Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix review

Having been thrown every single version of the latest Harry Potter game (even a GBA one!), Gamestyle is in a good position to weigh them up accordingly. Coming out on top is the Wii version - after all not every game lets you use the Wii remote as a wand - and what we have here is easily the worst. Sucks to be the PSP.The biggest gripe with the PSP version is also the strongest point of the console versions - the magic. While its console cousins use the second analogue stick (or motion control, in the case of the Wii), on the PSP, it uses the four face buttons. This brings with it a major problem. Some magic requires that two buttons be pressed one after the other; the levitation spell, for example, requires that you press the X button followed by holding the triangle. The problem is that often the game doesn't register the first tap of the X button making the spell fizzle out with nothing happening; but when you hold the X button for longer, it does a different spell entirely! It's the most frustrated we've been in a long time. Then there's the incompetent targeting: even when standing right next to the object you want to interact with, the targeting doesn't pick it up, instead deciding to concentrate on something that isn't even in the same room as you. It's a broken mess and instantly makes the game a chore before you've even got past the training section.Frustration vented, it's time to concentrate on the one positive element found in Order of the Phoenix: Hogwarts has been impressively recreated. Everything from the spiral staircase heading up to the dark arts class, to the owlery and many courtyards are taken straight from the movie. A lot of time has really gone into bringing Hogwarts to life and the same can be said about the characters who inhabit the school. Though they'll often get in your way, they do make it seem like you are really a part of this world. Some better AI would have definitely been welcome, as your companions Ron and Hermione can hamper your progress by blocking doors and constantly obstructing you.The crux of the gameplay in Order of the Phoenix revolves around completing tasks for fellow classmates and teachers. It's all to do with bringing together Dumbledore's Army and, naturally, you can't just go up to someone and ask them to come join you in your private meeting room - you have to complete an incredibly boring task for them first. These are often to do with finding items, passing messages and other such stuff which really should be considered as side mission material as opposed to the actual brunt of the story. It becomes tedious very quickly and, unless you're the biggest Harry Potter fan in the world, you'll give up before recruiting all the DA members. Luckily you do have the Marauder's Map which tells you where to go because otherwise becoming lost in the mammoth halls of Hogwarts is all too easy.Adding even more 'film feel' to the game are the voices which are provided by the same actors. However, the acting still comes across as wooden; it's as if Daniel Radcliffe and co aren't exactly comfortable performing into a mic. However, what's worse than the acting is the fact that sometimes the game actually cuts dialogue short, like a bug or glitch. Adding insult to injury, the subtitles at the bottom of the screen go past so quick that even Johnny 5 would have trouble keeping up. Hardly helpful for the hearing impaired.While playing, Gamestyle really got the feeling that the PSP version is the black sheep of the family. Not given as much care and attention as the others, it makes a game that was pretty average to begin with even worse. If you're a huge fan of Harry Potter and desperate for the latest game in the series, you're best going with the Wii version and avoid this mess.