Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (PC)

Reviewed by PETER ELEY

Herald rating: * * * *

The game of the third Harry Potter book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, has been released a few days before the movie.

While the jury is out on the movie, there's no doubt it's the best Potter game yet, with much-improved graphics and better gameplay.

Games based on movies appeal mainly to those who would pay to go and see it at the cinema, and like the previous Potter games, this is no exception.

Its biggest asset is you get to play our unlikely bespectacled hero in the movie setting, thrilling as you relive favourite sequences from the film.

The Prisoner of Azkaban seems more adult in its themes than previous Potter games, and the upgraded graphics add greatly to the experience.

The prisoner is a mass murderer by the name of Sirius Black, who has escaped from Azkaban, a place where bad wizards serve their time, guarded by wraith-like creatures known as Dementors.

The bad news for Harry is that Sirius Black is believed to be coming after him, and the Dementors don't seem to be too much help, either.

Needless to say, there are plenty of twists and turns on the way as Harry unravels the mystery.

Harry's arch-rival Malfoy comes into the frame, too, and, unlike previous games, you can play as his school friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Grainger, changing characters to accomplish specific tasks.

Ron doesn't have Harry's range of spells or combat abilities, but has a highly developed sixth sense, while as Hermione, is smaller and more nimble, she can get into places the other two can't.

The game has a real cinematic feel, especially when the action takes place at Hogwarts, which will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has seen the films.

EA Games, G8

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