Although the books by renowned author J.K. Rowling are some of the finest examples of literary work you will ever find, the bespectacled wizard boy’s attempt to niche into other forms of media have been met with stupefy-ing effects. Unfortunately, the sixth instalment on the new PS3 platform still doesn’t manage to bring out the wizard in fans of the series.

For one thing, the story is barely understandable if you haven’t read the book. There are references to the Half-Blood Prince (of course) throughout the game, but the pieces of the game seem like jigsaw puzzles which don’t quite fit together. The game’s plot also puts Harry in conflicting positions with respect to the storyline portrayed in the book.

Order of the Phoenix was the first game to completely recreate Hogwarts in its entirety, so while it may have given gamers a kick to trawl around the hidden walkways and moving staircases, it becomes  a burden for Half Blood Prince to bear as those familiar with the first game won’t see much difference in the second. Nearly Headless Nick can be summoned anytime for directions if you somehow manage to get yourself lost, but he won’t be much help as by then one will spend too much time backtracking.

The game tries hard to appeal to fans and newcomers alike, but it seems here that it tried too hard. Harry is allowed to concoct all kinds all vile and nasty potions in the potions dungeon, and while experimenting the different outcomes seem exciting at first, it becomes boring doing it over and all over again. Quidditch returns after a brief break in Order, but it’s even less exciting than brewing potions. You play as seeker, and the controls are exceedingly simple; use the left analog stick to manage your way through hovering stars in the sky, and once you weave through enough of them, Harry automatically catches the golden snitch and finishes the match. Saying that the experience is disconnecting with what the real concept of the broomstick football match is an understatement.

Lastly, Harry’s final task is duelling, and though it’s more fun than potion brewing and star-weaving “Quidditch”, that’s not saying much. The mano-a-mano battles mostly swishing your analog sticks in correct motions to accomplish casting a spell. While there are many opportunities to make this minigame exciting, defeating enemies soon becomes tedious as there’s a cheap tactic to exploit: Hold your enemies up in the air hanging by their legs with Levicorpus, and then Stupefying them until their health diminishes. It’s that simple.

In the end, the game fails to capture the wonderment of becoming a wizard, and quickly becomes a forgettable experience. The story lacks focus and fails to connect, and the gameplay stutters down the stairway of motivation until it finally ends with a monotonous, anticlimactic finish. If you want to experience the quest of pursuing the Half-Blood Prince, my advice would be to go read the book again.

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