WTP Review: Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the video game adaptation of the sixth film in the Harry Potter franchise. Half-Blood Prince finds the young wizard again returning to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this time learning more about the origins of series antagonist Lord Voldemort and preparing for the epic battle portrayed in the seventh book (and eventual film adaptation).

Like the previous game, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry is able to freely explore the Hogwarts school, though the actual story-based campaign primarily has you performing three types of activities. When mixing potions, you'll use the analog sticks (assuming you're using a USB game controller, which is the best method to play this on PC) to grab various liquids and other ingredients to pour into a cauldron, then you must stir them in by rotating the right stick or increase the heat of the fire by flicking the right analog stick up and down. Duels find you casting spells against one other opponent, with the intention of knocking them out, and you'll be able to cast various projectiles and a shield with movements of the right analog stick. You can also cast some spells while outside a duel, such as one that lets you repair a broken item, and another that lets you levitate an object and fling it at will. -