Finally an enjoyable virtual journey into the magical world of Harry Potter.

With six films now complete, leaving only one more book (which will be a two-movie deal), the Harry Potter franchise lives on. Up until now, the games haven't been as well received as either the books or films, and rightfully so...they were just not very good. Needless to say I was less than thrilled when the latest book to film to game version of HP hit my desk based off the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince storyline. To my surprise, not only is this the best Potter game to be released thus far, but on its own has enough magic to pass the time for even the least of fans out there.

Yes, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - The Videogame suffers from the movie tie-in linear story, tons of fetch quests, and is of limited length, but damn if the game wasn't fun while it lasted. Never has the Harry Potter series been better replicated or more accurately than in this latest version of the videogame.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince provides the perfect amount of fodder that any fan would want. You have splendid visuals that really bring the game to life. Harry and the entire cast have been mapped out wonderfully, and while some animations are a bit stiff and robotic, the essences of the actor's likeness are intact. What's more, the sound alikes are pretty good. I actually had to check the credits on a few just to see if it was the real actors or not.

The musical score is just as wonderful, haunting, and mesmerizing as you would hope from the series, and even provides a little slapstick number when Ron is hypnotized from a love potion that really fits the mood of the scene.

The replication of Hogwarts is fantastic as well, very large in scope, and full of life and color with plenty of areas to explore and research. This includes the floating staircases, classrooms, animated portraits which can be used as shortcuts, and a well done Quidditch pitch.

Lastly, the game does control quite well and allows you to not only perform charms with specific analog movements, but the Quidditch rounds feel much like Pilotwings as you dive and soar through time portals to try and grab the snitch. The potion making portions of the game are very addicting and fun as you change up from pouring, to stirring, shaking, and even heating to conjure up the right mixture. The one mode I was afraid of was the dueling challenges, but to my surprise not only can you cast a large variety of offense and defensive spells, but can have a very heated match with a good A.I. or human player, and yes it includes a great offline two player duel mode as well. I would have liked to have Harry jump when ever I wanted or even had better control of the camera, but these are minor quibbles as many gamers young and old will have little issues with the control scheme.

For better or worse the game doesn't just take directly from the films, as more so it clues you in on certain events and you perform objectives around them. This does leave more than a few holes in the storyline if you haven't seen the film or read the books, but why are you playing this if you are not a fan anyway?

Harry's adventure will have you doing many tasks including making potions, dueling, casting charms, practicing and participating in Quidditch matches, and collecting many, many crests hidden around Hogwarts. While admittedly you will do many of these task multiple times, each time you perform them they do get progressively harder, which adds to the fun. I would have also liked to have seen the dueling mode branched to online play, but alas it wasn't meant to be.

There is easily more to love than hate about the latest in the Potter games, and much like the film and the book, is possibly the best in the series. By all means if you are a true Harry Potter fan, do yourself a favor by grabbing your wand, speak the words Wingardium Leviosa and levitate yourself to your nearest game shop to pick up a copy.