Harry PotterT QuidditchT World Cup Reviewed on Xbox

Keeper who protects the goal, and the Seeker who chases the elusive Golden Snitch™ that must be caught to end the match. The Seeker who ends the game by catching the Snitch wins an extra 150 points for their team. You can also accumulate power ups and special moves to help you in your plight.

Firstly you need to choose any one of the four Hogwarts house teams - everyone is present and correct including Harry Potter's Gryffindor - Malfoy's Slytherin & Cho's Ravenclaw you get a chance to pick up the Quidditch basics with five original challenges and the Hogwarts House Cup competition. This works as a great tutorial and intro to the sport. Once completed, players can enter the Quidditch World Cup, choosing from a range of international teams including the USA, England, France, Germany, the Nordic Team, Japan, Spain, Australia, and Bulgaria - featuring Viktor Krum. Each national team sports its own Quidditch gear, has a unique stadium environment, and different strengths to make thing even more interesting.

Where this game became a bit frustrating for me was when I became good enough at Quidditch to start wanting to play for keeps. Quidditch, in JK Rowling's books is described as a super fast, intricate and dangerous sport. It seems to me that EA have pitched this game at a lower end age group which I suppose is who will buy this title.
Which means the game-play and CPU AI don't really cut the mustard in today's sport simulation world.

Controlling your players is no less than annoying, you have no option to speed up or slow down on your broomstick (like a boost button) and the passing is too much of a lottery. I get frustrated by games that try and use the game AI to make your passes and heavily influence your teammates, this game left me with steam coming out of my ears.

Even though I tended to get a bit frustrated with the game-play, Harry Potter™ Quidditch™ World Cup does a fine job of the audio & visual production. The players and areas alike are all glorious in their detail. As you travel around the world in the world cup you get to see some stunning Quidditch pitches including ice arenas and water pitches. Sound-wise the game seems to do an ok job, although there is nothing special to report.

Overall, Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup is a likeable first attempt, that I expect will appeal more to the hardcore Potter fan. Does it has enough depth of game-play and tactic to hold it's own as a sports title? The jury is out on this one. I await the sequel.

7 out of 10