Metacritic Games

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (GameCube)

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is mysteriously selected as the fourth competitor in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament. Each contestant in this international competition must confront a fire-breathing dragon, rescue friends from the icy depths of the Black Lake, and navigate the twisting mysteries of a vast, dangerous maze. Players experience all the thrills of the movie - from the Quidditch World Cup campsite to a heart-stopping duel with Lord Voldemort himself. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are all playable characters, modeled after their big-screen counterparts. In this game, an all-new spell-casting system allows players to feel the magic for the first time as the controller shakes and reacts with every flick of the wand. Players can also team up with friends in co-operative play to combine their magic and produce more powerful spells than ever before. [Electronic Arts]

Electronic Arts / Warner Bros.
Third-Person Action, Adventure
Players: 3
E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
Developer: Electronic Arts UK
Released November 8, 2005

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

69 / 100

Critic Reviews

85 Nintendo Power
A great leap forward for the Potter franchise, and a fun and inclusive gaming experience. [Jan 2006, p.107]
80 PGNx Media
The game changes a few of the things Harry fans have come to expect from the games, and though aimed at a younger audience, Harry fans will find a lot to like in the game.
75 GameZone
While it could have had more movie/book elements tied into the gaming experience, the existing game is fun enough.
75 Play Magazine
A fine, if not predictable, bit of movie gaming. [Jan 2006, p.49]
75 eToychest
Series fans will find a lot to love in this title, which offers an attractive, immersive, and most importantly, fun excursion into the world of J.K. Rowling's imaginative works.
73 GameSpot
It's a worthwhile platforming experience for hardcore Potter fans, but some may be put off by all the collection quests and backtracking.
72 IGN
The game's not perfect. There are some camera issues. Some AI issues. And I really would have preferred to have more control over spells. But it still arrives as a solid entry to the series. Kids will probably like it a lot.
70 GameSpy
The constant action means the Harry Potter series has always lent itself well to the video-game format, and thankfully (albeit surprisingly) EA has mostly improved upon their winning formula, while upping the ante visually and adding welcome multiplayer features, easily making the Goblet of Fire their best adaptation yet.
70 Cheat Code Central
The linear nature of the gameplay ensures that you will be forced into the various scenes as the director and developer intended. The puzzles and mini-games are fun but they are like eating candy floss; there's not much nourishment.
70 NintendoWorldReport
Having three wizards running around and casting spells at the same time allows for some interesting gameplay, but you'll only get to experience it if you have friends to play with.
70 Pelit (Finland)
Nothing more than a bunch of minigames that suffer from an awkward camera system. [Dec 2005]
70 Armchair Empire
A game parents will be able to safely play with their pre-teen kids.
68 N-Insanity
In the end, GoF is an action game aimed specifically at younger players. There’s simply not enough diversity to keep a more seasoned gamer entertained for long periods of time.
65 Game Informer
Goblet of Fire is the best console Harry Potter action game yet, but it's still a far cry from good. [Dec 2005, p.161]
60 GamePro
The inability of this series to learn from its mistakes is baffling. You'll often find yourself fighting enemies you can't see because some decorative element in the foreground entirely blocks your view, and you've zero control over the camera.
60 Jolt Online Gaming UK
Somewhat annoyingly, the game often requires you to tackle each level a multiple number of times in order to collect items such as shields before the next area is unlocked.
60 Sydney Morning Herald
The highlight is a brief but thrilling broomstick chase against a fire-breathing dragon. An underwater interlude is less successful, although it provides variety.
60 G4 TV
A mostly average button masher that has the good luck of being associated with the hottest kids' property to come along in years.
50 AceGamez
Seasoned gamers will find very little of interest here, regardless of how massive a Harry Potter fan you are (personally I love the books and the films).
50 Total Video Games
An unbelievably lazy title that just feels cheap. It has poor gameplay that the target audience will just fall asleep at, which only adds to the infuriating realisation that it will still sell thanks to the lightning scarred teen’s name.

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