Back in the early-mid 2000s, movie tie-in games were all the rage. From Pixar and Disney tie-ins to games based on big action blockbusters like Lord of the Rings, there was a video game tie-in for just about every major release, and the Harry Potter series held a big market share. Beginning the year Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone released, there would be a Harry Potter tie-in with every single movie that came out going forward, with multiple versions releasing across different platforms. One of the most beloved tie-ins was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a sixth-generation classic that set the bar high for future Wizarding World games, including the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy.
While Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets released across a variety of consoles, it's the flagship PS2, Xbox, and GameCube version that's really stood the test of time. Released on November 15, 2002, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets turns 20 years old today, and it's still one of the best Wizarding World experiences out there.
How Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Set the Bar for Hogwarts Legacy
Releasing in 2002, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets came out a few years into the sixth generation's lifespan and made great use of the consoles' advanced technology. While the PS1 version of the game acted as a sequel to the infamous Sorcerer's Stone game, the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox versions delivered a much more expansive experience, letting players freely roam around Hogwarts.
The general gameplay loop of Chamber of Secrets sees players take control of Harry as he participates in daily classes. Players are given a to-do list at the start of each day, filled with different activities and classes. Players will then need to head to those objectives on time. In classes, players learn a variety of new spells, ranging from protection spells like Protego to offensive spells like Stupefy. In between these classes, set missions take place that move the game's story along and tie it in with the events of the movie.
In giving players a schedule of classes to keep on top of, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets feels like the first truly immersive Wizarding World experience. The player isn't just following a set of linear missions as Harry as events from the movie play out. Instead, it feels as though the player is actually at Hogwarts, immersing themselves in the daily life of a Hogwarts student. Though future Harry Potter games would try to capture this same feeling, they don't quite succeed, often getting bogged down with too many story missions. Hogwarts Legacy looks to be trying to achieve the same feeling of immersion, but with the announcement that lessons are going to act more like side missions, it may not nail the concept of attending classes as well as Chamber of Secrets, even 20 years later.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' remarkably high level of immersion is reinforced by the game's free-roam elements. Though its map size isn't all that big, Chamber of Secrets does let players freely explore Hogwarts Castle and its grounds. It may seem a bit lifeless and empty looking back now, but 20 years ago, this felt like a dream come true. This was especially the case when players unlocked the ability to summon their broomstick at any point and fly all around the castle and grounds. On the PlayStation 2 version, players could even land their broomstick anywhere, allowing them to access areas never seen in the movies up to that point. Chamber of Secrets was a truly immersive experience, and a Harry Potter fan's dream come true. Hopefully Hogwarts Legacy can achieve the same level of wonder and immersion next year.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is available on PC, PS1, PS2, GameCube, Xbox.