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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for PlayStation 1
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for PlayStation 1 follows Harry through his first school year at Hogwarts. In this 3D action adventure, you walk through corridors, climb along ledges and find your way through lessons and dangerous tasks. Ron, Hermione and Hagrid guide you onwards, while Draco regularly causes trouble. The story leads from your first introduction to wizardry to the mystery surrounding the Philosopher's Stone.
With Flipendo, you hit opponents and move objects. Other lessons let you practise new spells and tasks, before using that knowledge outside the classroom. Along the way, you collect Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Famous Wizard cards and points for Gryffindor. A detour or a suspicious object may hide something extra. The pace changes when you mount a broomstick: during Quidditch, you fly after the Golden Snitch and avoid obstacles.
You play alone, using a standard PlayStation controller or a DualShock. To save your adventure, you use a PlayStation memory card; a saved game takes up one block. You can play without a card, but your progress will not be retained after switching off. The camera lets you look around Harry to inspect routes and targets. This is the original PlayStation game, with its own tasks and environments.
Region and language
Our PlayStation 1 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.
This edition has Dutch-language packaging bearing the title Harry Potter en de Steen der Wijzen.
Manual
The manual is missing from this copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for PlayStation 1. That is why the product title says “No Manual”. You receive the game in its box, without the instruction booklet. This makes the contents clear before you order.
The original printed manual usually contains at least English and often around six European languages. The languages vary by edition; Dutch is not always included. This information describes the original booklet and does not mean that it comes with this copy. A copy with a manual is offered separately when available.
The history of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Electronic Arts released Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone for PlayStation in November 2001, around the arrival of the first cinema film. Argonaut Games created this console version. The team already had experience with three-dimensional adventures through the Croc games and Disney adaptations. On PlayStation, Harry's first school year therefore took the form of a combination of exploration, platform action, lessons and short challenges, with the castle as a recurring setting between tasks.
The American release was called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, while Europe used Philosopher's Stone. Separate games were developed for different systems, so sharing a book title did not mean every version had the same corridors, spell challenges or controls. The later PlayStation 2 release is also a different game. This PlayStation version additionally appeared in several European language editions, including one with Dutch, English and Danish.
Lessons, house points and collectible cards turned events from the book into tasks you carry out yourself. Quidditch and the ride through Gringotts added different control situations to the walks through the castle. In 2002, Argonaut made Chamber of Secrets for the same console, based on Harry's second school year. Looking back, founder Jez San called the Harry Potter games an important success for his studio. This first instalment shows the beginning of that collaboration with Electronic Arts.
Similar games for PlayStation 1
On PlayStation, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets builds on the walks through Hogwarts, spellcasting and collecting from this first game. The sequel begins at the Weasley family's home and adds wizard duels and a flying car journey, among other things. Philosopher's Stone focuses on Harry's introduction to the school and the mystery of his first year. The lead character and basic controls are related, but the tasks and school year differ.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos also comes from Argonaut and lets you walk and jump through three-dimensional environments while searching for hidden items. You free little Gobbos and use a tail attack against enemies. Harry Potter connects its routes to lessons, conversations and spells from an existing story. Croc places more emphasis on individual jumping courses and careful collecting within a level; Harry alternates that with school tasks and Quidditch.
Spyro the Dragon shares the search for secrets and collectibles in colourful 3D worlds. However, Spyro can glide across gaps himself and uses fire and a charge to hit enemies. During the walking sections, Harry remains limited to human movements and his wand. His flying tasks are separate. Spyro lets you systematically search larger areas, while Harry's first school year more often guides you to the next task through conversations and lessons.
Like Harry Potter, MediEvil combines a supernatural world with action, puzzles and the exploration of three-dimensional locations. Sir Daniel uses swords, shields and ranged weapons to make his way through graveyards and cursed villages. Harry learns spells and solves problems as a Hogwarts pupil. MediEvil focuses more strongly on combat and gathering souls for chalices; for Harry, lessons, house points and familiar scenes from the book connect the challenges.
Ape Escape also has you learn new tools and then use them to progress through a 3D adventure. Spike catches escaped monkeys with devices such as a net and radar. Harry uses his lessons and wand to complete tasks. An important practical difference is the controller: Ape Escape requires a DualShock and uses both sticks for its tools. Harry Potter also supports a standard digital PlayStation controller and follows a school story.
