You already know what we’re going to say, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be said. The law of averages states that one person won’t be on board, so for their benefit it’s only fair. Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix should not be touched by anyone who’s not a hardened Potterphile. If you have no infatuation with youthful wizardry and don’t have a secret crush on the main man himself, Ron or Hermione, then this will turn your brain to cold mush!

Such is the emphasis on recreating the atmosphere and setting from the film, the gameplay seems to have taken a backseat. Someone gives you a task to trot off and complete – such as doing a fellow student’s homework for them – you do it, then get another mundane task and so on. Aside from how bland the errands are, the majority of objectives are spaced so far apart you’ll consistently be running back and forth through the same gloomy corridors while a group of damned kids yell obnoxious comments at Harry (poor kid). It doesn’t take long before the environment begins to lose any of the character it had and eventually you’ll be desperate to get the hell out of there… unless, of course, you’d give up all your earthly possessions for the chance to attend Hogwarts.

If that wasn’t trying enough, Order Of The Phoenix is never challenging, ever! Granted if you’re but a youngster, still skipping with glee and unaware of the world’s cruel reality, then you may struggle ever so slightly; anyone else will breeze through it with ease.

It’s a shame, really, because there is an essence of likeability. The graphics aren’t great, but passable; it controls solidly enough, and using the right stick to wiggle your wand is a nice touch (despite a few issues due to the lack of a controllable camera), and the musical score, which seems to have been taken from the film, is brilliant. Unfortunately, HIGHLIGHT: When Hermione asks Harry: “Did you have to get so many people to join the DA?” after you’ve been trying to locate all the members. Too true… though, the total package is just too dull and strips away any positives that exist.

If we try really hard, we can certainly imagine a small group of fanatical Potter addicts getting some form of pleasure from it. As a game though, it’s just far too uninspiring.

Simon Miller