Features

• Visual highlights like the flying Ford Anglia and the Whomping Willow are captured perfectly, as are the faces of stars Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)
• Smoothly done tutorial on moving, casting spells and checking your extensive inventory
• Minigames like gnome-tossing provide a break from adventuring
• Great graphics, including lovely particle effects from Harry's wand
•  Terrific musical score dramatizes each scene
• Plenty of cinema sequences, voiced by excellent acting talent

Eurocom generally sticks to the movie, but isn't afraid to add game-appropriate elements. Gamers will get a kick out of quieting a quarrelsome washing machine with a few expertly cast Flipendos. Harry collects school supplies and runs errands in Daigon Alley before taking off with Ron in the flying Ford.

Their crash-landing at Hogwarts earns them the instant enmity of Prof. Snape. Hogwarts is one adventure after the other -- broomstick-riding, helping rescue a boy trapped behind a tapestry in the Gryffindor Common Room -- as Harry and his friends gradually learn of the mystery at the game's center.

The Chamber of Secrets does a good job of varying gameplay. The only rough spots come in the stealth sections, where Harry must sneak around bookshelves and cabinets without being seen. In these sections, a fixed overhead camera makes it tough to see where Harry's nemesis is lurking.

Bottom Line

A charming game that's sure to please Harry Potter's legions of fans, Chamber of Secrets delivers challenging gameplay by the cauldron-full. The result is a smooth broomstick ride that should please all but the most hard-core gamer. See the Connectivity section to find out details on how this game links up with other Harry Potter games to unlock secret areas and minigames.