Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a step down from the two previous entries. While still a free-roaming adventure game unlike Goblet of Fire, there is less to do here. There isn’t the same magic of roaming Hogwarts mainly because the game locks off areas as it tries to railroad you into doing what it wants you to. If you so much as not immediately set off to your assigned task, both Ron and Hermione will badger you with things like ‘it’s time to get to class Harry’ or ‘we should look for those potions ingredients’, every 30 seconds. Not to mention that you no longer get the fun of mounting your broom and flying across the ramparts of Hogwarts. But hey you can fly the terrible to control Buckbeak and will find yourself crashing more than flying, so that’s totally the same thing right? The one cool, new thing is that you can switch between the trio as each one has their own unique spells you’ll have to make use of during the game to progress. But this game seems to follow the book and even the movie far less than the first two. When you go through the Whomping Willow you end up in some weird underground cavern fighting fire salamanders and various other creatures while navigating doors and halls. The game plainly gets lazier as you go along. The map is also redone to reflect the changes the movie decided to do to Hogwarts and its grounds. Everything is simplified. Now if you’re caught by a prefect, there’s no house points lost or any trouble at all, you just have to re-sneak through the area again. It is literally impossible to lose the House Cup (I managed to come in second in COS). POA also has no penalties if you lose all your health and pass out. The game just resets you with full health and you’re good to go. For a good old-fashioned fun adventure game, you’re better off sticking with Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a solid entry in the Harry Potter video game series, offering a fun and engaging experience for fans of the books and movies. The game follows the story of the third book and movie, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione must track down Sirius Black and unravel the mystery of the titular Prisoner of Azkaban. The game features improved graphics and gameplay mechanics compared to its predecessors, allowing for a more immersive and fluid gameplay experience. Players can cast spells, explore Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and interact with a variety of characters from the Harry Potter universe. One of the game's standout features is its co-op mode, where two players can team up and play through the game's story together. This adds an extra layer of fun and replayability to the game, especially for fans of the series who want to experience Hogwarts with a friend. However, the game does suffer from some issues, including occasional glitches and a lack of challenge in combat. Some players may also find the game's puzzles and objectives to be repetitive and simplistic. Overall, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a solid addition to the Harry Potter video game series, offering an enjoyable and immersive experience for fans of the series. While it may not be perfect, it's still worth checking out for anyone who wants to explore the world of Harry Potter on their PlayStation 2.

Played this game after HP1 and 2 on PS2, and although it's a bit improved, it feels like an addon, not a unique game. First level on the train actually was cool, but then we got back to collecting potion ingredients and hiding frim prefects just like in previous games. I prefer PC version.