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Applelinks recently posted a new review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the latest game incarnation of the popular book, movie, and computer game series. In Order of the Phoenix players must help Harry and his friends prepare for battle against the villain Voldemort. Applelinks gave the game a score of 3 out of 5.

From the review:

Thankfully, the setting for the game is huge, so there's certainly room for all of these characters in the school, if not in the plot. I found it easy to submerge myself into Hogwarts, as it really felt like a place one could visit, as opposed to most game settings that push you from one location to the next so you don't even see half of the world you're in. Fans of Harry Potter will have a lot of fun exploring Harry's universe.

At least, I hope they do, because there's a lot of exploring to be done in this world. It's so large that it's easy to get lost. The more you get into the game, the easier it'll be to remember how to get to certain locations. Until then, there are devices that'll help you on your way. A map can be pulled up to show your goal, and when you select it, footprints will appear before you to guide your way. However, this only works when you know where you're going. In some quests, such as hunting down the five talking gargoyles, you have to find them on your own. No footprints, no guidance from your friends. In fact, your friends (Ron and Hermione) are with you throughout most of the game, but they tend to be a nuisance more than a help. They were constantly getting in my way, forcing me to run in circles until they'd move to a different area so I could proceed. Even worse, they were constantly badgering me about my current mission. "Have you found the gargoyles yet?" "Have you found the gargoyles yet?" "Have you found the gargoyles yet?" Ron, you've been standing beside me the whole time. You know damn well I haven't found the gargoyles yet. Quit being a jerk.

Applelinks: Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix Review

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