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Margaret Chan

With the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire  game for Microsoft's Xbox system, players and fans of the hit movie franchise get a chance to explore the adventures of the young wizard and his friends in a whole new way.

The third-person action adventure game is published by Electronic Arts  and developed by its UK subsidiary in co-operation with Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment.

The latest edition to the Harry Potter video game series delivers a significantly greater interactive experience.

In a first for the franchise, players can join forces with their friends to cast spells  together to create more powerful magic than before.

An all-new system for casting spells allows players to feel the magic for the first time as the controller shakes and reacts with every flick of the wand.

Harry Potter,  Ron Weasley  and Hermione Granger  are all playable characters in the new game, which was designed to complement the movie based on JK Rowling's  fourth book.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is mysteriously selected as the fourth competitor in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament.

He must confront a fire-breathing dragon, rescue friends from the icy depths of the Black Lake and navigate the twisting mysteries of a vast, enchanted maze.

Players experience all the adventures of the movie - from the Quidditch World Cup  campsite  to Harry's heart-stopping duel with Lord Voldemort.  Actor Ralph Fiennes,  who plays Lord Voldemort  in the movie, even lends his voice  and likeness to the game.

A player can choose to  be Harry, Ron or Hermione at the start of each level. As the game progresses, the main task is to collect Triwizard shields. Players accumulate these shields by exploring various levels or defeating the competition. Both tasks require a player to master spells.

Mushrooms, statuettes and mini shields must also be collected because a number of these items help unlock more Triwizard shields.

These also unlock various cards - character cards, quest cards and creature cards - to help bolster a character's powers.

Some  even allow a player to mix and match spells.

In the  co-operative play mode, a player can be joined by two friends to cast spells together. In the multiplayer mode, players can jump into any part of the game at any time.

Depending on the levels, Harry and his friends perform all sorts of satisfying jinxes and charms, from Carpe Retractum,  Wingardium Leviosa,  Aqua Eructo  and Accio  to Inflatus,  Ebublio  and Lapifors.

Spells are not chosen by the player, but by the situation. If a fire needs to be put out, Harry's wand will automatically shoot Aqua Eructo and spray water on the flames.

Some obstacles,  such as extra-large boulders or flames, require two or more of the characters to simultaneously cast their spells to overcome the problem.

Jinxes are used to attack monsters such as Fire Salamanders, Dugbogs  and Erklings. A player can combine charms and jinxes to attack these creatures. A special power-up bar offers a combined attack option but it can also be used in single-player mode.

The game is highly cinematic and immersive, with impressive graphics, musical score, effects and voice characterisation.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for Xbox

Specifications

Price: $270

Pros: Seamless and user-friendly multiplayer option

Cons: All spells are pre-decided for a player in every situation



Boy wizard and his friends cast a powerful spell on Xbox gamers