We would love to get excited for the upcoming video game adaptation of the sixth installment in J.K. Rowling's wildly successful series of books -- unfortunately, our ambitions of striding through Hogwarts' hallowed halls have been sullied by previous lackluster Harry Potter titles from Electronic Arts. To make sure Half Blood Prince is as faithful and entertaining as it can possibly be, we've written up a quick cheat sheet for the game's developers to inform them which elements from the source material should be included when the game hits store shelves in November.
- Epic wizard duels -- Awesome.
- Magical puzzles -- Entertaining.
- Exciting quidditch matches -- Compelling, if handled properly.
- Collecting "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans", "Chocolate Frogs", "Fizzing Whizbees", or any other form of magical confection -- About as enjoyable as catching a faceful of Avada Kedavra.












(Page 1) Reader Comments
Reply
Imo, the series really went downhill with 6 and 7.Aside from breaking every piece of continuity HP had(so you CAN survive a straight blast of Avada Kevadra and Snape was a quadriple agent) JKR tried to make it all dark and violent which doesn't go well with the fact that the main character IS A FUCKING PUSSY WHO REFUSES TO KILL PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GODDAMN WAR!
In fact, it's surprising that she killed so many sympathetic characters in the very end.
SPOILERS
Jakka, he survived that killing curse because he had all three of the Deathly Hallows, but also wasn't afraid to die, which (neatly enough) gave him power over death, which is how he survived. That one threw me for a while too before i reasoned it out and resolved it
/SPOILERS
That was continuity problem No 1.
Now, how do you explain the fact that the most powerful dark wizards in the book's universe, including Voldemort are unable to find three wizards that haven't even completed their basic training let alone knowing any advanced magic.They then proceed to find three ancient artefacts full of absolute power and destroy seven pieces of Voldemort's Soul.You'd think that Voldemort would be smart enough to keep them so secure that even the most powerful wizards wouldn't be able hold of it?
That and the dues ex machinas are the kind of stuff that really annoyed me about Hallows.Speaking of dues ex machinas, how come that Snape was the only one able to trace Harry and give him the sword? After all Snape's hierarchy was somewhere below Lucius wasn't it?
Don't get me wrong, I loved the last book but if you actually bother to analyse it you'll find hundreds of plot holes like that.
As popular as Harry Potter is, we aren't talking about a literary masterpiece. The books lack any quality that would ever garnet them a place in serious literary discussion. They are just fun books. Nothing more.
I kinda agree with Jakka. Harry Potter series got a lil ridiculous at the end. More plot twists with lil attempt to connect it all.
I don't think JK Rowling even proof read her last attempt at a book.
Sounds like you didn't read the same book I did. Maybe you need to re-read it.
I like them though. The last one, not so much.
My problems weren't with the supposed "retconning" or character issues, but with pacing and storyline. Concerning the storyline, the trio were basically on a gigantic fetch quest throughout the whole book, and while playing treasure hunter CAN be suspensful, sometimes the background battles outshadowed the core action.
As for the pacing, I have much more to say on that. J.K. Rowling's weakness has always been action sequences, not only because she's a mediocre action writer, but because the wizard duels are so complicated and happen so quickly that not even Tom Clancy could make sense of them. Imagine you're five years old and walk in on your parents doing what a married coupled do, and you have to try and explain it to your friends. JKR is a great (but not brilliant) writer who wanted to tell a story that was way out of her league. This, combined with the enormous amount of hype surrounding the book, made it disappointing. Tolstoy it's not, but just enjoy the book for what it is: a flawed but entertaining ride that never delivered but at least was somewhat entertaining.
Half-Blood Prince tried to juggle a return to fun-loving form that was missing in OotP while setting up DH, and in that respect it was hit and miss. I'm not going to dwell on it.
@LaughingTarget: I had no problem with the "deus ex machina" in the story (it's called dumb luck), not because I agree with it (I don't) but because it fits JKR's persona. When asked whether she believed in fate, JKR responded "I believe in hard work and luck, and more of the former brings more of the latter." That's her way of thinking, not mine. I don't agree with her beliefs, but at least she's writing what she believes in.
@Ethan: Snape was great and it was Voldemort's death that was crap.
Careful, they might think it's the opposite level of enjoyability from what you think it is.
Reply
Oh boy, I think they're all realizing that Harry Potter=money no matter what the quality.
Reply
Reply
And why am I getting downvoted? I have plenty of evidence that can back-up my point.
Also, the two movie thing is being done for Deathly Hallows, not this one.
The problem is, 6 was essential for the story to set up the awesomeness that was 7, so it had to be there
SPOILERS:
Since Snape was the Half-Blood Prince, the book could be thought of "Harry Potter and Snape." And considering how much of the book dealt with his allegiance and how he factored in largely at the climax, I think it's an apt title.
Now how was the HALF-BLOOD PRINCE any useful to the plot? When Snape first revealed the "big spoiler" about him being the Half-Blood Prince, my initial reaction was "Who the fuck gives a shit about it?". HBP lacked any significance let alone naming the entire book after him.
Harry Potter and Dumbledore dies on page 597 sounds like a lot better title imo.
No one? Okay. That's cool.
Reply
30 paces, then Avada Kedavra
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/kung-fu-grip/61-GTA-IV-Rejected-Niko-Auditions
Reply
I'm hoping EA will release a sequel to "Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup" someday. It was a fun little game.
Reply
SPOILERS
Mr. Khan, you forget in the 8th book, Harry Potter and the Magical Mushrooms, that it ends with Harry getting gunned down after a botched drug raid.
SPOILELRS
Creciente: I agree, I spent many an afternoon trying to unlock Bulgaria. Needs to have less of an emphasis on collecting those stupid cards though
Reply
Reply
*Eagerly awaits own comment to fade away*
Reply
Reply
Reply