Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Is the Game Boy Advance standing on its last legs? It's hard to tell these days with the best Nintendo games being developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS. With dual-screen gameplay, touch screen controls and a built-in microphone, developers couldn't wait to start their first DS game.

Luckily the transition from console to console doesn't happen overnight. Game Boy Advance has sold more units than any handheld before it. Thus, when it came time to develop the new Harry Potter game, EA knew where to put their eggs. In fact, they put all of them into the Game Boy Advance version, added a few extras (mini-games, 3D touch screen battles, etc.), and created an awesome version for the Nintendo DS.

But let's not get carried away. While I recommend the DS version first and foremost, the GBA edition is almost exactly the same in the areas of gameplay. If you don't have a DS yet or just don't want that version for some reason, you won't be disappointed playing it on Nintendo's other portable system.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire continues the saga with three playable characters (Harry, Ron and Hermione), lengthy levels, smirk-inducing puzzles and hardly any story elements. Yes, those are all good things. Besides variety and long levels, which a lot of games could use more of, the puzzles are an element you couldn't have predicted. Every level includes a series of objects (mostly pillars at first, but the game branches out quickly) that need to be lifted, destroyed, or set in a specific place. How you lift the objects is the best part.

Whoever you choose to play as in the beginning doesn't matter because you get to change your character at the start of each level. The two who aren't chosen follow you around the level. They're a little annoying when they stand in front of you and won't move, but that's not their purpose. There are times, such as a boss battle, when you'll be in a bind and need some assistance. There also times when a boulder is too much for you to carry on your own.

Rocks, chests, boulders, pillars – any object that can be lifted is lifted the same way: through levitation. Magic skills are limited in strength. No one can move while levitating solo, though you obviously can move the object. The length at which you can move it doesn't stretch very far. However, when more than one person is levitating, one can change positions while the other keeps the object suspended in the air. This happens automatically – either your partners will do it or they won't. Normally they do, especially when the object is really big and absolutely must be moved to a specific spot.

Initially magic spells, including levitation, are limited. Lift objects and certain enemies, push enemies away, cast a spell on locked chests to open them, etc. That's the extent of your powers. As average as this sounds it's all the game needed to get the ball rolling. You'll have a blast levitating anything you can get your hands on. During the introductory levels I couldn't help but think of Psi-Ops, a third-person action game where the lead character could manipulate objects with his mind. Whether I knew what my next goal was or not, experimenting with the gameplay was extremely entertaining.

Later stages add the elements to your magic. In one hellacious, flame-engulfed world, the trio acquire the power of water in order to extinguish the problem. Water can be used to re-shape broken objects. Everything is done with the A or B button, so there's no need to be intimidated by the number of puzzles ahead.

Another cool magic enhancement is the element of ice. One of the levels is overflowing with water, leaky pipes, and other issues that only a solid form could fix. Leaky pipes may be refurbished, redirecting the water to the hole it's supposed to come out of. Call me crazy, but it looks like the water pouring out forms a shape. If we freeze it, might it become a platform for me to climb on? It just might.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is another great third-party adventure to add to your collection. This isn't a new concept to gaming, but it's very different from the majority of the Game Boy games out there, ensuring that it'll have more replay value than the average title. You'll love it, all Potter fans will. Everyone has a Game Boy Advance, so you need not make up excuses – just give into the spell this game has cast.

Gameplay: 7.8
Entertaining battles, interesting magic spells, levels that are designed like puzzles – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire greatly exceeded my expectations. The puzzles and control system are two of the highlights. You’ll be absorbed into the game the minute you start to levitate. Lift objects and enemies, and throw them at other enemies! Also, being able to choose between the trio of characters at the start of each level is a major plus.

Graphics: 6.5
Bare-bones imagery. The backgrounds are alright, but they’re not as sharp or as vibrant as the DS version. Furthermore, these are old details we’ve been seeing on handhelds since the year 2000, and even longer on 16-bit game consoles.

Sound: 8.0
Whether you choose to play Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on Nintendo’s latest or most successful platform doesn’t matter because both versions include the same great soundtrack. Aurally this is actually one of the clearest GBA titles I’ve played. Excellent compositions, but I must also give credit to the sound guys for making the sound quality as high as possible.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Exactly the same as the Nintendo DS version, which was by no means the most difficult game on the planet. There are a few challenging points. Getting used to the boss and mini-boss traits could cause you to lose some health, though you probably won’t lose too many lives over it. Some of the puzzles could through you for a loop, so keep your eyes peeled.

Concept: 7.0
A newer concept to Harry Potter but not to the genre. The developers took this concept and turned it into a great game by executing every aspect with the utmost care. No touch screen options; those are exclusive to the only major handheld that has a touch screen. But I’m sure you can live without some of the DS-exclusive mini-games. I know I can.

Multiplayer: 6.0

Overall: 7.7
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a super-solid adventure with hours of replay value. This is essentially the same as the DS version minus the touch and dual screen features. Unless you hold the games side-by-side as I did you won’t be able to pick out many differences. As far as the gameplay goes The Goblet of Fire is a great experience on either platform. It’s engrossing and addictive. The puzzles are fairly easy to solve but are kept interesting by avoiding too many obvious solutions. Potter fans are going to love it.