Electronic Arts has shipped four video games based on the popular novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer"s Stone. The games will be on store shelves November 16, the same day the Warner Bros. Pictures movie is released in theatres. The games will be published for the PlayStation console, PC, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. Each of the four games "takes advantage of the individual platform"s hardware capabilities ... while representing a faithful interactive adaptation of the book"s story line," EA said in a press release.
The PlayStation title features platform-style gameplay within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Players take the role of Harry Potter as he arrives at Hogwarts and embarks on a journey to unlock the secrets of his own magical abilities. Along the way, players experience a series of challenges inspired by the book"s story line including a 3D roller coaster ride through Gringotts, Quidditch matches, and a flying broomstick chase to retrieve the Remembrall for Neville Longbottom. Players also encounter more than 20 characters from J.K. Rowling"s world as they learn to cast spells, collect items such as Wizard Cards and Bertie Bott"s Every Flavor Beans, explore numerous 3D environments faithful to Hogwarts and its surrounding grounds, and traverse interactive environments with multiple levels and secret passageways.
The PC version also allows players to take the role of Harry Potter as he enrolls in Hogwarts and embarks on a journey to unlock the secrets of his own magical abilities. Along the way Harry explores the halls of Hogwarts and its surrounding grounds, studies to be a wizard, learns to fly a broomstick, plays Quidditch, collects objects to solve puzzles, becomes skilled at spells and potions, discovers secret passages and locations, and interacts with other characters from the book. The PC product also features an arcade-style Quidditch game and an array of puzzle and adventure gameplay as players guide Harry through the halls of Hogwarts, sneaking around to avoid confrontations with nosey characters like Filch and Peeves.