Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

About Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Rebellion Developments released this 2007 title as the fifth entry in the long-running movie tie-in series published by Electronic Arts. You step into Harry Potter's shoes during his tumultuous fifth year at Hogwarts. The adventure covers the conflict with Dolores Umbridge, the formation of Dumbledore's Army, and the looming threat of Voldemort. It launched across PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, Wii, and PSP as a single-player experience. The narrative follows the movie closely while letting you explore the castle grounds. The Wii version stands out by using motion controls for spellcasting, though every other platform relies on standard button inputs to navigate the world and fight enemies.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time walking through detailed 3D environments like the Great Hall or the Forbidden Forest while fighting off Dementors and Death Eaters. Combat feels clunky since you must time basic spells to dodge enemy attacks rather than using a complex combo system. Puzzle solving pops up frequently as you find keys or unlock doors using magical items. A unique feature lets you switch characters to play as Sirius Black, Dumbledore, or Fred Weasley for specific missions that change the perspective. The Wii version uses the remote to swing your wand, which feels more intuitive than pressing a button on a standard controller. Sessions involve backtracking through levels to find collectibles while avoiding traps set by Umbridge's enforcement squads.

What Players Think

PlayPile data shows this title sits at 62.2 out of 100 on IGDB based on 117 ratings, reflecting its mixed reputation. User reviews average a 7.0 out of 10 from players who logged roughly 69.7 hours total across all platforms. The community mood leans toward "passable" rather than great, with one parent noting it works fine for kids who love the movies despite technical flaws. Critics and fans agree the game serves as a functional movie tie-in but lacks depth. Completion rates suggest many players finish the story without seeking out every hidden secret due to repetitive level design. The specific mention of the Wii controls in reviews indicates that platform choice significantly impacts the perceived quality of the experience for most users.

PlayPile's Take

This game is worth playing only if you are a dedicated Harry Potter fan who wants to relive the movie scenes with extra freedom. It costs around $20 on secondary markets depending on the version. The achievement list offers little challenge since there are no difficult boss fights or complex puzzles to master. You will likely finish it in about 10 hours without much replay value once you understand the basic combat rhythm. Avoid it if you expect a deep RPG or a modern action adventure with tight controls. The Wii version gets a slight edge for its motion wand, but the core experience remains shallow and derivative of the film plot.

Storyline

Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizard community is in denial about his encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort. Dolores Umbridge, an official from the Ministry of Magic, teaches courses in defensive magic, but this leaves the young wizards unprepared to defend themselves against the dark forces that threaten them. Harry teaches other students, in secret, how to defend themselves.