Kinect Star Wars did really well for LucasArts. Despite being one of the most critically panned games of the decade, droves of people still bought it. In essence, it’s pretty much like the video game version of the Star Wars prequels. Warner Bros. is hoping to capitalize on that success with their own massive franchise that appeals to pre-teens and dumb parents who don’t know good games.
Warner Bros. Interactive has announced that Harry Potter for Kinect will be a thing coming this fall. It will be similar to Kinect Star Wars in that the game will be a collection of loosely tied together experiences that somehow is able to call itself a game. I expect that it will appeal to the same group of people who went absolutely gaga over Kinect Star Wars with the added audience of college freshmen who think playing Quidditch behind the library on a dustmaster 5000 makes them look cool.
The game does have a few good things going for it though. Unlike Kinect Star Wars which was just a random collection of events from the films and TV series (and dance-offs), Harry Potter for Kinect will take players through all eight films. In a move that should really excite some hardcore Potter fans, the game will scan your face into the game so that you can be a part of the magical wizard world of Harry Potter.
“Harry Potter for Kinect will engage Harry Potter fans old and new by bringing them into the wizarding world as truly active participants,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Kids and parents will enjoy recreating their favourite Harry Potter adventures, from flying a broomstick in a Quidditch match, to battling pixies and duelling other wizards.”
The game will diverge from letting you live out your own fantasy of being a wizard as players will also take control of characters from the films. The only activities mentioned so far in the game include visiting Ollivanders, choosing a house at Hogwarts, and fighting Voldemort in the final battle. The screenshots also show that players will be fighting the troll and pulling mandrakes from pots.
As any good Kinect game worth its salt should know, the real money maker comes in the form of mini-games. Harry Potter for Kinect will not be at a disadvantage as it promises numerous competitive mini-games for you to challenge your friends at. Here’s hoping we get an unforgivable curse duel that ends when one player successfully casts Avada Kedavra.
As with Kinect Star Wars, you can expect a game that appeals to a lot of people, but will probably be panned critically. It’s too early to tell though so maybe Warner Bros. will prove that this Kinect thing is pretty good after all.