Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - GBA

The Harry Potter phenomenon is officially universal. In a few years time, BBC2's I Love the 00's will surely feature some minor celebrity, racking their media-yahoo, coke-addled brain, and exclaiming, '...oh yeah, it was really, really great'. For once, their memories will not be false.

2001 has seen the big screen version, and Harry Potter is now making his way onto the Game Boy Advance. Is it worth a look? Oh, yes.

The Philosopher’s Stone for Game Boy Advance may not be as graphically and technically accomplished as it’s PC and PlayStation counterparts, but that’s not to say it’s any less intriguing or playable. On the contrary, considering the hardware the game runs on, the pre-rendered backdrops look absolutely stunning and the character animation, although simple, is extremely fluid.

At the start, you will be subjected to a rather long but worthwhile introduction that helps to set the scene of this Harry Potter adventure. The game, although visually simple, offers a highly atmospheric gaming experience, in which a complex and challenging puzzle-orientated game takes place. The Philosopher’s Stone is host to some truly mind-bending challenges. Some involve solving mysteries, others will have the player trapped in a room with no way out. Of course, there is always a way, you just have to find it. The controls are uncomplicated and easy to get to grips with – ideal for the game’s target audience.

The Philosopher’s Stone for Game Boy Advance is another great addition both to the Harry Potter merchandising machine, and to EA’s bustling portfolio. Excellent.
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