Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (GBA)

Following a strong introduction sequence, it's quickly down to the action in the Game Boy Advance version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. For unlike the Game Boy Color version, the game kicks off with Harry already at Hogwarts, and with some fast learning to do. You step into Harry's shoes, initially moving from classroom to classroom learning new skills and spells, before indulging in activities such as sneaking out of your dormitory at night, fighting off trolls and having a quick game of Quidditch too. You certainly can't accuse the developers of trying to short-change the fans, as it seems they've tried to cram as much of the film into the game.

Unfortunately, that's also at the root of the game's main problem. While it tries to cover all angles of the plot, it does mean that some segments of the game lack a little polish, and aren't always that enjoyable. Sure, there's some great fun to be had with the game, and the quality of the graphics means players will instantly relate it to the film. It's just that perhaps a little more development time could have paid dividends. Nonetheless, fans of both the film and books are likely to get some enjoyment out of the game, even if arguably it's inferior to the Game Boy Color version. And if you're not overwhelmed by Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, you can wager on one certainty--this isn't the last we've seen of Mr Potter on the Game Boy Advance... --Simon Brew