Lego Harry Potter

The first of two Lego-themed Harry Potter adventures.

Released back in 2010, Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 followed on from the success of Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman and Lego Indiana Jones. Based on the Harry Potter film franchise, rather than the books, this particular game focuses on the first four movies, taking the story up to the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Developed by Traveller's Tales, Lego Harry Potter introduced spells and potions as a central component of gameplay, in-keeping with its source material. As fans of the Lego series would expect, it also offers great charm, humour and an appreciation for the Harry Potter universe. So how does it compare to the many other Lego games?

Gameplay

Those who have played previous instalments in the Lego franchise will find Lego Harry Potter fairly easy to get to grips with. As ever, the game focuses on a combination of action, problem solving and collecting studs, which allow the player to unlock new characters and abilities.

Both single and multi-player gameplay is on offer, with the cooperative multi-player mode making use of Lego Indiana Jones' split-screen system. An emphasis is placed on controlling multiple characters and the cast includes familiar faces like Harry, Hermione, Ron and Dumbledore. Enemy AI, meanwhile, has been significantly improved.

As mentioned, the main change comes through the introduction of magic spells and potions, which all offer their own benefit. Wingardium Leviosa can be used to lift objects, Lumos can fend off certain enemies, and so on. When made correctly, potions can help players to advance, but an incorrectly made potion has an adverse effect.

Graphics and Plot

Visually, the game marks a considerable improvement over earlier entries in the Lego series, with vastly improved level design. Cut scenes help to move the story along and these are infused with some genuinely funny moments, which should keep players amused as they progress through the adventure.

The plot itself sticks fairly rigidly to the plot of the movies, only making slight adaptations to create a consistent multi-player element. A second player is able to drop in and out of play freely as the wish, meaning there is no need to start over if you invite a friend round.

Gamers who have played all of the previous Lego games may find the gameplay to be a little repetitive, although the spells and potions element does provide enough to keep most entertained. Overall, Lego Harry Potter marks a big improvement on the Lego Indiana Jones games and successfully sets the tone for future instalments.

Pros

• Improvements to level design
• Spells and potions are a great addition
• Excellent recreation of classic Harry Potter moments
• Great multi-player gameplay

Cons

• May feel a little repetitive to veteran Lego gamers