Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2

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I loathed Part 1 with a passion. The controls were clunky and largely unresponsive, the graphics, save for a few character models, were muddy and poorly textured, and the gameplay was rudimentary at best with ridiculous and repetitious side missions that did nothing more than to give the player the illusion it was more varied than it really was. Well a year has passed since that last disaster and I have to say that EA has largely corrected the nagging issues I had with the first game.

One major gripe I had with Part 1 was the unresponsiveness of the controls when trying to take cover and how I would sometimes get hit with spells regardless if I was behind cover. The controls in Part 2 overall feel tighter. If you see an object you want to duck behind, you're most likely going to be able to without issue. The spell cast system has also been updated. Gone is the cumbersome weapon wheel. Not only did it distract from the action, it was overall pointless given that Stupefy was the only practical spell to use against enemies. Now you can switch in between spells with the click of a button which really opens up combat since it allows you to easily cast one-two combos at your foes. The game also encourages you to try different spells given the situation. For instance, Stupefy is good for short ranged enemies while horrible for enemies that are across the map. Expelliarmus helps to break an enemy's Protego shield so you can then finish him or her off with an Expulso spell which shoots rapid fire orbs. The aiming reticule has also been polished. In Part 1, it tended not to stick on enemies in crucial moments. In Part 2, not only does it stick, it forces you not to spam the trigger button as doing so leads to erratic shooting. It's best to measure your shots so you'll know they're going to hit. Overall, I liked the combat. The fights were hectic with spells shooting over my head from all directions. At moments, I had to remind myself that there was no reload button as I took out Death Eaters coming from my right and my left while dug deep behind a wall.

Gameplay has also improved. There are no more pointless side quests or stealth missions that took away from the focus of the main narrative. Part 2 is strictly a linear affair with you plodding from checkpoint to checkpoint to progress the story along. The graphics seem much crisper this time around with more open and varied environments and impressive lighting. I liked how the game allowed you to play as different characters during the second half of the game. Granted, the mechanics are the same, yet it was a nice and welcomed variation. As a fan of the book, I was happy to be playing from different perspectives during the Battle of Hogwarts. The battle was a team affair with many heroes, not just Harry.

Now with the good, comes some of the bad. As much as I enjoyed the combat, it's basically the equivalent of whack-a-mole: Duck behind cover, wait till the enemy pokes out his or her head, and then shoot. There is very little variation to it as well. You either walk into a section of the map which triggers a slew of enemies to come charging out or you have to protect Hermione's backside as she tries to open a door. Not until the ending chapters which includes a fun chase sequence involving Harry and Professor McGonagall fighting a giant, etc., does the monotony break up a little bit. The game is also mercilessly short, about 4 hours and some change, for a $50 game with little replay value other than to boost your online rankings in some challenges which can be found in the main menu.

I'll never know why the last game of such a fantastic series of books and movies was more of a whimper than a grandiose send off. Part 2 is a lot better than Part 1, yet it still feels like a budget title. Though the movies have exceeded expectations, the last four or five games released by EA have been nothing more than decent to poor. Was this due to budgetary cuts or is it really as they say, difficult to produce a quality game based on a movie? Regardless, this may very well be the last Harry Potter game that we will see for quite some time (save Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7) and despite not living up to the source material, they have been a part of my Harry Potter universe as much as the movies, cups, t-shirts, key chains and action figures were. In the end, we can hope that a different developer can give this property the imagination and care it deserves.

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I have owned and played every Harry Potter game except the one about Quidditch. I even have the Lego Harry Potter game on console and PSP. I am a huge Potter fan.

This game is not very good. I know they tried, but EA Bright Light has failed, failed, failed on every HP game since Prisoner of Azkaban. Goblet of Fire was ok, but it was the transition into failure. I know where they went wrong. They concentrated on making a movie-based game rather than capturing the heart and magic of Harry Potter. This last game, DH2, is a shooter. A shooter for Wizards. A cover-based shooter. It's one protracted fight scene after another. Boring, repetitive, on rails. DH1 was also a shooter, but it was a little more fun than DH2. I played this game with the Move, and I did like that aspect.

Only because I'm a big Potter fan did I give it a generous 3 star. I do not recommend this game to anyone.

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I finished way to fast... I am going to have to replay it on a harder level. The basic was a tad too easy. I finished the whole game with about 6 deaths and it took maybe 5 hours to beat if not less. So, if you are really good at games I would suggest playing on a harder level. Overall I would say buy this game. Its better than Part 1.

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I will begin this review by stating that the first video game I ever purchased myself was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for the original PlayStation. I absolutely loved it! Granted, I was 11 when the game was released and, so, more easily amused. But what was fantastic about the first three Harry Potter video games was the amount of exploration available to the player and the puzzle-solving platforms. You could really get to know the world of Harry Potter as well as get your mind working to solve a few problems. "Deathly Hallows Part II", however, is an excuse for the makers to use formulaic battle scenes to try and fit into a single story. I was disappointed and frustrated that the game was simply a repeat in every battle I took part in.

Even if you are a Harry Potter fan and want to "experience" everything the franchise has to offer, do not attempt to waste your money.

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Great game and very fun. My two kids enjoy it very much. They are playing all day. It is quite different. I am very pleased thet I bought it.