Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube)

This article focuses on the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube version of Electronic Arts Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US) video game.

Description
The game's story sticks pretty close to the first book in author J.K. Rowling's juggernaut franchise and casts you in the role of young Harry as he starts his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You'll hook up with Harry's circle of friends, meet his teachers, and, of course, sort out some trouble that's brewing at the school. The game follows a linear objective-based structure that is broken up into days. Each day features its own unique objectives (usually revolving around your classes at Hogwarts), which you'll have to clear before moving on to the next. Your activities are balanced between exploration, puzzle-solving (sometimes with the aid of your trusty owl Hedwig), and combat. However, once you've completed your daily tasks, you'll decide when your day is over, which lets you get in some exploration or minigame time if you need a change of pace. You'll find the same basic collectibles in Philosopher's Stone that were in Chamber of Secrets, so plan on collecting Bertie Bott's every flavored beans, which you can use to trade for items and Wizard Cards. At any rate, Harry's adventures will probably last you fewer than 10 hours.

The game's audio is good, but it isn't terribly remarkable.

Characters

 * Harry Potter: an eleven year-old wizard who survived Voldemort's wrath as a baby.
 * Hermione Granger
 * Ron Weasley
 * Draco Malfoy
 * Albus Dumbledore
 * Quirinus Quirrell
 * Rubeus Hagrid
 * Lord Voldemort

Behind the scenes

 * Norbert is omitted in this version, along with Game Boy Advanced and PC/Mac versions of the game.


 * In the film and book, Harry's broomstick is jinxed in the first Quidditch match. In the PC/Mac and PS1 version, both Quidditch matches have no Jinxed brooms or accidents. In the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube version, the Slytherin match is played on a jinxed broom.


 * Peeves does not appear in the film, but is battled on a regular basis in this game. In the PS2/Xbox/GameCube version he only appears in a cutscene, but is never battled.
 * In the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of the game the Quidditch Match against Slytherin is at the last match of the year rather than the first.


 * Harry goes alone in the Forbidden Forest in this version.