Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

by Electronic Arts

Product Features

• Local 2-player multiplayer play option available and Xbox LIVE friends and achievements support.
• Take part in thrilling wizard duels, battling against Death Eaters in Hogwarts, Inferi in the Horcrux cave and much more.
• Create magical potions with Professor Slughorn using the Half-Blood Prince?s Potions book.
• Take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory.
• You may even get sidetracked by Ron's romantic entanglements as you journey towards a dramatic climax and discover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince.

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001AZFSCY
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches ; 3.5 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: June 30, 2009
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,972 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #75 in Video Games > Xbox 360 > Adventure
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Platform: Xbox 360

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on the 2009 summer movie blockbuster of the same name, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince transports fans both old and new to the beloved and action-filled video game universe of Harry Potter. In this most recent adventure players return to the famous Hogwarts school for wizards, as well as other surrounding parts of the wizarding world, to help Harry survive a difficult and danger filled sixth year. Duel against friend and foe. View larger. Mix it up in Potion Class. View larger. Compete in Quidditch matches. View larger. The Story In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the Video Game, Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different, but equally unavoidable adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates. And then there’s Hermione, simmering with jealously, but determined not to show her feelings. Yet as romance blossoms throughout Hogwarts, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again. Gameplay Like earlier video game releases in the Harry Potter franchise, the action in Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince the Video Game revolves around the exploration of Hogwarts and the action that results from what you uncover. The game features both an engrossing single player mode as well as local multiplayer modes for up to two players. During their adventures, players will have a chance to engage in exciting wizard duels, mix and brew magical ingredients in potions class and take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. Players may even get sidetracked by Ron’s romantic entanglements as they journey towards a dramatic climax and discover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince. Key Features Compete for Gryffindor in the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup as you take on Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin in the most exciting wizarding sport. Perfect your Quidditch skills and prove you can dodge a Bludger and can catch the Snitch. Take part in thrilling wizard duels, battling against Death Eaters in Hogwarts, Inferi in the Horcrux cave and much more. Join the Gryffindor Dueling Club. Perfect your dueling skills before you take on the other houses. Will you become the Dueling Club champion? Create magical potions with Professor Slughorn, using the Half-Blood Prince’s Potions book. Explore Hogwarts at night, taking on nighttime missions while the castle sleeps. When you get stuck, call on Nearly Headless Nick for clues and tips to help you complete your challenges. Relive the action of the movie...from the Hogwarts Express, to the dramatic revelation of the Half-Blood Prince. See more of the wizarding world as you explore new magical places like The Burrow, the Horcrux cave and more. Travel with Dumbledore to piece together Voldermort's past, and sneak around Hogwarts to discover Malfoy's secrets. Local 2-player multiplayer play option available. Xbox LIVE friends and achievements support.

Product Description

Year six at Hogwarts' darker tone means more action, potions, puzzles, and, of course, more Voldemort. But, it's not all doom and gloom as even the videogame world addresses Harry's growing adoration for Ginny. Wii, PS2, PS3, PSP, Mac, PC, DS, Xbox 360, Electronic Arts, T.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars EA Needs To Lose The Harry Potter Video Game License, July 15, 2009

By 

joe bitterman (somewhere with carmen sandiago) - See all my reviews

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Video Game)

Hello, need reader canary talented really.

The above mess is a Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince video game experience. And I know despite what I write, if you're here you will end up playing the game anyway, hoping I'm mistaken. I will continue if only to persuade you to rent the game at best or wait for the inevitable, monstrous price drop.

To Begin - The Story, Characters, and Sound:
If you needed to write a report on the Half-Blood Prince film, this video game wouldn't even be acceptable as cliff notes. Scenes cut in and out, not caring about anything silly like making sense.

The video game starts with a random brush up with Quidditch at the Burrow and then bipolars you straight to the scene in Diagon Alley with Draco Malfoy. Why? That question should be read as a scream.

And from there you jump from moment to moment like a mental patient, who isn't improving.

As far as the characters in this cliff note of cliff notes, everyone is at least acceptable or great. Great, as in the case of when the film actors lend their voice (the focus being on Rupert Grint-Ron). The acceptable being characters like Snape and generally the look of everyone. There is one huge exception: Hermione. The actress who lends her voice is fine, but the rendered character looks nothing like Emma Watson. She looks more like Mema Witson, and while she's a great girl and all, Mema isnt in Harry Potter. The real problem is that Harry and Ron look reasonably similar to Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint (having gone through the work in the previous game, whereas Emma Watson did not, to my knowledge) so Hermione, aka Mema Witson, stands out.

The music of the games is always either nice or fantastic. This game favors more toward simply nice, but whoever thought that adding a record scratch to highlight an awkward moment between Harry and Ginny was a good idea; way to stand out, my man. That was truly A+ dumb.

Well, I'd love to continue with my review, but I need to have a duel.

The Middle, Gameplay?:
The Order of the Phoenix game had 3 things going for it: a beautiful Hogwarts, most of the film actors participated, and the painting that loved Chops and Gravy. Yum yum yum yum, gravy. This game?

Duel, quidditch (by which I mean flying through stars), and potions. Potions, duel, quidditch, punch making? Duel, potions, duel, quidditch. That is the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince game.

And while dueling is far more refined here than in previous games, it pops up everywhere, and all you need to do is knock your opponent down once with Expelliarmus (yes, I looked up how to spell a lot of things in this review) and it's game over. And while potions can be fun, these are side games and side games do not a video game make. I get the feeling that, oh hold on. I need to duel again.

As I was saying, if EA would just put itself in a timeout and make a game based on several movies, we'd actually get an inspired gift of a game as opposed to these socks we keep getting. Or even if they, oh, I don't know, gave a damn? EA has done a Quidditch game before, so why isn't there at least a full on game here instead of Harry going through stars? Why can't we control other characters in actual mission, versus doing the same things Harry does (how fun would a thought out Luna side-mission be?). And whereas Order of the Phoenix was nothing but a list of chores to do, Half-Blood Prince is the same only with your mom running out of patience with you. GO PRACTICE QUIDDITCH NOW!!!!.

The only beauty comes from a very beautiful source, the character of Luna Lovegood. As you're lighting fireworks, and trying very hard but unsuccessfully to get a great look at Hogwarts lit by the exploding color wheel, Luna pleads "I wish fireworks didnt have an end."

The End:
This game was supposed to be released in November '08, as was the film (damn you Warner Brothers). But stock market greed from Warner's pushed the due date to June '09. And what did EA do with that extra time? Worked on Madden 11?

But that's irrelevant. To EA, this game was never meant to be anything but a cash grab, and all the extra time + 1 would never have made it any better. Ever since the Prisoner of Azkaban game, EA's effort with Harry Potter has equaled my effort in personal grooming when I was 12. Let's say, not so great. But the films and the books have been about love and bravery and effort. Where is any of that in these games? Where is it?

I really want better things to say, but ..... I solemnly swear this game is no good.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and easy game for just about everyone, July 2, 2009

By 

Chris In Jersey (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Video Game)

Let me start by saying that I did not like the Order of the Phoenix video games - they were a lot of running around for nothing. If you did enjoy that game, you will love this improved game which incorporates what seems to be a completely explorable Hogwarts. As you wander you collect school crests. There is a storyline that sort of follows the book and you can wander off from the storyline to do other things.
There are three main game types incorporated into the storyline that you must participate in: making potions (like Cooking Mama); Duelling club (wand dueling); an Quidditch skills (mostly fly through hoops at high speeds). None of the games are particularly difficult which is a good thing for younger players. The game is rated 10+ and that certainly is appropriate as a 10 year old could play this without a problem. Advanced gamers may find everything a bit too easy, but it is still fun and visually interesting.

PROS: free-roam Hogwarts which feels very accurate; character voices/acting is decent; duelling is a lot of fun especially with the Death Eaters; multi-player.

CONS: potions is like Cooking Mama - it is a big part of this game; still lots of wandering the castle but with a great guide Nearly Headless Nick and many portrait shortcuts; Characters don't look exactly like the actors but close enough where you will forget this after a few minutes.

Overall it is a must for an HP fan even if you did not enjoy the prevous games. The XBox controls are great. The music adds to the experience though I'm not sure if it's from the film. Replay is available in Potions, Quidditch and Duelling. Also, once the storyline is complete you can wander Hogwarts in Endless Day mode to find all of the crests.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the millionth mediocre game in a row, July 2, 2009

By 

feldenstein calypso "feldenstein" (minneapolis) - See all my reviews

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Video Game)

in my endless optimism that someone will finally make a really great game i had a flash of hope for this one. i think it was maybe sometime last fall or late last summer, and it was because it had two things going for it. first, the previous game, order of the phoenix, created a big, thorough, really well done, hogwarts. i mean the game was rather bland and sometimes tedious, but in my fantasy of optimism i could say "hey, they've invested all their effort in the basics of this world then ran out of time and money, but next time they have all their groundwork already laid down for themselves!" then, second, the movie got delayed and so must follow a delay on the game, giving them a half year free time to work on this.
enter reality; small companies might put it all on the line with mild resources, but, when they succeed they get bought up by large corporations whose pure and overwhelming interest is wringing money out of everything they touch. they're not even that great at doing that, just powerful and remorseless. this game was made by a very large corporation. you can feel it. everything in it is just good enough and not an inch more. you got your nice environment that you can explore and collect crests. a bit thin, but at least it's some reason for exploration. the crests unlock, well, useless junk as far as i'm concerned (unlockable rpg ish skills would have been great here, but, oh, thats too much effort and the movie book connection here will sell most of the games). the story is all sort of random and disjointed, more for alluding to things you should already know, and you sort of careen your way through it by going to locations (exploring, sort of, though where the next place is is very clear if you employ headless nick to guide you) and triggering off the minigame cutscene progression elements. these are built around the said minigames: potions (a fun minigame that could have been really good if just a smidge deeper), dueling (yeah yeah, it's okay, a shooting thing that feels more like a fighting game, all sort of foramalized), and quidditch (race through hoops for the illusion of quidditch, not my favorite but not terrible). that's it. really. i'm not finished w/ this game yet (may or may not happen), but there is no way, i mean no way, this game is going to be suprising me at this point. it is incredibly rare i am suprised by a game anyway. they're all so conservative! arrggh! so, this is another. ah well...

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