As the epic saga of Harry Potter draws to a close with the film release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, developer EA Bright Light presents the video game tie-in with the same name. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a third person shooter that has some exhilarating moments. However, these are few and far between, making this title a mediocre entry that does not pay homage to its namesake.
The sequel to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Wii game is a cover-based, third person shooter that takes on a more adult-oriented gameplay compared to the first few entries of the Harry Potter video game series. Following faithfully on the movie storyline and scenes, Deathly Hallows Part 2 lets you take on the role of Harry and some key characters from the film in a quest to destroy Lord Voldemort. With locales spanning from the dank bank tunnels of Gringotts to the magical grounds of Hogwarts, fans of the series will feel the thrill of being able to navigate these mysterious haunts.
The gameplay mostly involves aiming your character’s wand using the Wii remote and blasting away at Death Eaters and their ilk. There are also various objects conveniently placed along the way to allow you to duck and take cover. A variety of familiar spells can be used such as expelliarmus, impedementia, and protego. As players progress along the levels, more spells can be unlocked. The pièce de résistance is the ability to apparate, which presents itself near the end of the game, allowing you to teleport short distances and confuse your foes. Switching between spells is fun, and hearing your character yell the spell’s name and hitting Voldemort’s lackeys dead center with it is extremely satisfying.
Unfortunately, some serious drawbacks prevent the player from fully enjoying the Wii Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 game. First off, most of the major cast do not provide the corresponding voice for their video game counterparts with the exception of Rupert Grint. Luckily, the alternative voice actors do a convincing job of imitating the original performers, but it would have been much better to hear the authentic ones on audio.
Second, the third person shooter style does not mesh well with the Harry Potter universe. Players may find it a bit ridiculous when the game treats the wand less like a medium for casting spells and more like a semi-automatic pistol. Additionally, the spells themselves do not have the same effect as they do in the books and films. Expulso does not cause an object to explode. Instead, it fires orbs at the opponents in rapid fire. Expelliarmus does not disarm an opponent. Instead, it breaks the Protego shield. And the list goes on. Casual gamers may not mind the differences, but hardcore Potter fans will be severely irked by the incongruence.
Although there are some exciting moments, most of the gameplay follows the same basic pattern of shooting at waves of enemies and ducking for cover. There are other mission objectives such as protecting one of your teammates from harm as well as an out-of-place sniping level, but for the most part the mind-numbing process of shoot, duck, and run permeates throughout the game, making this final entry an exercise in patience.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 can be played on the Wii console using the standard Wii remote. It is for single-player only.
As the curtains close on one of the best narratives of all time, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 does not come close to giving it the video game counterpart it deserves. The entry is a decent game, but so much more could have been done. The repetitive gameplay will quickly tire out most players, and the game concepts that deviate from accepted Harry Potter lore will disappoint (not to mention enrage) some fans. Still, hardcore Potter maniacs might give this one a try if only to have a sense of closure on a series that has been the constant companion of many avid gamers and readers growing up.