Yet another review -
'Fast-paced sports excitement!' Summary:
'Quidditch Cup' magically fun
Article:
Thanks to
Wizardnews
When video-game fans think of fast-paced sports excitement, the name "Harry Potter" doesn't immediately come to mind.
Players should be more open-minded, though, because Electronic Arts' "Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup" for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox might change their tunes.
Fans of the popular novels and films know that Quidditch is a magical sport that merges the rules of basketball, soccer and hockey. It is important to know that Harry and his fellow students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry play it while flying on broomsticks.
EA previously hinted at the fun of Quidditch in its other "Potter" titles in short levels, so the diversion has just been extended into a full-fledged series. Of course, the company knows the formula for successful sports titles as evidenced by the success of its "Madden" football series, so "Harry" is in good hands.
Like in any unfamiliar sport, success only occurs after players learn the rules. Initially, Quidditch seems pretty complicated, but one round of the tutorial will allay any fears.
Quidditch games employ three kinds of balls. Quaffles of different colors are used for scoring goals, bludgers pursue the players and the elusive Golden Snitches are winged spheres worth the most points if they are caught.
Players control their broomsticks using the left analog stick and perform special moves by holding the left or right triggers. Shooting, passing and dodging are assigned to the face buttons.
Special team-specific moves can only be accessed after the required Quidditch cards are collected, giving players a reason to make return trips to the fields.
As in the movies, the main focus of the game is the rivalry between Potter's Gryffindor house team and his archenemy Draco Malfoy's Slytherin house team. Thankfully, though, this title includes teams from other countries, including the United States, England, Germany, Japan and Spain, so most gamers will be able to find a country to root for.
Gamers can play through the entire World Cup career mode or compete against their friends in two-player exhibition matches.
Harry and company look like they stepped out of a Saturday morning cartoon, and their facial expressions and reactions during matches are believable. For example, they gasp when they miss points and cheer when they score.
As one might expect, the vast playing fields, or pitches as they are referred to, are breathtaking. Of course, while streaking across the sky and chasing the Golden Snitch, players won't have many chances for sightseeing.
The musical score is taken straight from the movies, so film fanatics will enjoy listening as they zip between the goals. The playful trash-talking among Harry and the other players sounds authentic enough.
Only one question remains for sports-game purists - will "Harry Potter" topple "Madden" as EA's most revered sports franchise? Potter himself would have an easier time finally defeating Malfoy, but sports fans of all ages will still enjoy "Quidditch World Cup."
