Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Box Art

System: X360, PS3, Wii
Dev: Bright Light
Pub: Electronic Arts
Release: November 16, 2010
Players: 1
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Fantasy Violence

There is one area though where Deathly Hallows does outshine its predecessor: visuals. While character models were a little too simplistic and environments a little too bland before, the visuals in this entry in the series improve on nearly every aspect of the original. Character models in particular are highly detailed, and Harry Potter and Co. look extremely good. The different environments also sport a good amount of detail, although NPCs and enemies sometimes have a jarring amount of repetitive design elements. However, this is a small quibble, as the visual design overall is impressive.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Screenshot

But despite the game's good looks, the other production values do suffer in Deathly Hallows. The sound in particular is one area that could have definitely used some help. Though the game's cast of original actors and sound-alikes seem to try hard, the game features some really wooden performances, and chatty NPCs have a tendency to repeat the same stock phrases over and over, which grates on the nerves quickly.

You can expect to get about three to four hours of play time from the game's main story mode. Although that sounds a little short, it is around the average for movie-licensed games, so there's no real surprise there. The game does try to beef up its contents with a challenge mode that has you participating in small mini-quests that are scored and ranked, but these challenges are largely forgettable, and without a multiplayer component (beyond the leaderboard), there's no real reason to play through them.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 looked to change up the series and provide some innovation with the new wand-based combat mechanic. However, boring implementation of the mechanic, uninspired level design, and some poor production values (with the exception of the visuals) sink this game into a poor representation of the Harry Potter franchise. If you want a good Harry Potter game, you are better off playing last year's Half-Blood Prince. Sure, it doesn't look as smart, and it was far from perfect, but it was a much more enjoyable experience at the end of the day, and one I think the team who worked on Deathly Hallows can learn from. If you must experience Deathly Hallows' video game component, this one is only worth a rental at best, as you won't get more than a few hours' play time from it.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Senior Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.0

Graphics
The visuals are the one area of this franchise that has been improved. The character models look great comma and the environments are nicely rendered.

2.8

Control
Though the wand-based controls are simple to pick up and play, they lack depth and become monotonous quickly.

3.6

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Voiceover quality is hit or miss, but repetitive dialogue wears on the nerves quickly.

2.2

Play Value
Though the addition of a challenge mode does make for some replay value, the game itself isn't all that entertaining, and it's unlikely you'll want to play past the four-hour story mode.

2.9

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

The wand is the ultimate weapon. Hold nothing back! Unleash an arsenal of formidable magic to defeat attackers, protect yourself from harm, and evade capture.

Deadly enemies lurk around every corner. Fight Voldemort's minions, including Death Eaters, Snatchers, and Dementors. Overcome a host of fierce creatures attacking on instinct alone. No other Harry Potter game has had this level of action!

Become a master in stealth. Use the Invisibility Cloak, Polyjuice Potion, and Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder to avoid detection and sneak past adversaries.

Unique cover mechanics. Use magic to create and wield cover. Throw your cover at enemies, turning defense into attack.

Powerful potions. Find potions that can be used to attack, escape, restore health, or increase your luck.