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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for PlayStation 2
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for PlayStation 2 is a 3D action adventure following Harry, Ron and Hermione through their third year at Hogwarts. Sirius Black has escaped and Dementors guard the school. You switch between the three friends to use their different abilities on puzzles and obstacles. The character in the lead therefore often determines what you can do next.
You explore the castle and its surroundings, attend lessons and search for secrets outside the main tasks. Spells are tools for the environment as well as a response to magical opponents. A flight on Buckbeak breaks up journeys on foot. The story connects these activities to the question of who Sirius really is and why his escape causes such alarm. The campaign is single-player: three controllable friends do not mean a three-player cooperative campaign.
The PS2 version also includes separate EyeToy games using body movements in front of a camera. These require a separately sold EyeToy camera; the regular adventure does not. These extra activities allow up to four participants and are separate from the story. Exploring the castle alone with a controller is therefore distinct from trying the camera games together. This description does not offer an EyeToy or other accessories as included.
Region and language
Our PlayStation 2 games are PAL editions and come with a Dutch or English box, unless stated otherwise. By default, you receive the version for the European market. We note it in the product details if the region is different or the box is in another language. In almost all cases, the game is playable at least in English, and often in the other five common European languages too.
Manual
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for PlayStation 2 includes the manual unless the product title states otherwise. If the booklet is missing, the title says “No Manual”. This lets you see before ordering whether the game comes with a manual.
The manuals included with our games usually contain at least English and often around six European languages. The exact languages vary by edition, so Dutch is not always included. The booklet explains the controls and the main rules. You can use it to check how to control the game, which actions are available and how its different features work.
The history of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Electronic Arts released Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004, around the third film. EA’s UK studio developed the console adventure for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube. The new emphasis was on the friends as a group: Harry was no longer the only controllable character. Ron and Hermione gained practical roles in solving problems, making teamwork a game rule even within a single-player story.
Exploring Hogwarts remained familiar. Lessons, magical obstacles and excursions around the school connected it to the earlier console adventures. Switching character mainly changed how you viewed an obstacle: the same room could offer a new possibility to another friend. Dementors and the escaped prisoner also gave the school mystery a more threatening backdrop. That combination connected familiar locations with different abilities and a new narrative rhythm.
On PlayStation 2, EA added support for Sony’s EyeToy. The release announcement clearly distinguished the camera games from the main adventure and identified the camera as a separate accessory. This edition therefore also illustrates how extra features could distinguish one console version of a multiplatform game. The later Goblet of Fire then chose direct cooperative action. Prisoner of Azkaban retains a solo adventure in which you distribute the roles within the group yourself.
Similar games for PlayStation 2
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Prisoner of Azkaban combine school exploration with magical obstacles on PS2. Philosopher’s Stone puts you in control of Harry during his first year. Prisoner of Azkaban lets you switch between Harry, Ron and Hermione, whose abilities open different solutions. Character choice becomes more important without turning the campaign into cooperative play.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban share a rhythm of lessons, castle exploration and dangerous excursions on PS2. Chamber of Secrets focuses control on Harry and his spells. Prisoner of Azkaban adds Ron and Hermione as switchable characters. The same broad adventure structure later also requires choosing the right friend for an obstacle.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire give Harry, Ron and Hermione roles in magical challenges on PS2. Prisoner of Azkaban lets one player switch between them to combine abilities. Goblet of Fire supports actual local cooperative play in its action areas. Three players require three controllers and a PS2 Multitap, unlike the solo adventure.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Half-Blood Prince combine Hogwarts exploration with lessons and short skill challenges on PS2. Prisoner of Azkaban makes three friends’ different abilities important for puzzles. Half-Blood Prince centres on Harry, with variety chiefly coming from duels, potions and flying. Character selection therefore matters differently from practising a particular school activity.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Quidditch World Cup both use flight to take you above the school grounds on PS2. Prisoner of Azkaban uses a Hippogriff within a larger story of spells and puzzles. Quidditch World Cup builds the whole game around broomstick matches. Progress concerns teams and results rather than solving the mystery surrounding Sirius.
