Harry Potter will always hold a special place in my heart. Although I was in college when the first film was released, I fell in love with the story, the characters, the cinematography, and the soundtrack.
Harry Potter was such a huge success that it became a cultural phenomenon, much more than a series of books or a few hit films. The wizarding world that Harry lives in captivates and excites us, and with the release of Hogwarts Legacy I thought it would be fun to look back on the series and see how far we've come.
I hope you like it!
Timeline of book, movie and game releases
1997 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is first published
1998 - Chamber of Secrets is published for the first time
1999 - The Prisoner of Azkaban is first published
2000 - Goblet of Fire is first released
2001 - Release of the first Harry Potter film and games
2002 - The Chamber of Secrets film and games are released
2003 - Order of the Phoenix released
2004 - Prisoner of Azkaban movies and games are released
2005 - Half-Blood Prince released and Goblet of Fire movies and games released
2007 – Released Deathly Hallows and released Order of the Phoenix movies and games
2009 - Half-Blood Prince movies and games are released
2010 – Deathly Hallows Part 1 movies and games released
2011 – Deathly Hallows Part 2 movies and games released
Fan-Interviews
Niko Sturm
Nightmare @NetRunnerGames
-1997-
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is released
First released in the UK on June 26, 1997
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was created by J.K. Rowling and the first full manuscript were mailed to prospective publishers in 1995. After twelve other publishers rejected the book, Bloomsbury Publishing agreed to publish it and it hit UK shelves on 26 June 1997, two years after the manuscript was originally completed.
Scholastic bought the rights to publish the book in the United States for $105,000, a record price for a children's book by an unknown author. Concerned that American audiences might not find the term "philosopher," Scholastic suggested changing the book's name toHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which launched the book in US bookstores on September 1, 1998, more than a year after the book's original UK release.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was a huge hit, topping the New York Times Best Seller list for fiction and staying at the top for most of 1999 and 2000.
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-1998-
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is released
First released in the UK on July 2, 1998
After the amazing success of The Philosopher's Stone, it was clear that J.K. Rowling had to move on to a sequel and continue the fantastic story of "the boy who lived".
Rowling said she had a hard time writing The Chamber of Secrets, fearing it would not live up to the first book's expectations. After delivering the original manuscript for The Chamber of Secrets to Bloomsbury Publishing, she took it back for six weeks for revision.
The Chamber of Secrets was released in the UK on July 2nd, 1998 and immediately went to the top of the UK bestseller lists, ahead of other popular authors such as John Grisham and Tom Clancy.
The book was published in the United States by Scholastic on June 2, 1999 and also went straight to the top of US bestseller lists, including the New York Times.
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-1999-
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is released
First released in the UK on July 8, 1999
Unlike The Chamber of Secrets, Rowling reportedly found The Prisoner of Azkaban much easier to write and finished it in just a year after she started writing.
The Prisoner of Azkaban again sees Harry, Ron and Hermione continuing their studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but this time Harry is investigating Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban Prison. Black is a well-known former associate of Lord Voldemort who was rumored to be involved in the betrayal and murder of Harry's parents, but all may not be as it seems.
After its publication, The Prisoner of Azkaban sold more than 68,000 copies in the UK in its first three days, setting a record for the fastest-selling UK book of its time.
The book was republished by Scholastic in the US and was released on September 8, 1999.
Additionally, Warner Bros. bought the film rights to the first book in 1999 for reportedly £1 million (about US$1.65 million).
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-2000-
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is released
First released in the UK on July 8, 2000
Goblet of Fire follows Harry and his friends in their fourth year at Hogwarts and focuses on Harry's bewildering entry into the Triwizard Tournament and his subsequent struggle to keep up with the other older and more experienced students entering the tournament.
It got a lot bigger than the previous three books, and Rowling knew from the start that it would be "the biggest of the first four" as it required a "real run-up" by the end of the series
The Goblet of Fire marked the first time a new Harry Potter book was published simultaneously in the UK and the United States: on July 8, 2000.
Also, in 2000, production began on the first Harry Potter film, with Chris Columbus chosen to direct. Rowling was allowed quite a bit of creative control, and she insisted that the actors be either British or Irish.
After an open casting in August 2000, the three main actors were selected: Daniel Radcliffe (aged 11) as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint (aged 12) as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson (aged 10) as Hermione Granger.
Filming began in September 2000 at Leavesden Film Studios.
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-2001-
First film and games released
-the film-
Official theatrical release on November 16, 2001
The first Harry Potter film, based on Rowling's bookThe Philosopher's Stone(orThe Philosopher's Stoneas it was known in the United States) was first released in cinemas in the United Kingdom and Ireland on November 10 for a two-day preview before its official release on November 16. In addition to the UK and Ireland release, the film was also released in the United States, Canada and Taiwan.
The film was a huge success financially (grossing over $970 million upon its initial release) and with critics and fans alike. It was the highest-grossing film of 2001 and the second highest-grossing film at the time.
In addition to Harry, Ron and Hermione, the film starred some well-known actors:
- John Cleese as Nearly Headless Nick
- Robbie Coltrane als Rubeus Hagrid
- Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick: The magician and head of Ravenclaw House, the Goblin Head Teller at Gringotts, and the voice of Griphook
- Richard Griffiths als Vernon Dursley
- Richard Harris als Albus Dumbledore
- Ian Hart as Quirinus Quirrell and the voice of Lord Voldemort
- John Hurt als Mr. Ollivander
- Alan Rickman als Severus Snape
- Fiona Shaw als Petunia Dursley
- Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall: The Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts
- Julie Walters als Molly Weasley: Rons Mutter
Interestingly, a few different directors were considered for the film, including Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner, but at this point it's hard to think of anyone other than Chris Columbus. Can you imagine what a Spielberg Harry Potter would have looked like? Dobby could have looked like E.T.
-the games-
The first game released based on Harry Potter actually had nothing to do with the films but was a Lego Creator game.
In addition to the Lego Creator game and coinciding with the film's release, four different film adaptation games were released on different platforms in November 2001:
GameBoy color version
The GameBoy Color version was set up like a traditional RPG, and the game started with Hagrid taking Harry to Diagon Alley. From that point on, the game followed the movie plot closely, respecting all the key scenes.
GameBoy Advance-Version
The GameBoy Advance version was an isometric action-adventure game that required the player to explore Hogwarts, take classes, and complete challenges. Challenges often consisted of collecting a certain number of items, such as stars or potion ingredients.
PC-Version
The PC version played similarly to the PlayStation version as a third-person action and puzzle game, but the levels are arranged differently than the PlayStation version.
Playstation-Version
The PlayStation version sold 8 million copies, making it one of the best-selling PlayStation games and one of the best-selling video games of all time.
You can see some gameplay from the PlayStation version below:
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-2002-
Chamber of Secrets film and games released
-THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS MOVIE-
Official theatrical release on November 15, 2002
The second Harry Potter film, based on Rowling's bookThe Chamber of Secrets, was released in the United Kingdom and the United States on the same day. Like the first film, it was a critical and commercial success, grossing $879 million worldwide and becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2002 (first being The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers).
The cast of the second film was largely the same but saw some notable additions, with Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart and Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy.
-THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS GAMES-
The games developed and released for The Chamber of Secrets were almost as diverse as the games for the first film. The Chamber of Secrets was released on GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC.
GameBoy color version
Again, the GameBoy Color version was set up like a traditional RPG and was very different from the other versions of the game. In this version, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Gilderoy Lockheart are all playable at different points in the game.
GameBoy Advance-Version
The GameBoy Advance version was once again an isometric perspective action-adventure puzzle game, just like the first one. The game starts with cinematic scenes telling the beginning of the movie story until Hagrid meets Harry in Nocturne Alley. Of all the different versions of the game, this version had the fewest spells.
PC-Version
The PC version was once again made by a different developer than the home console versions, and played very much like the Sorcerer's Stone game for PC. The graphics and character design were also very similar to the first game.
Playstation-Version
The PlayStation version was a direct sequel to the first game and retained many elements and graphics from that game. The Chamber of Secrets also expanded some areas of Hogwarts and included some new mini-games.
Playstation 2, Xbox and GameCube versions
The PS2, Xbox and GameCube versions of The Chamber of Secrets have been significantly improved over the PS1 version, including more detailed character models and environments and the addition of a free flight mode.
In the Xbox and GameCube versions, the player could only take off and land at certain locations, while in the PS2 version, the player could take off and land practically anywhere.
In addition, the GameCube version included an exclusive feature with their GBA to GC feature, which could open a secret room in the GameCube version when connecting to the GBA version of the game.
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-2003-
Order of the Phoenix released and more games released
First published on June 21, 2003
The Order of the Phoenix follows Harry during his fifth year at Hogwarts. After being attacked by dementors, Harry is rescued by members of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret order created by Dumbledore to defend against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Harry continues to try to publicize Voldemort's return, but the Ministry of Magic doesn't believe him and appoints Dolores Umbridge as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
There are several key moments in the book, from Dumbledore's hiding and Umbridge's headmistress, to the battle against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, to Sirius' death at the hands of Bellatrix and the revelation to the Ministry that Lord Voldemort had indeed returned.
Order of the Phoenix was released three years after the previous book was published, which was the longest time between books to date. The book's publication was met with overwhelming success, although some critics decried the book's escalating violence and its themes of Christian morality.
-the games-
While no actual film-based games were released in 2003, a version of The Sorcerer's Stone and a new game based on Quidditch were released on PS2, Xbox, and GameCube.
Quidditch World Cupwas released on PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GameBoy Advance and PC. The teams and the setting in the game were based on the third book, The Prisoner of Azkaban.
There were three primary game modes:
1)Hogwarts- where players compete between Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin for the Hogwarts Inner-House Quidditch Cup
2)World Championship- where the gameplay is similar to Hogwarts mode, but the teams are based on real countries instead of Hogwarts houses: England, USA, Germany, France, etc.
3)Exhibition- where players can compete with either house teams or world teams in a single match. For the world teams, only England and the United States are initially selectable, while the other teams are unlocked as you progress through the mode and defeat opposing teams. This mode doubled as the game's multiplayer mode.
The Philosopher's Stonewas released on PS2, Xbox and GameCube and comes a few years after its release on other platforms. Graphics were greatly improved over previous versions, but critics found it too similar to Chamber of Secrets game released the year before. Perhaps because it was a late release and because of its poor critical reception, the game didn't sell very well and is now rather rare and expensive to buy (typically $80-$100 used).
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-2004-
Prisoner of Azkaban Movie and Games Releases
-THE Prisoner of Azkaban MOVIE-
First theatrical release in the UK on May 31, 2004
The third Harry Potter film based on Rowling's bookThe Prisoner of Azkaban, was released on May 31, 2004 in the UK and June 4, 2004 in the United States. It was the first Harry Potter film to use IMAX technology and was released in IMAX theaters.
The director of the first two films, Chris Columbus, decided not to direct the third and instead Alfonso Cuaron was chosen to direct.
Most of the cast from the first and second films returned for The Prisoner of Azkaban, with some notable absences and additions. Unfortunately, the role of Dumbledore passed to Michael Gambon after the death of original actor Richard Harris in 2002. As additions, Gary Oldman was added to play the role of escaped prisoner Sirius Black, Emma Thompson was added to play the role of Divination teacher Sybill Trelawney, and David Thewlis was added to play the new Defense Against the Dark teacher Arts, Remus Lupin, to play.
On release, the film broke the record for the biggest single day in UK box office history, grossing £5.3million. The film grossed $93.7 million in its opening weekend in the United States and Canada and was #1 at the North American box office for two consecutive weekends.
-PRISONERS OF ASKABAN GAMES-
As with the games released for The Chamber of Secrets, there were three different versions of the game, varying between handheld (GameBoy Advance), PC, and home console (PS2, Xbox, and GameCube) versions.
GameBoy Advance-Version
The GameBoy Advance version again played more like a traditional RPG and was generally well received by critics, with GameSpot giving it a 7.5/10 and Game Informer an 8/10.
PC-Version
The PC version was similar to previous games on PC and included some puzzle-solving elements, but wasn't quite as well received by critics as the GBA and PS2, Xbox, and GameCube versions. PC Gamer gave 72% and IGN 6/10.
PS2 / Xbox / GameCube versions
The home console (PS2, Xbox, GameCube) version was very different from the GameBoy Advance and PC versions, offering an over-the-shoulder 3D perspective with boss fights and detective-like sections. It received average reviews from critics, with EGM giving it a 6.5/10, Game Informer giving it a 6.5/10, and GameSpot giving it a 7/10. The PS2 version of the game tended to be slightly better received than the Xbox and GameCube versions.
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-2005-
Half-Blood Prince released and Goblet of Fire film and games released
First published on July 16, 2005
Set in Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts, the Half-Blood Prince further explores Lord Voldemort's past and focuses on Harry's preparation for the final battle with his nemesis.
The book sold nine million copies in the first 24 hours of publication and was generally positively received, although reviewers noted the book's much darker tone.
-The Goblet of Fire MOVIE-
First theatrical release on November 18, 2005
The fourth Harry Potter film, based on Rowling's bookThe Goblet of Fire, was released worldwide on November 18, 2005. It was the second Harry Potter film to use IMAX technology and be released in IMAX theaters.
Most of the cast returned for The Goblet of Fire with some notable additions. Robert Pattinson replaced Joe Livermore as Cedric Diggory, who would play a greatly expanded role in this film, and David Tennant was added to play Barty Crouch, Jr., a Death Eater. The rest of the Goblet of Fire contestants were also added: Clémence Poésy played Beauxbatons champion Fleur Delacour and Stanislav Ianevski played Durmstrang champion Viktor Krum. Also added are Katie Leung to play Cho Chang, Harry's love interest, and Brendan Gleeson to play Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.
Interestingly, it was the first film that didn't start in Privet Drive.
Goblet of Fire grossed nearly $897 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2005. The film was generally well received by critics, many praising its darker themes and humor.
-THE GOBLET OF FIRE GAMES-
As with the games released for The Chamber of Secrets, there were three different versions of the game, varying between handheld (GameBoy Advance), PC, and home console (PS2, Xbox, and GameCube) versions.
GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS versions
The GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS versions were mostly identical, with the DS version simply having a second screen for stats and a few other features. The graphics and gameplay between the two versions were very similar apart from the 3D duel mode battles added to the DS version.
IGN gave the GameBoy Advance version 7.4/10 and the DS version 7.8/10.
PS2 / Xbox / GameCube versions
The PS2, Xbox and GameCube versions are 3D action-adventure games with darker themes than the previous games, in keeping with the film's darker themes, but interestingly the gameplay has been simplified overall.
IGN gave all three home console versions 7.2/10.
Sony PSP-Version
The Sony PSP version was mostly identical to the home console versions, but had exclusive mini-games and features that took advantage of the PSP's wireless capabilities. IGN gave the PSP version a slightly higher score than the home console versions, 7.5/10 versus 7.2/10 for the home console versions.
PC-Version
The PC version was identical to the home console versions and was generally reviewed in line with them. IGN play the PC version 7.2/10 along with the home console versions.
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-2007-
Released Deathly Hallows and released Order of the Phoenix Movie and Games
First published on July 21, 2007
The Deathly Hallows was the final book in the Harry Potter series and chronicles the final battle between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. As the last book in the series, it featured the most dramatic encounters with Voldemort and his Death Eaters, and several additional characters die, including "Mad-Eye" Moody, Hedwig (Harry's Owl), Dobby the house-elf, Severus Snape, Crabbe, Remus Lupin, among others Fred Weasley.
Book sales for The Deathly Hallows were record-breaking. On opening day, 8.3 million copies were sold in the US alone, and 2.65 million were sold in the UK. In fact, The Deathly Hallows still holds the Guinness World Record for fastest selling fiction book in 24 hours.
-Order of the Phoenix Movie-
First theatrical release on November 18, 2005
The fifth Harry Potter film, based on Rowling's bookthe order of the phoenix,was released on July 11, 2007 in the United States and a day later on July 12, 2007 in the UK (a first for the series).
As is usual in the series, the film saw some notable additions and departures in the cast. Imelda Staunton was added to the cast as Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Evanna Lynch was added to play Luna Lovegood, and Helena Bonham Carter was added to play Bellatrix Lestrange. Unfortunately, Gary Oldman's Sirius Black is killed by Bellatrix while fighting the Death Eaters.
Order of the Phoenix grossed $942 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2007, just behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. The film received mixed reviews from critics.
-THE Order of the Phoenix GAMES-
The releases of The Order of the Phoenix game spanned more consoles than ever before, with versions for GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360.
GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS versions
As with the Goblet of Fire games, the GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS versions were again mostly identical, but while the DS version of the Goblet of Fire seemed to largely copy the GameBoy Advance version, this time it's the opposite. The GameBoy Advance version of Order of the Phoenix seemed to largely emulate the DS version, but rather poorly.
The DS version was created like Resident Evil, with 3D characters on 2D backgrounds, and while it doesn't look good, it's much better than the bad approximation of the GameBoy Advance, with sprite characters on 2D backgrounds, but tries around to mimic the look of the DS version. Unfortunately it didn't work well.
On the plus side, the developers tried to fully replicate Hogwarts, so it was cool to be able to see all of the school's locations that you knew and loved from the books and trains.
IGN gave the Nintendo DS version 6/10 and didn't bother to rate the GameBoy Advance version at all. Nintendo Power took a similar approach, giving the DS version a 7/10 rating, but not the GameBoy Advance version. GameSpot reviewed both versions, but together, so they both got the same 5/10 rating (which honestly isn't fair, as the DS version was superior, albeit marginally).
PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC versions
The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions of the Order of the Phoenix game were virtually identical, with only minor differences in rating scores between the console and PC versions.
As you might imagine, these versions of the game looked their best, with representative character models looking mostly like their movie counterparts, but with those boring mannequin-like expressions that were common in the PS3/Xbox 360 era. The environments looked superb and the developers meticulously recreated Hogwarts using film set blueprints.
The only real issues with the games were that they used the in-game character models in cutscenes, so they kept that blank mannequin-like expression throughout (which looks very odd in a cutscene), and the fighting gameplay was pretty boring and uninteresting. But for fans of the movies and books, this is the best look you've ever seen in Wizarding World.
IGN gave the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions 7.6/10 while it gave the PC version 7.3/10, with seemingly no difference in the actual rating itself.
PS2-Version
The PlayStation 2 version of Order of the Phoenix was largely identical to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions but, as you can imagine, had to sacrifice a bit in both visual detail and framerate. The story and the game itself developed just like their next-gen counterparts, but the character models lack the same visual fidelity, and the environments have additional clipping and less detailed textures that detract from the experience a bit. If you didn't have a next-gen system at the time, this was a good game that recreated the film in great detail.
Wii-Version
The Wii version of Order of the Phoenix wasn't quite as pretty as its PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts, but it was still one of the better looking games on the system, and using the Wii Remote to do magic with your wand was a problem long way to make this game one of the best game versions.
Sony PSP-Version
The Sony PSP version of Order of the Phoenix was very similar to the PS2 version, but since it doesn't have a second analog stick it was simply conjured up using shortcut keys, making it a bit easier than the PS2 version. It still included the detailed Hogwarts level design and character models, and was overall a decent experience for fans of the series. IGN gave the PSP version 5.5/10.
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-2009-
Half-Blood Prince film and games released
The sixth Harry Potter film, based on Rowling's bookThe Half-Blood Prince, was released on July 15, 2009 in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
There was controversy over the release date as the film was complete and was scheduled for release on November 18, 2008, but Warner decided to delay the film's release until the following summer when they thought it would have a bigger impact. The date change was met with severe criticism from fans.
The Half-Blood Prince grossed $934.5 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2009, right behind Avatar. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
-THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE GAMES-
Game releases for Order of the Phoenix again spanned multiple consoles, with versions for Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360.
Nintendo DS / Sony PSP versions
Like previous handheld versions of Harry Potter, the DS and PSP versions of the game were very similar. While the PSP version looked much cleaner, it willy-nilly lacked the touchscreen mini-games of the DS. Critics either gave the games a bad rating or didn't bother to rate them at all. IGN released both the DS and PSP versions 4.3/10.
PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC versions
The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions of the Half-Blood Prince game were once again virtually identical, with only minor differences in rating scores between the console and PC versions.
These were clearly the best looking versions of the game and actually improved on most of the last game's negatives, making it the best game in the series. You might expect a game based on the movie to follow its plot pretty closely, and although this game follows the sequence of the movie, it is very light in plot and mostly focuses on exploration and gameplay. If you're looking for a playable version of the film this might be disappointing, but if you wanted to explore the best looking version of Hogwarts yet, attend classes, play Quidditch and duel other wizards, this is the game you're looking for have waited.
IGN gave the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions 7.7/10, while it gave the PC version 7.5/10, with seemingly no difference in actual rating.
PS2 / Wii versions
Once again, the PlayStation 2 and Wii versions of the Half-Blood Prince were largely identical to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions in terms of concept and basic layout and structure. Of course, as you can imagine, both the PS2 and Wii versions had to sacrifice quite a bit of visual detail and framerate, but between the two, the Wii version looked slightly better. Also, the Wii version included motion controls that made the magic parts of the game a little more interactive and exciting. IGN issued the Wii version 7.7/10 but did not review the PS2 version separately.
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-2010-
Deathly Hallows Part 1 Movie and Games released
The seventh Harry Potter film, based on the first half of Rowling's bookThe Deathly Hallows, was released on November 19, 2010 in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Deathly Hallows was by far the darkest book in the series and the movies followed suit. Unfortunately, the battle between Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters and Harry Potter and the heroes of Hogwarts resulted in several well-known character deaths. In Deathly Hallows Part 1, Mad-Eye Moody and Hedwig are both killed during Harry Potter's move at the beginning of the film. Then near the end of the film, Dobby is killed while trying to help Harry.
The Deathly Hallows Part 1 grossed $977 million worldwide, making it the third highest-grossing film of 2010 after Toy Story 3 and Alice in Wonderland. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
-THE Deathly Hallows Pt 1 GAMES-
Like all previous games in the series, The Deathly Hallows Part 1 was released on multiple consoles, with versions for Nintendo DS, PC, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360.
Nintendo DS-Version
The Nintendo DS version of The Deathly Hallows Part 1 was possibly the best-received version of the game, although the consensus was that it was still flawed and a disappointment compared to previous games in the series. That being said, the critics' reviews of the other versions of the game have been a lot less kind.
PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC / Wii versions
For once, the Wii version of a great Harry Potter game was very similar to its more powerful PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC counterparts, but that wasn't because it was good.
Rather, all console and PC versions of the game Deathly Hallows Part 1 were heavily criticized for turning a Harry Potter game into a very poorly executed cover shooter (I think one article called it "Wizards of War" - as in Gears of War, not the excellent Wizard of Wor).
But the cover-based shoot wasn't the worst part, far from it. There were also stealth-based segments that were practically unplayable and laughably bad.
While some of the graphics in the game didn't look bad, the lack of polish and poor execution of the gameplay resulted in an unplayable mess that didn't do justice to the film's success.
IGN gave the PS3 and Wii versions 2/10, while giving the Xbox 360 version a slightly higher (but still terrible) score of 2.5/10 due to its additional Kinect-enabled gameplay sections.
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-2011-
Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie and Games released
The eighth Harry Potter film, based on the second half of Rowling's bookThe Deathly Hallows, was released on July 15, 2011 in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Deathly Hallows Part 2 continued the dark tones of the previous film as it told the story of the last stand against Lord Voldemort and his forces. Unfortunately, as in Deathly Hallows Part 1, several characters die in battle, including Snape, Goyle, Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Tonks. Ultimately, Harry and the Hogwarts heroes are victorious, defeating Lord Voldemort and dispatching his troops.
The Deathly Hallows Part 2 grossed over $1.342 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2011 worldwide, ahead of Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. The film received rave reviews from both critics and fans alike and was a fitting conclusion to the epic Potter series.
-THE Deathly Hallows Pt 2 GAMES-
Like all previous games in the series, The Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released on multiple consoles, with versions for Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360.
Nintendo DS-Version
Like the previous version, the Nintendo DS game The Deathly Hallows Part 2 was possibly the best-received of all versions. While the consensus was that some of the previous game's issues were fixed, it was still far from the quality that could be expected from other more polished games on the DS. TheMetascorefor the DS version is 55/100.
PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC / Wii versions
For Deathly Hallows Part 2, the once-powerful game series ended with a whimper. Rather than return to the success of a game like Half-Blood Prince, the game's developers doubled down on the "Wizards of War" concept, which basically turned Harry and the other Gears, um, wizards, into cover-shooting soldiers.
Spells were essentially just different types of weapons, and any sense of magic and wonder was stripped from the series. While parts of the game still looked okay, the disjointed gameplay and half-hearted shooting and stealth mechanics made this a sanctuary of death that players wished had stayed dead.
Critics generally agreed that while fixing some of the previous game's bugs, it was essentially the same unplayable mayhem. IGN gave the game a 5.5/10, GameSpot gave it a 4/10, and its meta score ranged from 47/100 for the Wii version to 43/100 for the PS3 and PC versions.
All in all, a very sad ending for such a historic franchise.
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Fan interview with
Niko Sturm
What is your fondest memory of the Harry Potter series?As an OG Harry Potter fan, I started reading the Harry Potter books in middle school and I continued to read them throughout college. I remember going to the store with my friends at midnight to pick up our copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I take it back to my friend's apartment and take turns reading chapters of the book throughout the night. Go to midnight movie premieres and stand in line for hours playing games to while away the hours waiting to get to the theater.
I love the Harry Potter series the most because it made me love to read. As a kid, reading was a real struggle and heartbreak. Reading a picture book that would take my colleagues minutes to read would take hours, and it seemed like being able to read a novel was a dream I would never achieve.
When I was given a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at the age of 12, it was the first book I didn't want to give up. I had heard from other people how great it was and I just had to read it. I didn't care how hard it was or how many times I had to spell a word for my mom to ask her for the word, I wanted to read it, so I did. It took over a year but I made it.
As I continued to read the Harry Potter books and other books, I slowly got better and better, and after a few years I no longer needed to ask people for help while reading.
If not for J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, I wouldn't be the reader I am today. That's why Harry Potter and the Wizarding World holds such a big place in my heart.
What is your favorite book?
That's a tough question, but after giving it a lot of thought, the third book, The Prisoner of Azkaban, is my number one choice.
Finding out Sirius Black's backstory, saving Sirius from having his soul drained with the Dementor's Kiss, and finding out that Harry has a godfather who will be there for him are some of my favorite parts.
May I also recommend that if you haven't had a chance to listen to the audio books narrated by Jim Dale, you should definitely check them out. Jim Dale has won two Grammy Awards for his storytelling of the fourth and seventh Harry Potter books, 11 Audie Awards, over a dozen AudioFile Earphone Awards and was first inducted into the American Audio Hall of Fame.
What's your least favorite book?
My favorite book as a kid was The Chamber of Secrets.
It was one of the darker books at the time, with the students being attacked and Hagrid unjustly sent to Azkaban.
As an adult, my perspective has changed, and the seventh book, The Deathly Hallows, is last on my list because of the many dark and disturbing moments, like all the beloved characters dying.
Beginning with the death of Hedwig, the snow-white owl from Harry Potter. Loyal and loving, she showed him the first bit of love since his parents died ten years ago and protected him even in their final moments.
The death of Mad-Eye Moody, the torture of Hermione by Bellatrix Lestrange, and the death of Dobby while rescuing Harry and his friends all shocked me greatly.
Then there are the deaths that happened during the battle at Hogwarts: Nymphadora Tonks Lupin, Remus John Lupin, Fred Wesley and Severus Snape.
Snape wasn't a likable character to begin with, which I think most fans would agree, but in the second half of the book, just before he dies, Snape gives Harry his most secret memories and reveals that Snape isn't as bad a person as he wanted, that we think.
What's your least favorite movie?
My least favorite movie is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, not as a whole, but it's one of my least watched movies. First of all, seeing the death of Hedwig with your own eyes is just as bad as reading it in print. The torture of Hermione and the death of Dobby were also very harrowing to watch and I prefer watching the other films in the series to this one.
Are any of the movies better than their book counterparts?
I think it's just two very different things that are great on their own but can't be compared. There are many little things in each book that I wish they could have incorporated into the movies. Although Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book, it's not my favorite movie. I didn't care that it focused on the clocks as a foreshadowing, and it left out other fun parts in the book that I would have preferred to have brought to life.
Which Harry Potter games have you played?
When I was a teen-teen, I would go to the local video store, rent the games, and play them. I've played The Sorcerers Stone and The Chamber of Secrets a lot (sometimes with the volume turned down when I got too scared). I've been playing Harry Potter Lego books 1-4 and 5-7 on iOS and Nintendo Switch for the past few years, but I've pre-ordered a copy of Hogwarts Legacy for Switch and can't wait for it to arrive!
What is your favorite game and why?
My favorite Harry Potter game is Harry Potter Lego books 1-4 and 5-7. I just love blowing things up and then putting them back together and the characters are so cute.
Who is your favorite character and why?
I couldn't decide on one so I chose two.
I've always loved George Weasley and his sarcastic remarks, some of which never made it into the film scripts. For example, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ron and Hermione become Hogwarts Perfects. Mrs. Weasley joins Ron Hermione, Harry, Fred and George in a bedroom when she finds herself so excited she said, "...are you prefect That's all in the family!' To which George immediately replies, 'What are Fred and I? Neighbors next door?" This line makes me laugh out loud every time.
The other character I love is Hagrid. Hagrid loves both humans and magical creatures and considers Harry family. From taking Harry to his aunt and uncle as a child, getting him a birthday cake with his Hogwarts letter on his 11th birthday, taking Harry to Diagon Alley to pick up all his stuff for school, giving him his owl Hedwig as Buying birthday presents and asking Harry out for tea after his first week of school are just a few things from the first book that have given Hagrid a special place in my heart. Not to mention his love for Norbert the Dragon.
Do you have a favorite magical creature and why?
My very favorite magical creature, apart from Hedwig of course, is Buckbeak the Hippogriff. Hippogriffs are just such cool creatures, and they're proud creatures. Buckbeak has shown himself to be very loyal and protective of those who treat him with kindness and respect. Buckbeak also defended Harry from Severus Snape in Book 6, and his loyalty to Harry was undying, which was further proven when he joined the Battle of Hogwarts in Book 7.
You can find me on Instagram, Tik-Tok and Twitter as @nikostorm99
Fan interview with
Nightmare @NetRunnerGames
What is your fondest memory of the Harry Potter series?
My fondest memory of the entire series has to be watching the first movie when I was about 6 or 7 years old. The series was in its third book at this point and after reading the first two I was incredibly excited to bring these characters, who were just a part of my imagination, to life on the big screen.I was so blown away by the sight of the wizarding world and all its glory that I wanted to redecorate my entire room based on the Gryffindor common room theme.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book would be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In my opinion, this book plays the most key role in the entire series.This is the book where Harry finally becomes the leader we all wanted and where he grows the most along with Ron and Hermione. This is also the book where JK Rowling created one of the most hated characters in all of literature (Dolores Umbridge) and gave her what she deserved.
The book also explains critical questions and plot points such as why Harry must stay with the Dursleys, the meaning of the prophecy and when Dumbledore first hears about it from Professor Sybill Trelawney, and how Neville Longbottom's fate is connected to Harry's as prophesied.
What's your least favorite book?
My favorite book would be Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry, Ron and Hermione all strike the perfect balance as to why they always succeed in whatever challenges they have had to face throughout the series.This book challenges that balance by removing Hermione from that perfectly balanced equation, leaving Harry and Ron to their own devices, stripped of their quirky remarks and invaluable knowledge of the wizarding world.
Aside from also revealing the first of Voldemort's Horcruxes (Tom Riddle's Diary) and the sinister dark magic behind it, this book doesn't really advance the overall plot of the series as much as the other six.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie in the series has to be Harry Potter and Deathly Hollows Part 2. This film attempts to go back to the beginning of the series when Christopher Columbus was directing the films in order to incorporate so much of the magic from the books into the film.The director, David Yates, gave characters like Severus Snape the respect they deserve by giving him a truly emotional, expanded sequence of scenes in which Snape's true nature as a hero and Harry's hidden guardian are finally revealed.
This film builds immensely scene after scene, culminating in the emblematic finale at the Battle of Hogwarts. The actors and director also do a great job of giving us a satisfying conclusion to characters we've read, watched, and come to love for over a decade.
While the film omits some of the book's crucial plot points in order to have a reasonable running time, it more than makes up for it with colossal action sequences, wrenching emotional content, and a critical ending that pays respect to the highest standards of JK Rowling's universe and fans who been part of its creation since the publication of the first book in 1997.
What's your least favorite movie?
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince would have to take the place of my least favorite film.Unlike the other 7 films, this one failed to capture the magic of the books. While the film brought Quidditch back into the movies and paid close attention to Voldemort's mystery and past, it lacks in bringing depth to our characters.
You can find me on YouTube as Nightmare @NetRunnerGames
(Video) Why we celebrate Back to Hogwarts | Wizarding World