The game can be played in one of four roles. As a Chaser, the task is to score goals with the leather ball known as the Quaffle while as the Keeper you try to prevent goals. — Unbroken Studios
BERLIN: Brooms instead of wands: The legendary sport of Quidditch from the Harry Potter universe is celebrating its comeback in gaming with Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, a new game for PCs and consoles.
Two teams flying on brooms compete against each other in a duel to score goals. The focus is not on exploration and story but rather on fast, action-packed matches. There are various venues to discover, from the arenas at Hogwarts and the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic to the World Cup stadium.
The game can be played in one of four roles. As a Chaser, the task is to score goals with the leather ball known as the Quaffle while as the Keeper you try to prevent goals.
The Beaters are also on the field. They protect their teammates from the Bludgers, two heavy iron balls that fly around, and try to direct them against opponents.
Last but not least, there is Harry Potter's signature discipline, the Seeker. If the Seeker catches the small golden ball known as the Golden Snitch, the game is not over immediately as in the books, but instead you win points.
The story here doesn't offer much depth. Most of the time, you compete in individual games or in one of four playable tournaments. Once you have created your character, you can start training.
As soon as you’ve learned the basic skills such as flying on a broom or throwing the Quaffle, the first match, which is played in the Weasleys' garden, is on. After a few more sessions, you’re ready for the arena.
With Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, all houses from the Harry Potter series are included in the game and can be freely selected before the start of a game. Many of the well-known characters can also be recruited as fellow players.
But you shouldn't expect a really detailed depiction of Harry, Hermione, and the rest here because the graphic design of the characters is more reminiscent of a mobile game.
Even if the game isn't particularly multifaceted, the gameplay in the matches is dynamic and fun. Often there’s quite a bit of chaos on the field, but that’s precisely what makes the magical wizard sport so unique.
The game offers single player and multi-player modes. There’s also cross-play support across all platforms, allowing you to play together with friends. There aren’t any offers for in-game purchases, so the initial price of €30/US$30 (RM130 in Malaysia) stays the same.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions can be played on the PlayStation 4 and 5, the Xbox One, the Xbox Series, the Nintendo Switch and PCs. The age rating is 12 years. – dpa
