Review: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows 2 * * *

As I write this I have just seen the closing film in the Harry Potter franchise and it was an epic ad quite incredible end to a journey that started 10 years ago.

It wasn't just on the big screen though that the journey started, the video games have been an ever present accompinament to their celluloid sibling.

They have varied in quality, the first couple of games we have very fond memories of in our house with them being games the whole family could enjoy.

Discovering places like Diagon Alley and Hogwarts was a magical treat and really good fun revisiting the locations from the films and books.

It was another example of how video games can add something to a popular medium and open up a new world of possibilities.

As the films progressed down a darker route the games invariably had to do the same and on some occasions they steered away from the family audience that had invested so heavily in them.

The last couple of Potter games I have played have struck a chord in the middle with a playability designed to be easily accessible with good production values and gameplay that was instantly accessible.

As a family we have stuck with them and enjoyed them, we have even enjoyed the Quidditch spin-off game and especially the Lego Harry Potter game.

It would seem from various reviews that we were one of the only ones who loved last year's game, sometimes the gaming world can take itself too seriously and needs to remember that these are kids games, made for kids and enjoyed by them.

My kids played the game last year non-stop almost for a few days, it was the best babysitter money can buy - they loved it, yet one website gave it 1/10.

The finale is a rich and dramatic narrative and therefore the game needs to reflect that and this does that well, it doesn't set out to retell the story as such, it relies on short guiders to steer you into the next chunk of action.

It follows the basic linear narrative of the film though so if you don't want to know too much then please watch the film first.

Grahically the game is great - ok some of the cut scenes are a bit cumbersome but on the whole the quality is impressive.

As is the gameplay, designed as you want with simplicity in mind it manages to set challenges and mix things up by seeing you switch between the film's characters.

On the whole it is a wand waving equivalent of a hack and slash it lacks the variety to really offer anything more than a middle of the road movie-tie in.

As with previous ganes it really could have been so much better, but the kids again loved it and enjoyed playing it - as did I.

The game should come with a 'short and sweet' tag as it's not a lengthy game by any means.

It's a game that Potter fans will embrace even if they did want a lot more. I have a feeling that once Harry and chums have sunk from our movie screens without trace we may just see some much better game offerings using the Potter world.