Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)

"Dare You Return to Hogwarts?"

- Official tagline

The video game Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released on 15 November, 2002. It was published by Electronic Arts and developed by Eurocom for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube systems. It was simultaneously ported to the PC/MAC and the Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color handheld systems.

Playable characters

 * Harry Potter: (Voice: Tom Attenborough) Main character and only playable character in most versions, though in the Game Boy Color version, the following are also playable at various points:
 * Ron Weasley
 * Hermione Granger
 * Gilderoy Lockhart
 * Fawkes
 * Gilderoy Lockhart
 * Vincent Crabbe (Ron in disguise)
 * Gregory Goyle (Harry in disguise)

Characters
Note: not all characters appear in all versions of the game.


 * Ron Weasley: (Voice: Greg Chillin) Harry's best friend, usually seen leading Harry to class or to the Quidditch stadium, or in cut scenes. In the PC/MAC game, Ron usually leads Harry to challenges instead of classes.
 * Hermione Granger: (Voice: Emily Robison) Harry's other best friend, a brainy girl who is rarely with Harry most of the game, except in cut scenes. She is petrified toward the end of the game. In the PC/MAC game, she also leads Harry to classes.
 * Ginny Weasley: (Voice: Victoria Robinson) Ron's little sister, who Harry has to rescue at the end of the game. In the PS2, GameCube and Xbox versions, Harry also has to find Ginny's quill, brass scales and spellotape in Diagon Alley.
 * Fred and George Weasley: (Voices: Lewis MacLeod) twins, older brothers of Ron and Ginny. They play as Beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. They have a very minor role in the PC/MAC version (they set up the bean trading system seen throughout the school and grounds), but in the PS2/GameCube/Xbox versions, they give Harry a refresher on the Flipendo spell, teach him how to toss gnomes, and once back at Hogwarts, they open a shop in Gryffindor Tower where Harry can purchase items like Stink Pellets and Dungbombs, Famous Witches and Wizards cards, and the Alohomora spellbook. In the PS2 version, the shop is only open at night and on the last day before you enter the Great Hall. In the Gamecube and Xbox versions, the shop is open at any time.
 * Neville Longbottom: (Voice: Gary Fairhall) one of Harry's roommates; a clumsy, forgetful boy. In the PS2/GameCube/Xbox versions he gets trapped behind a tapestry, and Harry has to find the Diffindo spell in order to free him. He is not present in the PC/MAC game.
 * Draco Malfoy: (Voice: Lewis MacLeod)Harry's arch-rival, usually found sneaking around at night. Harry also duels him at the Duelling Club. He is also in the clip where Harry (in the figure of Goyle) is in the Slytherin Dungeon to talk with Draco. In the PC/MAC game, Malfoy is also seen at the House Point Ceremonies.
 * Moaning Myrtle: (Voice: Victoria Robinson) a ghost who haunts the second-floor girls' bathroom.
 * Albus Dumbledore: (Voice: Benjamin Stone) the Headmaster of Hogwarts. While normally absent from a good part of the game, he features prominently in a cut scene in which he tells Harry that he does not think that Harry is the Heir of Slytherin. He also appears at the end of each day to announce the latest house point totals.
 * Professor Snape: (Voice: Allan Corduner) the Potions master. Known for being unusually strict, he is usually to be found in the dungeons, near his classroom. In the PC/MAC game, if you get caught in the Slytherin common room while running away, Snape shows up and punishes Harry.
 * Professor McGonagall: (Voice: Ève Karpf) the Transfiguration teacher. Her classroom is located on the left side of the second floor in the PC/MAC version. Also in the PC/MAC version, she isn't seen very often because Harry doesn't have any Transfiguration classes. There is a time in between classes/challenges when the classroom has just been open when McGonagall is holding a class. If Harry enters the classroom, she will give him a warning and send him out. If Harry enters a second time, McGonagall will take 5 house points away. She also leads Harry to Dumbledore's study when Nearly Headless Nick has been petrified.
 * Professor Flitwick: (Voice: Allan Corduner) the Charms teacher. His classroom is located on the right side of the second floor in the PC/MAC version.
 * Mrs. Norris: Argus Filch's cat and acts as the caretaker's assistant. She is petrified at the begin of the game.
 * Katie Bell: She plays Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Appears sick in the Hospital wing in the GBC version.
 * Professor Lockhart: (Voice: Mark Lowenthal) the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. His classroom is located on the third floor. He also is in charge of the Duelling Club, and accompanies Harry and Ron into the Chamber.
 * Rubeus Hagrid: (Voice: Jonathan Kydd) a very large half-man, half-giant, usually found in his cottage in the grounds. He is also seen in a cutscene where he is taken away to Azkaban. In the Xbox and PS2 games, he is in the Leaky Cauldron.
 * Aragog: (Voice: Fred Ridgeway) An Acromantula that dwells in the Forbidden Forest.
 * Professor Sprout: (Voice: Ève Karpf) the Herbology teacher. She teaches in the greenhouses, which are located on the right-hand side of the grounds.
 * Madam Hooch: (Voice: Ève Karpf) (PS2, GameCube, Xbox, GBA): the Flying teacher. She teaches a flying lesson in an outside lawn area, and thereafter is always found there during the day if Harry wants to try to improve his score on the flight training course.
 * Oliver Wood: (Voice: Lewis MacLeod) (PS2, GameCube and Xbox, and PC/MAC): Gryffindor Quidditch team Captain. He calls Harry to his first Quidditch practice of the year, and thereafter is always found at the Quidditch stadium during the day if Harry wants to try to improve his practice time for catching the Golden Snitch. In the PC/MAC version, Wood appears after Harry's first Defence Against the Dark Arts Class. Wood leads Harry to the Quidditch pitch, and re-teaches Harry how to play Quidditch.
 * Percy Weasley (Voice: Lewis MacLeod) (PS2 and Xbox, and PC/MAC): a Gryffindor prefect, older brother of Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. Percy can be found in the Gryffindor Tower study room at night; he does not like to be disturbed, and will throw Harry out of the room if he sees or hears him. The only way to reach Fred and George's shop (see above) is through the study room. In the PC/MAC game, Percy is only seen in Gryffindor tower or the Duelling Club if Harry visits there in between classes/challenges.
 * Peeves (Voice: Chris Crosby), a poltergeist. Harry meets him repeatedly in the game. This is also the first and only game in which he is shown to have a "napping place" and the ability to shrink.
 * Gregory Goyle: He's one of Malfoy's friends and is playable when Harry transforms in him. In the PC-game you play only as Goyle, while GBC-version, Crabbe is also playable.
 * Lee Jordan (commentating only), is the commentator for Quidditch and is good friends with Fred and George Weasley.
 * Lucius Malfoy: The father of Draco. He is seen in Borgin and Burkes and then in Diagon Alley. He is also mentioned during Harry's Quidditch training. The last cutscene he appears in is the one where he fires Dumbledore and arrests Hagrid.
 * Tom Riddle: The young version of Lord Voldemort. He is controlled by his diary. The diary is destroyed during the showdown in the Chamber of Secrets and Riddle is destroyed with it.
 * Cho Chang (mentioned only)
 * Cedric Diggory (mentioned only)
 * Millicent Bulstrode (mentioned only)

Spells

 * Note: Not all spells are available in all versions of the game.


 * Flipendo (all versions): triggers switches and moves objects. Harry learned this spell in Philosopher's Stone. Harry always begins the game with this spell.
 * Alohomora (all versions except GBC and PS1): unlocks mechanical locks, including those found on doors and locked chests. Harry learned this spell in Philosopher's Stone. In the PC/MAC version, Harry knows the spell at the start of the game. In the PS2/GameCube/Xbox versions, he has to purchase it at Fred and George's shop. In the GBA version it is an unlockable. You have to collect every Charms Wizard and Witches Cards to obtain it.
 * Lumos (all versions except GBA, GBC and PS1): illuminates the caster's wand. Harry also learned this spell in Philosopher's Stone. In the PC/MAC version, Harry knows the spell at the start of the game. In the PS2/GameCube/Xbox versions, he finds it in Knockturn Alley.
 * Skurge (all versions except PS1): clears Ectoplasm (an "unpleasant greenish substance left behind by certain ghostly beings", in the words of Professor Flitwick) out of doorways and off floors. Harry may learn this spell in Charms (PC/MAC version), during a late-night adventure (PS2/Xbox/GC versions), when looking for the book Moste Potente Potions in the Hogwarts Library's Restricted Section (GBA), or when reads Filch's Kwikspell letter (GBC).
 * Expelliarmus (all versions except GBA): in wizard duels, deflects spells cast by your opponent. It is not available outside of duels (PC/MAC). It can be also learned in Defence Against the Dark Arts (PS2/Xbox/GC), in Duelling Class (available outside of duels) (GBC), or while duelling at The Burrow (PS1). Also, in the PS1 version, this spell doesn't deflect other spells, but disarms the opponent and puts an end to the duel.
 * Diffindo (all versions except GBC, GBA and PS1): "dead-heads" Venomous Tentaculas and Spiky Bushes, Game 2013-07-10 23-39-45-378.jpg be used to sever certain vines, ropes, spider webs, and hanging tapestries. Harry learns this spell in Herbology (PC/MAC), or during a late-night adventure (PS2/Xbox/GC).
 * Mimblewimble (PC/MAC): in wizard duels, causes your opponent to become inarticulate and unable to cast their next spell properly. Not available outside of duels.
 * Rictusempra (PC/MAC): stuns magical creatures and, in wizard duels, "knocks back" your opponent, causing them to lose stamina. Harry learns this spell in his first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson.
 * Spongify (PC/MAC): activates certain "Spongify" carpets and paved floor specially marked with the symbol of the spell. Harry learns this spell in his second Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson.
 * Avifors (PS2/Xbox/GC): turns statues into birds. Learned in Transfiguration.
 * Incendio (All versions except PC/MAC): shoots a blast of blue fire from Harry's wand. Used to light torches, clear away spider webs, and in combat against spiders and fire crabs. Learned in Charms (PS2/Xbox/GC), in Gringotts' underground (GBA), or in Herbology (GBC/PS1).
 * Verdimillious (GBC and PS1): this spell is used in duelling and shoots green sparks at the opponent, and Harry already knows this spell at the beginning of the game (GBC), or unveils hidden platforms (pretty much the same as Lumos in the PC/MAC version) and Harry learns it on a private Defence Against the Darks Arts Class (PS1).
 * Vermillious (GBC): shoots red and orange sparks at the opponent. Harry already knows this spell at the start of the game.
 * Informous (GBC): adds a brief description and the opponent's weaknesses and strengths to the Folio Bruti. Arthur Weasley teaches this spell to Harry.
 * Mucus Adnauseam (GBC). weakens the opponent and damages him each turn. Harry learns it from Moaning Myrtle.
 * Petrificus Totalus (GBC\PS1): petrifies an opponent. Harry learns this spell from Katie Bell in a side quest. In the PS1 version he learns this from Lockhart and it is used to stun Pixies.
 * Fumos (GBC): creates smoke which forces the opponent to miss. Hermione knows this spell at the beginning of the game. Harry cannot learn this spell.
 * Wingardium Leviosa (GBA, GBC and PS1): makes objects or opponents fly. It is learned in Charms Class (GBA), or Harry already knows the spell at the start of the game (PS1). In GBC it is only seen in a minigame.
 * Locomotor Mortis (PS2/Xbox/GC): Prefects cast this spell at Harry if they see him wandering around the castle after curfew or in restricted areas. It locks his legs and holds him in place until they catch up and discipline him. Harry cannot learn this spell.

Harry also learns, in Potions, how to make a Wiggenweld Potion, which replenishes his stamina after he's been injured. The two main ingredients are Wiggentree Bark and Flobberworm Mucus.

Debugging
Debug mode can be accessed in the PC/MAC versions of the game. It includes cheats like level selection, ghost mode and others.

Differences between the book/movie and game

 * Harry doesn't break his arm during Quidditch in the PC or PS2/Xbox/Gamecube versions, whereas he does so in the book, film, GBC and PS1 versions.
 * Only in the PC, GBC and PS1 versions do Ron and Lockhart accompany Harry into the Chamber of Secrets like in the book/movie.
 * Colin and Justin are omitted in the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube/PC versions of the game. Dobby is also absent from the game in the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube versions. The only appearance that Dobby makes in the PC version is in a cutscene at the very start in which he warns Harry not to go to Hogwarts.
 * Ron doesn't go into the Forbidden Forest with Harry in any of the games except the GBC and PS1 version. In the PC version, the first cutscene of the Forbidden Forest, Harry is with Ron. But then comes an obstacle that only one person can pass. And since then, Harry begins to walk alone. It is remarkable that Ron says: "You'll have to brave the Forbidden Forest alone .".
 * In the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube version the Dueling Club happens in the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom instead of the Great Hall.
 * The Whomping Willow is always located in the Forbidden Forest in all games except the GBC, GBA and PS1 version.
 * Sir Nicholas and Hermione are the only people who get petrified by the Basilisk in the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube versions.
 * Hermione gets petrified after the Forbidden Forest scene in the games, rather than beforehand, as in the film and book.
 * In all the games except the GBC version, Harry has to use Gryffindor's sword to fire lightning or magical energy at the Basilisk, while in the book and movie he simply kills it by stabbing the sword into the Basilisk's mouth. Whereas in the GBC version, Harry swings the sword normally at the Basilisk.
 * Also in the GBA version, the sword is not used against it at all and Harry can cast Flipendo and Incendio at the Basilisk's body.
 * In the PC/MAC and the PS2 version, the Basilisk lands on the diary, and in the Xbox/Gamecube version, the Basilisk's fang flies up in the air and lands on the diary, when in the book and movie (And PS1/GBC version), Harry stabs it himself. Harry stabs the diary with the sword in the GBC version of the game.
 * The PS1 version of Hogwarts is nearly the same like it was in its predecessor, however, most locations were moved, changed, or disabled (like in Entrance Hall two rooms - one of them contains secret).
 * In the Gamecube/ PS2/ Xbox versions of the game, Hufflepuffs wear purple robes rather than their usual yellow.

Behind the scenes

 * In the PC/MAC game for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, there is a background character named Marilyn who is a Hufflepuff that collects curious objects. As an inside joke, in the PC/MAC game for the Chamber of Secrets, there is another extra, Arthur, who is stated to be Marilyn's younger brother and shares her strange hobby.
 * In the PC, MAC, Xbox, GC, and PS2 games, Ron states that the Ford Anglia is parked in Charing Cross Road. This is a real London street and the location in the Harry Potter universe of the Leaky Cauldron.
 * Peeves appears in this game, despite not appearing in any of the films.
 * In the PC/MAC versions there is a secret level, known as the Gryffindor Challenge. It's only accessible with the debug mode. At the Gryffindor common room, go up to the balcony, and press the delete key next to help key, then hold the arrow key through the door, then press the delete key again, the game will then load. There are nine secrets, and ten challenge stars there. There is no timer for this level.
 * Hufflepuffs wear purple robes in the PlayStation 2/Xbox/Gamecube versions, whereas normally they wear yellow.
 * When you have the Polyjuice Potion, and you are disguised as Gregory Goyle, if you get caught by a Prefect in a banned/curfew area, twenty points will be lost from Slytherin and not Gryffindor. However, the is only possible in the PS2 version, as the Xbox and Gamecube versions no longer deduct points from Slytherin house despite the dialogue for it being kept in.
 * In the PC/MAC game, even if Slytherin had the most house points at the end of the year, they would still be disqualified.
 * In the Game Boy version, Harry has to sneak into Filch's Office to take the Marauder's Map but the Map isn't mentioned until the Prisoner of Azkaban.
 * The game, especially the console versions has an alternate ending. If the player dies whilst fighting the Basilisk, the chamber starts to collapse as Harry is down for the count, and Riddle while brimming with power speaks in Voldemort's voice: "I have returned. The world will be purged of all Mudbloods and non-magical people. I, Lord Voldemort, will conquer all..."
 * In PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube versions Hermione is present during the House Point ceremony even though she was attacked by the Basilisk, especially since she unlike in the movie/book, recovers much earlier.
 * In the PC version of Chamber of Secrets, the serpent is not green but purple (also purple in the GBC version), and attacks by spraying a purple stream of venom which Harry must dodge. After failing to kill Harry from the mouth of Slytherin's statue, the snake pops from grating in the floor to try and bite or spray Harry. When it is killed, it simply falls on Riddle's diary, presumably burying it's fangs in the book and destroying it.
 * Also in the console versions, it is colored gray instead.
 * The game has notable graphical differences in one generation of consoles. The original PS2 version has graphics similar to the original PS2 version of Philosopher's Stone. However, the Xbox and Gamecube version features more notable graphics, removed and altered content (such as dialogue, cutscenes, possibilities/exploits and card locations), as well as a changed camera perspective.
 * Also, prefects are only limited to the Library Annex, the hall to the Restricted Section, and the Dungeons in the Xbox/Gamecube version. Prefects on the Seventh Floor and the grounds have been removed.
 * The outside routes are also altered in that there exists a "warp coding", as when they player takes a set pathway leading one of four locations (the Qudditch Stadium, Hagrid's Hut, Flying Grounds and the Herbology greenhouses), the screen will fade to black and they will appear there in an instant short notice instead, as opposed to manually walking to the location throughout the way on foot.
 * Unlike the previous game's console versions, this game's wizard card sets are more consistent with each playthrough, as the objectives for obtaining each card stay the same, and only certain set cards can have an extra copy to allow trading with certain NPC students for other specific cards.
 * There is also a glitch that can occur in the Xbox/Gamecube version of the game in that the player, by re-visiting Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom per day (as soon as it's been made available after a certain point of the game), can reopen a certain chest (which requires Skurge to unlock) to receive multiple copies of Godric Gryffindor's card, despite the fact that it is not one of the cards programed in the game for trading. This can also apply to the Merwyn the Malicious card, only since it is received from the Library, it can be "cloned" during the day or the night (and for that card, the player must know Incendio first in order to access the room that contains its chest).
 * In the GBA version, it's possible to access a cheat menu with all sorts of debugs available.
 * In the console versions, as soon as the player receives Expelliarmus, it's possible to use the spell to deflect the Locomotor Mortis spells from prefects at night to leave them surprised and shocked, all while giving Harry the chance to flee. Most prefects will respond with "Did you see that?!" Note that this only works in the PS2 version, as that possibility has been removed in the Xbox and Gamecube versions.
 * Prefects in the PS2 also can be stunned much more from a Flipendo spell cast at them repeatedly, even at close range (though if not careful, they still may be able to cast Locomotor Mortis on you). In the Xbox/Gamecube version the A.I. will gain a form of armor against the cast when they are about to cast their spell should one delay.
 * Also in the console versions, it's possible to catch and deflect spells not only cast by prefects in the PS2 version, but it's also possible to do so on one's own backfired spell. This only works on Flipendo and Incendio however, as the other projectile spells will pass through. In the case of the former, it moves rather fast so tight timing to activate the charm is needed.