Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001 video game)

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
European PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)	Argonaut Games (PS1)[3] KnowWonder (Windows)[4] Westlake Interactive (Mac)[5]
Composer(s)	Jeremy Soule
Series	Harry Potter
Engine	Unreal Engine (Windows)
Platform(s)	PlayStation Microsoft Windows Mac OS
Release	WW: 16 November 2001[1] NA: 21 February 2002 (Mac)[2]
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Mode(s)	Single-player

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) is an action-adventure video game based on the 2001 film of the same name. Philosopher's Stone was initially released for Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation in November 2001. A different game bearing the same name was made two years later for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox in December 2003.^[6][7][8] The versions on different platforms differ greatly from each other and do not follow the same level structures or gameplay, with somewhat varying stories as well.

The story follows protagonist

The player controls the character Harry Potter from a third-person perspective.^[9]

Windows/Mac

In the PC versions, the game is played like a third-person action and puzzle game. The story follows a linear progression, separated into levels with a specific end goal. Spells are learned progressively via lesson levels, and unlock increasingly complex puzzles. The spells featured are as follows: Flipendo, taught by Professor Quirrell, which can be used to stun enemies and push objects around; Alohomora Charm, taught by Hermione Granger, which unlocks doors and chests; Wingardium Leviosa, taught by Professor Flitwick, which can levitate objects; Incendio, taught by Professor Sprout, which can disable aggressive plants; and Lumos, also taught by Professor Quirrell, which causes platforms of light to appear. The storyline follows Harry through the main elements of the book's plot, including rescuing Hagrid's dragon Norbert, advancing through the various protections around the Philosopher's Stone, and eventually defeating Lord Voldemort. There are also several levels in which Harry can fly on a broomstick and play Quidditch – these latter gameplays can also be independently accessed through the start menu.

PlayStation

Like the Windows version, the game is a third-person action adventure game. However, the story is arranged in a completely different fashion to the PC version, and features different story events and gameplay. It was developed in the UK by Argonaut.

The game is split into seven sections, four of which can be revisited freely and explored to find collectables. Collectables in the game are either

• Lower castle. Collecting yellow beans in exchange for
  Nimbus 2000 broom. Includes tutorial levels on climbing, jumping and flying and Charms class where you learn the Wingardium Leviosa spell. Ends with a boss challenge wizard cracker duel with Draco Malfoy
  and the grounds being unlocked. Mini-game involves shooting at flying items to get them back for a student.
• Castle grounds. Collecting blue beans in exchange for a Famous Witch and Wizard card. Includes Herbology class, where you learn the Incendio spell, and Quidditch try-outs, where you learn how to catch the golden snitch. Boss challenge part way through is to defeat an animated gargoyle, and the race challenge is to catch Malfoy and retrieve the remembral. Includes Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Ends when you find a hidden sloth brain, that has been stolen from Severus Snape, and return it to him. Mini-games involve collecting beans in a time limit.
• Castle Dungeons. Collecting green beans in exchange for Quidditch armour. Includes Potions class, where you learn how to brew the healing Wiggenweld potion, and Defence Against the Dark Arts class, where you learn the Verdimillious spell. You are trapped in the dungeons twice: once during Potions class which involves sneaking past trolls and a second time after the class. This second time requires you to destroy four dark curses around the dungeon to unlock the door. Ends when this door is unlocked and you can return to the castle. Mini-games involve sliding cauldrons onto grills without getting them stuck in a corner.
• Upper Castle. Collecting red beans in exchange for Flipendo Duo spell. Includes Transfiguration class, where you learn Avifors, a race level against
  Filch and Mrs Norris, a race level to escape the troll attacking Hermione
  in the girl's toilet and a boss level to defeat it. Includes Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.
• Diagon Alley. Side quest requiring you to collect ingredients for a potion to cure Hagrid's dragon, Norbert. Involves collecting coins in the mines of Gringotts Bank through control of a mine cart and using the coins to complete mini-games in three shops to get the ingredients. It is self contained and has no bean collectables with Famous Witches and Wizard cards only awarded for good performance in the Gringotts challenges.
• Forbidden Forest. Side quest to find a missing unicorn in the Forbidden Forest as a detention. Red beans continue to be collected in this level. Involves defeating magical creatures and using known spells to solve puzzles. Ends when the unicorn is found and Hagrid gives Harry a flute which can cause animals to fall asleep.
• Defeating Voldemort. Completing a series of challenges and boss fights (against the Devil's Snare and knights) using spells learned, flute and flying skills to solve leading up to the boss fight with Voldemort. After completing this, the game finishes with the Quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Plot

A giant,

Jeremy Soule composed the music of Philosopher's Stone.^[18] The soundtrack was released digitally in 2006^[19] but has since been withdrawn from sale.

Reception

Critical response

GameSpot praised the developers' efforts for the PlayStation version, in re-creating the Hogwarts castle and different-looking characters, but said the game's graphics look like "extremely jagged polygons."^[29] It also praised the PlayStation version for its "bedtime-story-style narration" and the character voice overs, but criticised the game's lack of music.^[29] PlayStation Illustrated noted that the PlayStation version has poor camera angles, adding that only the use of the 'L' and 'R' buttons can fix the problem, as it is not angled in the direction Harry is facing.^[35] The "fun to play" Quidditch matches were praised by PlayStation Illustrated, who stated that the "matches were excellently done" and controlling Harry was easy.^[35] Jeremy Conrad from IGN called it "one of the best-looking PS One games" for its graphics, but said that this can cause the frame rate to lag.^[32] The easy gameplay for the PC version was criticised by GameSpot, adding that the auto jump function removes any form of a challenge from the block puzzle and platform sequences.^[28] GameSpot described the score by Jeremy Soule as "enjoyable", but its repetitiveness and shortness made for less variety throughout the game.^[28]

Sales

Philosopher's Stone received positive sale figures. From November 2001 to February 2002 it was listed as one of the top three highest-selling PC video games, and was the top selling PC title in December 2001.

In the United States alone, The Philosopher's Stone's computer version sold 1.3 million copies and earned $33.9 million by August 2006, after its release in November 2001. It was the country's fourth best-selling computer game between January 2000 and August 2006. Combined sales of all Harry Potter computer games released between January 2000 and August 2006, including The Philosopher's Stone, had reached 2.7 million units in the United States by the latter date.[47]

Awards

Both versions of the game received multiple nominations. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone received three nominations from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences for "Console Family Game of the Year", "PC Family Game of the Year", and "Outstanding Achievement in Original Musical Composition" at the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.^[48] It was also nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award in the "Favorite video game" category at the 2002 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.^[49]

References