The stars line up
Based on the upcoming Harry Potter movie, the seventh in the smash hit series, the Deathly Hallows game is winging its way to a retailer near you soon. Get the lowdown on what's in...and what's out.
This game's just the start.
As fans will be well aware, J K Rowling crammed too much action into
Deathly Hallows for just one movie -- and this month's game is the same
way. It'll be a two-part deal: the first launches a few days ahead of
the first movie, on November 16, while the second will be along next
July, right around the time the second movie hits theaters, we reckon.
The game's cast is star-studded, but a few key names are missing
Bad news first: Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson aren't voicing their
characters; they'll be played by stand-ins, much like in other Harry
Potter games. But a slew of Potter actors are along
for the ride, including Rupert Grint as Ron, James and Oliver Phelps as
the Weasley twins, Tom Felton as Malfoy, and Warwick Davis as Professor
Flitwick.
This time, it's serious
Harry Potter fans aren't as young as they used to be. So just like the movie,
the Deathly Hallows video game is growing up. Other Harry Potter games
included lots of ambling around Hogwarts, having fun in potions class,
and hobnobbing with other students, but in Deathly Hallows you're going
to have to fight. A lot. It'll be the first Potter game to be rated "T,"
if that's any indication.
It's packed with authentic Potter tools, toys, and adversaries
Don't go thinking you'll have to tackle the game's legions of servants of
Voldemort -- including Death Eaters, Snatchers, and Dementors -- with
nothing more than a winsome grin, a British accent, and a house-elf.
Potter and pals are armed to the teeth with a suite of spells that'll
satisfy the destructive urges of any budding wizard -- and thanks to
gadgets like Potter's invisibility cloak, polyjuice potion, and Peruvian
Instant Darkness Powder, you can take a softly-softly approach if you
prefer.
You can cast spells with just your hands
Or you can if you own an Kinect setup, that is. The Xbox 360 version
includes side missions that'll unleash you (and, optionally, a friend)
in a finger-wiggling, spell-casting challenge with no controller needed.
(And, of course, the Wii version has the usual motion-sensing setup,
although you obviously won't get quite the same magical experience.)
