Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Back to school with Harry Potter

Game Boy Color captures the charm and excitement of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Let's cut to the chase. Either you've heard of Harry Potter's exploits from his myriad books, movies, action figures and bed sheets or you've been living under a rock for the past few years. That said, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for Game Boy Color has enough charm to enchant fans of the series and Potter novices alike.

Sophomore Year

Picking up where Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for Game Boy Color left off, The Chamber of Secrets closely follows the story made popular in the second Harry Potter novel and movie of the same name. Young Mr. Potter is about to enter his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when he is met by a strange visitor warning of impending doom should Harry return to school this year.

Back to School

Naturally, there wouldn't be much of a story if our hero decides to stay home for the summer. Follow Harry as he battles against the forces of evil, enchanted forests and school bullies.

Closely following the original story, The Chamber of Secrets takes place mostly in Hogwarts castle itself. The developers have done an incredible job replicating the sheer size and mystique of Hogwarts, and to be honest, it can be pretty easy to get lost when you first arrive. Maps posted around the castle are a big help, but a portable map function would be appreciated even more.

Another minor pitfall to having such large environments is the fact that it takes forever to get from point A to point B. It's nothing too major as you can never be tardy to class, but a run button would certainly alleviate travel woes a bit.

Wizards and Witches

Following the RPG tradition set by classics like Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior, The Chamber of Secrets puts you in control of a young hero and his friends on a quest of discovery and mystery. Each of your allies not only adds ways to further the story, but also carry unique abilities that can be used in battle.

For example, Harry's best friend, Ron Weasley, has a pet rat named Scabbers. This plucky rodent is able to steal items and perform special attacks on unwitting foes. Rounding out the trio of magical misfits, spunky Hermione brings her Tattle technique to melees. Her incessant scolding can either boost your team's capabilities or send baddies away bawling their eyes out.

Harry himself returns with his unique set of Famous Witches and Wizards card attacks. By collecting specific series of cards, Harry can cast tremendously powerful support and attack spells. Use magic wisely. Because some cards can only be used once, you should always be on the lookout for replacements.

Fortunately, that isn't much of a problem. Cards practically litter every crate, barrel and dresser scattered throughout the game. One minor quibble is that the game doesn't tell you which card you've just picked up. Instead, you'll have to go through the cumbersome process of pulling up your menu and checking which cards are flashing.

Enemy encounters are thankfully predictable, as battle icons will flash. If you want to avoid battle, simply wait for the enemy to vanish or make your way around it. Just make sure that you battle from time to time. Otherwise, your lack of strength and experience will get you creamed during required boss confrontations.

Tricks and Treats

Living the wizard's life isn't all about fighting and card collecting. To keep things consistent with the nonconfrontational aspects of the novel and movie, special minigames have been set up to bide your time. None of these games are particularly challenging, but they do provide fun arcade-style breaks when turn-based combat becomes tedious.

A Quidditch Broom Sweeps Clean

In particular, the fictional sport of Quidditch offers surprisingly addictive action. You'd think that a completely free-roaming activity on high-speed flying brooms would be impossible to capture on the 2D confines of Game Boy Color.

The developers have done an admirable job of converting Quidditch into a pulse-pounding side- and vertically-scrolling event. As your team's Seeker, it's your responsibility to track down the Golden Snitch, which looks like a hummingbird crossbred with a golf ball and a gold nugget. Catch the Golden Snitch and your team gains 150 points. Whoopee!

Despite being developed for Game Boy Color, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets truly captures the magic of the series. The developers have made full use of the limited color palette with eye-popping backgrounds and well-animated characters. Each location features beautiful sprite tiles with a surprising amount of detail. The terrific soundtrack was inspired by John Williams's brilliant movie score.

Do You Believe In Magic?

It's this kind of attention to detail and respect for the source material that makes Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets one of the finest RPGs you'll find on Game Boy Color. Whether you're a hardcore Potter devotee or an everyday muggle gamer, you're in for a magical treat!

Source:

nintendo.com