner of Azkaban was a bold new start for the series. It's not, but this is a significantly better game than either of the previous two entries. [July 2004, p.111]
65
1UP
While it's true that things have improved, that doesn't mean it's suddenly a great game. While the downplaying of the storyline does help streamline the game, it also makes your goals seem a little disconnected and random.
65
Electronic Gaming Monthly
A simple, solid adventure with smart puzzles and high production values, but it leads its junior wizards through every baby step. [Aug 2004, p.101]
61
IGN
Feels sloppy. The framerate is unpredictable. There are control and lock-on issues. There are artificial intelligence oversights. And there are some collision detection problems.
60
Ferrago
It ticks a number of very basic and previously-defined boxes with unbending efficiency, throwing in a few commendable moments of surprising fun, drenched in the usual superficial fineries (the visuals, recognisable characters, plotlines, set-pieces, et al) with which many an EA game has plied its trade in the past.
60
Xbox Nation Magazine
If you love Harry Potter, don't mind that characters talk and whine incessantly, and would like to see Hermione push around an ice block over and over again, Azkaban is good for a few hours of fun. [Aug 2004, p.94]
60
Gamestyle
It's a shame that the [movie] actors did not assume the speaking parts, but there's always a next time.
59
TotalGames.net
As always, there are plenty of cards, beans and secrets to find if you've got a craving for that 100 per cent completion feeling, but if not, the credits will be rolling long before the proverbial cows make it home.
50
Game Revolution
Compared to the PS2's EyeToy games and the Gamecube's GBA connectivity option, the Xbox version got shafted for extras.
Tetew E. gave it a 10: |
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