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It’s probably fair to say that in general, Harry Potter games have not been up to scratch.
Everyone knows the franchise is one of the most successful of all time and has broken global book and film records, but when it comes to games the series has always fallen flat.
This is probably because the makers of the game have coasted along, happy to put out cheap movie tie-ins that they know will sell a certain amount of units.
What Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is trying to do is change all that. The game clearly has better direction and planning than previous efforts, and is focused on trying to deliver a fun experience for gamers.
From the images and trailers released to date, the graphics look clean and detailed, which is a great start.
The makers of the latest game – Electronic Arts – has said it will improve in three main areas: potion making, flying and dueling.
The last game, in 2007, was Order of the Phoenix and you were not able to play quidditch in it.
This game looks as though quidditch has been reprioritized as an important part of the Hogwarts experience. You play the role of Potter, a seeker, who flies through hoops that give you extra time with every correct move. As you gain more time, you get closer to the snitch, and eventually collect it once you have performed well enough.
Duelling looks like it will be genuinely fun. The snippets of it shown at E3 2009 suggest two players can have a blast playing it, using their Wii wands to perform rapid movements and cast spells at one another.
So plenty remains to be seen of The Half-Blood Prince, but it looks as though it will be the best Harry Potter game yet.