History VideoGame / HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets

* CorrectiveLecture: Harry, Ron and Hermione each have special abilities in addition to spellcasting; while Harry can use Chocolate Frog Cards for special attacks and Ron can sic scabbers on enemise, Hermione's unique ability is that she can give lectures to power up the party.

* JokeCharacter: Gilderoy Lockhart in the GBC version. After his boss fight, he joins your party and he can't help you fight mainly because Harry and Ron took his wand. If you try to cast a spell as Lockhart, [[BreakingTheFourthWall He'll turn to the camera just shrug]]. You can even have him write autographs and throw them at enemies. It doesn't do anything though.

* UselessItem: In the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor version, completing sections of the Folio Magi gives appropriately-themed rewards. Not all of these rewards ''do'' anything; among them is Polyjuice Potion, which is not normally obtained as an item and has no gameplay effect.

Fans have traditionally ranked this as the best of the ''Potter'' games, it marking the height of the ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]''-esque approach of the first three entries. The PC version in particular has its own mini-fandom, complete with an active modding community. And there's also the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor version, which was one of the last games released for the system and squeezed every bit of power it had into an fine RPG.

* AttackReflector: In the duels, it's '' Expelliarmus'' that works like this. As it works both ways, prepare for magical tennis.

Fans have traditionally ranked this as the best of the ''Potter'' games, it marking the height of the ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]''-esque approach of the first three entries. The PC version in particular has its own mini-fandom, complete with an active modding community.

* ArtificialAtmosphericActions: Watching or interacting with the other students can be pretty hilarious. Some just jump down from high platforms like it's nothing, others spend all day studying a painting on the wall of their own dormitory.
* ArtificialStupidity: The Quidditch matches in the PC game, where Gryffindor will almost always go 0-110 down... or even more, and rely on you to catch the Snitch. In the home console game, though, there will only be ten or twenty points separating either side before the snitch is caught.

* NonStandardGameOver: Occurs in the PC game should Harry be caught attempting escape from the Slytherin common room.

** The [=PS1=] version also has several unique game over cutscenes.

* AdaptationalEarlyAppearance: In a minor case of this, the [=PS2=] video game features Lucius Malfoy making a passing reference to "Dementors" during the scene when Hagrid is being sent to Azkaban. In the books, the term "Dementors" is not used until ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', with them referred to exclusively as "Azkaban guards" in the book version of ''Chamber'' and not mentioned at all in the film version of ''Chamber''.

* AdaptationalEarlyAppearance: In a minor case of this, the [=PS2=] video game features Lucius Malfoy making a passing reference to "Dementors" during the scene when Hagrid is being sent to Azkaban. In the books, the term "Dementors" is not used until ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', with them referred to exclusively as "Azkaban guards" in the book version of ''Chamber''.

** This episode is also present in the [=GBC=] game, there playing out a bit more faithfully to how it occurred in the book. This version comes with the humorous addition of Harry claiming that his name is "Bartholomew Mashingspoon" is an unsuccessful attempt to avoid being subjected to the singing valentine. However, not even this version features ink getting spilled on Riddle's diary (which is supposed to be how Harry finds out that it absorbs ink) or Draco trying to steal the diary (which is supposed to be how Ginny finds out that Harry has it).

** This episode is also present in the [=GBC=] version, there playing out a bit more faithfully to how it occurred in the book. This version comes with the humorous addition of Harry claiming that his name is "Bartholomew Mashingspoon" is an unsuccessful attempt to avoid being subjected to the singing valentine. However, not even this version features ink getting spilled on Riddle's diary (which is supposed to be how Harry finds out that it absorbs ink) or Draco trying to steal the diary (which is supposed to be how Ginny finds out that Harry has it).

* SingingTelegram: The [=PS1=] game features a version of the ValentinesDayEpisode from the book, with Harry having to escape from Lockhart's "friendly, card-carrying cupids" before they can subject him to a singing valentine. Notably, Harry failed to escape from the singing valentine in the book, but in the game, being subjected to the valentine is a GameOver, and the story only progresses when Harry successfully gets away.

Fans tend to rank this as the best video game of the franchise. It marks the height of the ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]''-esque approach of the first three ''Potter'' games.