Xbox

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire does a good job of recreating the film for fans of the movie. Though it appears to be aimed at younger fans, Harry fans of all ages will find something to enjoy in the game.

Target audience not withstanding, the Goblet of Fire is still a fun little action romp, and given the lack of true cooperative multiplayer games these days, one that should attract both the loyal Potter fans and multiplayer gamers.

While not many who aren’t a fan of all things Harry Potter will find a reason to play Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, wizard-wannabes under the age of 15 will be infatuated. A sharp, visual style and a great co-op mode that overcomes the average action gameplay provide a wonderfully wizardly good time despite a too-short and too-easy escapade.

For its shortcomings and benefits, it is what it is — a more action-based game based on a book and movie of the same style. It is not deep and meticulous like others, but it has plenty of energy and thrills for a different mood and design. How exciting would it be if the same game was created year after year? Change is good, though I think they can put a little more in it to separate it from similar genres. Still, as it is, it’s likely to cast a spell on fans and fans of the genre, alike.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a highly polished, drop-dead gorgeous, by-the-numbers scripted action game brought to you in stunning detail, exuding the mood and gothic allure of the film almost perfectly. After choosing Hermione, Harry, the awkwardly pubescent Ron (or all three in co-op), disciples set about the business of dispensing nightmare creatures by collecting Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavor Beans to activate cards that bolster the trio’s casting and defensive powers as they combine spells, charms and jinxes to take on a cauldron of film-endemic missions, including some eye-catching encounters with the Hungarian Horntail dragon. The trio’s animations are somewhat limited and they skate a bit making for some clumsy moments, but otherwise Goblet’s a fine, if not predictable, bit of movie gaming.

The ingredients are there for something good, but they need more time in the cauldron before this game can bubble to the top.

As a platformer aimed at the younger crowd of Potter fans, The Goblet of Fire does a good job at delivering an experience that is in line with the plot of the books. Even if you're an older fan of the Harry Potter books, the game is still worth checking out, especially if you've got two other friends to play the game in three-player cooperative mode. It's definitely not quite as awe-inspiring an experience as seeing the films, but if you want a more interactive take on what it might be like to be in the world of magic, The Goblet of Fire video game will suit you just fine.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire does what you expect from such a game. It doesn't stray away from the storyline and characters we know from the book and movie, offers the necessary action and adventure, and adds to that the obligatory collecting anger that's so predictable with console games.

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. Older players, on the other hand, might want to stick with the book and movie, as both are significantly more engaging.

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. There's still much they could be doing with the series, but Harry Potter fans looking for a way to become part of the adventure certainly won't be disappointed.

I would recommend renting this game for a weekend. Although there are a lot collectibles to gather you may not care to replay the game just to compulsively collect everything. The rewards are just not worth the effort in my opinion. Otherwise it's a good revisiting of the movie or novel.

Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire is, like I have said several times through this review, a capable but average action adventure game that could have been a lot better than the final product. If you are a huge Harry Potter fan, you will still find it neat to play as the trio of characters, but there just isn't enough in this game to warrant this as anything more than a rental.

Casual games looking for a magical good time of spells and wonderment won’t find that in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but hardcore fans of the books and movies will dig on another way to get their Potter fix. The magical spells don’t feel as deep and compelling as portrayed in the books/films, and the overall game experience becomes stale and repeated by the end. Stand out moments from the story are included, so fans will have a hoot picking those events out. For the game’s sake, a clearer presentation of the story would have helped bring in those gamers not familiar with the Potter universe, but for those new to the territory, stick to a rental after catching the film.

I wouldn't say this is a great game. Heck, I might not even say it's a good game. However, if you're looking for a decent multiplayer action/adventure, or you're a big fan of the series, then Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire game might be just right for you!

The team-based obstacles are greatly overused and usually have you doing stupid things like putting out fires. Goblet of Fire is the best console Harry Potter action game yet, but it's still a far cry from good.

Electronic Arts aborde ce nouvel opus de Harry Potter sous un angle totalement nouveau. La dimension plates-formes/exploration qui dominait précédemment disparaît au profit d'une action rythmée qui vaut surtout pour la possibilité qu'elle offre à trois joueurs de prendre part à l'aventure. Le soft n'est ainsi pas dépourvu de bonnes idées mais il s'avère un peu limité sur le long terme.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is not the title that will earn the game series the growing acclaim enjoyed by the last two film adaptations. A satisfying approach to the visual aspects of world-building hints at the possibility of a more complex adventure, but Goblet never delivers. Wasting the amped-up drama of the Triwizard Tournament on simplistic tasks that are actually less enjoyable than the levels you have to complete to arrive at them, Goblet is a likely disappointment to Potterites young and old.

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. Worse, Harry's a slow-poke at his meat-and-potatoes spell-casting, and any movement leaves your AI companions in the dust. Since many of the simple puzzles require help, this is a constant nuisance. Goblet of Fire adds some interesting enhancements, like bonus-granting Collector's Cards that can be bought and equipped, but it's just too tightly wound to stale gameplay convention to succeed.

While Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is by no means as dreadful as many film licenses we could mention, it’s certainly not particularly brilliant. As our eight-year-old guest reviewer attests, it does hold a certain appeal for kids, but it’s not worth considering if your voice has already broken. EA really must try harder if they’re to pass their end of term exams…

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). It's a real shame. Wouldn't it have been great to have free run of the entire of Hogwarts, the grounds, Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest, attending classes, exploring the school and choosing whether to take part in side quests or go to the next location that would progress the story and lead to a new main mission, GTA style. The potential to create a proper, fully realised interactive version of J.K. Rowling's books is definitely there, and I hope that EA's inevitable release of The Order Of The Phoenix is a deeper and more open-ended affair that caters for adults as well, rather than just placating the kids.

After all that criticism, there is something positive to be said. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is remarkably easy to play. It's easy to learn, and it's easy to figure out what to do to win the game. That makes it appealing for a toddler who enjoys Harry Potter mostly for the made-up words. Still, any sitting of the game lasting longer than 30 minutes can be a mind-numbing experience, no matter how old you are.