Harry Potter Product Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Game for Playstation 2

With the Harry Potter addiction back into full force with the release of the latest film and soon to be released highly anticipated last book of the series, I sat down at my best friends Playstation 2 console and got a first-hand gaming experience for the latest Harry Potter video game for The Order of the Phoenix.

The game starts off with Harry at the Dursleys where him and the youngest Dursley get a visit from the soul sucking dementors. With a wave of Harry's wand you fight the dementors off just for The Daily Prophet and the Ministry to place Harry Potter in the headlines for using magic in front of a muggle outside of the wizarding world.

From there the game takes you to Grimauld Place where you see Sirius Black and he helps you along with Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger tidying up the place for Mrs. Weasley who tends to be very keen on cleanliness. In this part of the game you are shown how to work the controller to your advantage to cast certain basic spells to help out. From Ginny Weasley, you then help Hermione Granger and from there it's off to see Ron Weasley and help him pack his belongings into his trunk to prepare him for the trip to Hogwarts.

However, before you get to Hogwarts the game goes into story mode as Harry Potter stands trial for use of underage magic in front of a muggle before the Ministry where he escapes punishments and then it's off to Hogwarts for the famous trio.

The game starts at Hogwarts in the courtyard where Ron tells you that the two of you need to get to Hermione who is eagerly waiting in the Gryffindor common room.

I personally took the spare time to do things such as sweeping the leaves in the courtyard and moving the stone benches to their rightful places in order to gain points to raise my level which will be of good use later on within the game.

Hogwarts castle is full of little things that you can examine, repair, clean up or even discover that will raise your level up and help you further in the game. The more points you gain and the more the levels raise, the easier spells will become to do for Harry.

My first initial reaction was how well this game is graphic wise compared to the past ones. Hogwarts is so realistic looking and details are so well done that it almost makes you feel as though you're actually there.

As game play advanced forward you find yourself attending classes, talking and helping fellow students and even listening to jokes from the ever amusing gargoyles from time to time.

With a push on your controller's select button, you can view the Marauders map and mark your destination to where you wish to be and footsteps will lead you to the rightful place so it's not too difficult to find one place to another or even a person that you're looking for.

Moaning Myrtle tends to visit you about the castle quite a bit telling you about the room of rewards and how Hogwarts is full of secrets that throughout game play you will come to find out for yourself.

Story mode also pops in from time to time to take you from one part of your journey to the next as you rebel against the Ministry and Delores Umbridge as she takes over Hogwarts for herself.

Some missions are easier than other such as going from one member of Dumbledory's Army, speaking with them, doing what they ask of you just in order for them to be able to make it to the meeting in the room of requirement.

Along the way Draco Malfoy and his two cronies Goyle and Crabbe will try to fight you but with a few times of using the stupify spell, they'll run the other way without a second thought.

Further in game play you also find yourself as Harry meeting with Professor Snape who is teaching you occlumency to prepare you for your ultimate battle.

Eventually you find yourself in the Department of Mysteries to save Sirius who Harry sees in a vision getting roughed up by Lord Voldemort. Also in story mode you watch as Bellatrix Lestrange and Sirius Black duel to death which leaves Sirius falling into the veil and Harry having a hard time of it. I, myself had a hard time of it just watching it as Sirius Black is definitely a character that's easy to love and grows on you.

From there you fight the ultimate duel as Albus Dumbledore as he goes head to head with Lord Voldemort. Lord Voldemort is a bit of a cheap dueler as he'll even throw objects such as chairs at you to defeat you. However, once you get past that and Harry steps in, you face Lord Voldemort as Harry.

If you can get past those duels, the game will go into story book mode once again and voila, you have won the game. The game itself only took about three hours in total to beat but was well worth the time.

Also within the game, you get to do things such as help the Weasley twins make an explosive exit out of Hogwarts for their last time complete with swamp boxes flooding the castle and courtyards, sending prank chocolates to the Inquisitorial Squad and even setting off fireworks while flying through the castle via broom.

All in all, this game is definitely fun and descriptive game play. The angles don't make you feel nauseas as some games are known to do and just the attention to detail within the game is exciting to see. I would definitely recommend this game to any and all Harry Potter fans.