Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Released: June 25, 2010
Game Length: 28 Hours
Grade: A
Content
Collection Edition: When I was first exploring what games were available, I realized that Lego Harry Potter was split into two versions. The original game was released in June 2010. However, Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2 wasn't released in theaters yet. It wouldn't be until the films were properly released that the second game came out in November 2011. Did they combine them into one complete saga like they did for Star Wars? Yes and no. The "collection" of both games was released in 2016 for nearly every platform except PC. Am I missing out on anything special? Apparently to reviews, the game is a mere remastered edition with a simple graphic update. The problems still exist, there are no voice-overs that were added to the modern games, and they removed the ability to use some of your spells on your friend. The game has not changed from a mechanics standpoint. At least they included the Character & Spell DLC packs that were offered for Xbox and Playstation.
Something Missing: It is no doubt they included much into this game. You can visit the Astronomy Tower and the Owlery. The main hub takes place in the Leaky Cauldron. You can purchase upgrades in Diagon Alley. You can also visit the Knockturn Alley, even the store Harry Potter gets transferred to when accidentally saying "diagonally" when using the Floo Network. The paintings are present, even though you can't physically say any of the passwords. But the one thing the game doesn't have is Quittich. There are several levels where you are going through the stadium, but you will not be able to participate or watch the games that take place. The other thing that was disappointing was how you progressed through the underwater sequence. Instead of a free-roaming level, they set it up in layers. I guess that is something the creators still have a problem with in Lego games.
Story
Personal Opinion: Harry Potter isn't exactly a series that grabbed my attention. There are seven books covered in eight films from 2001 to 2011. This game alone covers the first four, which perhaps covers the brunt of what I liked out of the movies. Perhaps the child-like approach that Chris Columbus brought in the first two films made them more enjoyable than the others. I also found the music that John Williams composed in the first three films to be quite irresistible. I liked the idea of the tournament in Goblet of Fire. Villains are fine and all, but most of the "wizard world" just doesn't stand up to scrutiny. It is like the school actively invites danger to Hogwarts, and they seem to ignore the implications of having a huge list of powerful spells and artifacts on the grounds. Prisoner of Azkaban introduces the concept of time-travel! But if there was ever a game that could make the story enjoyable, it would be this one.
Based on the Books: Even though I re-watched the movies in preparation of reviewing this game, there are things that deviated from the story... or so I thought. There are most-definitely plenty of creative differences for the sake of gameplay. However, there's a few interesting things I read up on that were only in the books. According to #24 from one source, there is a scene that is replicated where you get rid of a bunch of gnomes around the Weasley garden. Despite the movies showing the inside of only two Houses at Hogwarts (as mentioned in point #8 of that same source), the video game allows you to explore all four of them. #3 explains why you are able to turn into a beetle with Rita Skeeter. When looking up why there was a sphinx in the video game, I found that the film completely redesigned "The Third Task" from the book to be void of monsters and puzzles. Sadly, the infamous Weasley Jumpers with their letter initials were only given an option for Fred & George. Both Harry and Ron do have "sweater" outfits, but they are the generic kind (and not even the right color).
Names: I am surprised at just how many specifically-named characters they were able to squeeze into this game. They have practically every student, teacher, ghost, and villain (available from the first four films). Stan Shunpike and Ernie Prang that drives the Knight Bus, along with Macnair that appears shortly to execute Buckbeak in Prisoner of Azkaban are available. The new Tom the Innkeeper can be obtained, not the original one we see in the first film. You can play as Voldemort in Professor Quirrell's body, but the human face gets swapped to the back of his head. It animates with various expressions while you move around. There is a version of Viktor Krum with his head as a shark from Goblet of Fire you can play, but your action ability only has you jumping around like a fool. It would have been cooler if they added a chomp animation. Gilderoy Lockhart is constantly smiling, though only his avatar frame will show his teeth.
Adaptive Environment
Hogwarts: One extremely awesome thing the game does is visibly change what happens within the school according to current events. Is it Christmas? Everyone will be wearing santa hats, an ability you can later unlock. Do you need to follow the spiders' trail? Why don't you smile for the camera when doing things for Chamber of Secrets? You'll start to see a certain chill in the air that makes everyone cold when the dementors come for a visit when doing Prisoner of Azkaban. If the tournament is currently going, then you'll be seeing the visitors from the other schools wandering around and eating in the banquet hall. Watch out for Rita Skeeter when she stops to admire your greatness. There were so many of these subtle references that I lost track of them all. There is one problem: you cannot reverse the changes. By the time you reach the end, Hogwarts will seem to be stuck raining everyday (which I guess is something that wizards aren't able to stop).
Areas: The game is brimming with sections to unlock. As you progress through the story, you'll open up rooms where the teachers will show you how to use a new ability. The game might have 24 story levels, but there are also enough rooms to unlock the 24 red bricks. Some of these will require the Time-Turner ability while others will simply need their entrance properly destroyed. This is all on top of the 10 bonus missions. Thankfully, if you get lost, there is a ghost that will lead you to the next section of the story. One convenient power brick will turn his trail into cash. Upon finishing the story, he will simply applaud your success. You'll also be able to earn 4 House badges for each level and the option to save people (like in Lego: Batman) practically everywhere. My final count was 92% Completion: 19/20 Red Bricks, 47/50 People Saved, 23/24 Full Count, 182/200 Gold Bricks, 15/24 Badges earned. This perhaps is the closest I've ever been to doing everything before tiring out.
Interactions: When testing to see how the video game stands up to the films, there are way too many things to make note here. When casting a spell at a teacher, they will point their wand at you first as a warning and freeze you in ice (like Mr. Freeze in Lego: Batman) if fired upon again. As a dog, you can do several tricks like chasing your tail or playing dead. I love how you can carry an item and still use your wand with your other hand. You can use certain items to "clean" or "draw" with various objects. Hagrid hatches an egg in a cauldron (but it happens outside the house instead of inside like the film). The many times you see a rubber duck used is in reference to when the question of their function is asked. One secret will cause the phoenix to become anew like in the film. The boggarts that appear and what happens after casting Riddikulus depends wildly on the character you are using. For example, Padma Patil will face a giant cobra and change it into a Jack-in-a-box. Ron Weasley will give a spider roller skates. The vast majority of characters - where we aren't sure of what their greatest fear - will see Voldemort laughing and put a pacifier in his mouth.
Gameplay
Characters: Did you know there are 167 characters available in the game? That's a huge contrast to the 46 available in Lego: Batman. Then I realized why there were so many characters. First, every stage has three character tokens you can find, 72 in total for all 24 levels. There is about just as many available to find in various locations of the main hubs. They also generated alternative forms of multiple characters. Harry Potter alone has 11 versions of himself, one that takes place before he receives his wand and another where he is disguised as a girl to enter the girl's bathroom (which is definitely not what happens in the film). There is also a laundry list of auxiliary characters that allows you certain access to areas or spells, like a young boy or girl that belong to each House and their associated presets. There are so many, that the characters cycle between their various forms when you try to choose one. Considering that there isn't an Extra Toggle ability, a lot of the generic townsfolk have been added directly to the roster. Members of the band, background characters in various colored ropes, and even the milkman are all selectable.
Spell Wheel: Instead of giving maybe one or two abilities for each character, the game supplies each character a set number of spells depending on their experience. Teachers and older students will obviously be able to use more than the students. The young ones will slowly obtain abilities about the same pace as our protagonist. In fact, Harry Potter won't be able to initially use any abilities until he earns his wand in Diagon Alley (hopping and waving at people in his basic form). As he progresses through the first four years at Hogwarts, the spells learned in the films and books will also be introduced to the character. Though, the ability to cast Expecto Patronum isn't taught to the rest of the classmates until the fifth year. And if you were wondering, the spell names do match the official lore. Most of the general abilities you can unlock that can be cast randomly on other people "for fun" with a single button are purely made up, with a few exceptions like Stupefy and Slugulus Eructo (which Ron casts without the incantation in the film).
Potions: One major difference they decided to adapt to the lore is the chance of using a Polyjuice Potion to switch to a different character. This is only from a gameplay perspective as there isn't really a way to switch back to your original form without entering a new area. It also allows you to properly transform to any of the non-human forms without accidentally becoming a hybrid like in Hermione's case. Instead of accessing a menu station, you will need to find a specific golden potion cauldron (after you put the right ingredients in one) and then drink from it. As seen from Goblet of Fire, drinking an Ageing Potion adds a beard to anyone that isn't an adult; this will allow them to pass an age-restricted white ring. Other pure gameplay potions include exploding, invisibility to allow anyone pass without Harry's cloak, and strength potions to pull cords.
Abilities: Buckle-up! This one is going to be pretty extensive. I will admit that while playing this game, there wasn't really a good way to figure out who had what ability without knowing more about the lore. For example, entering any of the four houses will require you to become one of their members. This also applies specifically to Bonus Missions #5 and #6. Not only do you need to unlock & purchase the specific characters, but you will also need access to a Polyjuice potion, which isn't available until Chamber of Secrets. They don't automatically become available after each level. Their token must be found first! The trick to knowing which house each character belongs to is by looking at the matching colors of the top tip of their tie.
- Pets: Ron Weasley will have Scabbers available until the events in Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione Granger will show off her new cat Crookshanks to replace his missing rat, Neville Longbottom will have his pet toad Trevor, Argus Filch has his watchful cat Mrs. Norris.
- Animagi: Sirius Black turns into a black hound, Peter Pettigrew turns into a rat, and Professor McGonagall turns into a cat. Although technically Remus Lupin shouldn't be able to turn into a werewolf on command, he can in this case for gameplay reasons. Although it never happened in the film, Rita Skeeter can transform into a beetle as described when Hermione captures her in a jar during Goblet of Fire.
- Book Characters: Only three members are able to activate the special cabinets that require the use of a book: Hermione Granger, Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore. Although technically Hermione doesn't officially take the ancient rune class until Prisoner of Azkaban, she is able to immediately use the book for gameplay purposes.
- Dark Wizards: These characters not only can move anything with black sparkles using the Crucio spell (like Lego: Star Wars did for only those who could wield the dark force) but they can also torture any character or fire off the green fire spell Avada Kedavra that instantly kills things. These members include: Professor Quirrell (Voldemort), Tom Riddle, Lucius Malfoy, Peter Pettigrew, Death Eater, Voldemort, or Barty Crouch Jr.
- Digging Characters: Fang, Sirius Black, Hermione Granger (with the help of her cat Crookshanks), Professor Sprout, Neville Longbottom, Filch, Remus Lupin
- Flying Characters: Surprisingly, characters will either (1) ride well giving the ability to fly higher, (2) ride not so well where they occasionally slip from the broom, (3) ride terribly where the broom shakes around out of control, or (4) be unable to ride. Several of the characters will be able to ride well if they are seen flying in the film during practice or a Quidditch Match. Harry Potter will occasionally step onto the broom mid-flight as seen during the first film, while those who have long dresses will sit adjacently. Hermione's broom will go out of control since she had trouble calling it during the first film and shouts "I hate flying" while riding Buckbeak in Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Ghosts: Pretty much every named ghost is referenced in the movies in some fashion. They have but one ability, which is to circle around with a high-pitched screech. They include Bloody Baron, The Fat Friar, The Grey Lady, Nearly Headless Nick, Moaning Myrtle, Lily Potter (Ghost), James Potter (Ghost), and Professor Binns.
- Parselmouths: Occasionally a big snake will pop out and require one of three characters: Harry Potter, Voldemort, Tom Riddle.
- Strong Characters: These characters will be able to pull levers without requiring a strength potion. Unlike when someone is under the influence of a potion, they will not leave sparkles on the ground. I understand why Hagrad and Viktor Krum have these abilities. I'm more confused on why Fang or Tom Riddle can do it as well.
- Hagrad: There's actually quite a few things our half-giant is able to do beyond automatically using his great strength to pull levers. In the very beginning when Harry Potter is being hidden away from Hogwarts, Hagrad uses his pink umbrella to shoot fire. Although you aren't exactly able to do that in the game, you can cast spells with his impromptu wand. He also uses a crossbow, as seen in Chamber of Secrets. His stature does help him reach things in high places, but placing a barrel over his head will only hide so much of his body.
- Other: Due to the way the story is presented there's a few exclusive abilities made only available to certain characters. Hermione Granger is the only one with the Time Turner ability. Although a potion is available, Harry Potter is the only one that can use his Invisibility Cloak at any time. Griphook is the only goblin available that can unlock vaults. Switching to Professor Sprout will automatically include earmuffs for picking up mandrakes.
Problems
Technical: Although the game ran smooth most of the time, there were a few issues I encountered in my playthrough. There was this weird R6025 Virtual Call warning I received quite randomly for a total of maybe three times. There was a spot after following the spiders in the forest where the dog kept spawning in the middle of a chasm because the tree that was supposed to collapse didn't fall yet. There was a repeating sound glitch in Dobby's Plan. I encountered a very common glitch in searching for Rita Skeeter's character token in which the levers disappear after the area is flooded. At least you can still pull them even if they are no longer visible. There also seems to be this weird glitch when working Tom Riddle's level in Book 2 Chapter 4 I read multiple threads about that I never encountered.
UI: One of the design choices of the game was to add a lot of different versions of characters and tack-on the characters that are usually found within the extra toggle option. Yet, a problem occurs when you decide to use the same system to unlock characters from Lego: Indiana Jones. Do you know how painful it is to press the right button over 100 times only to discover you can't afford the character token you just found? And no, you can't press the left button to start at the other end either! Things get even more weird when you are trying to select a character to transform into and the icons are changing every couple seconds. I once tried to remember what character I currently had selected only to find out that the names don't momentarily appear on the screen while switching mini-figures. I understand not knowing the name of the spells, but it seems the only time to see the name is if you pause the game. One other weird design choice is how the indicator doesn't always turn blue when you can interact with an object. With or without the blue arrow, there are some cases where you must continuously move in the direction of the indicator before it properly registers.
Summary
Review: Lego: Harry Potter is shockingly well-done with a ton of references to both the films and the source material. They allow you to visit the entire Hogwarts grounds, including all four Houses. They appropriately insert time-sensitive changes within the school, on the characters, and within the levels. Although the entire concept of Quidditch is absent from the game, they did at least make a proper attempt at replicating the underwater sequence. While there might have been problems with in selecting or purchasing characters, there is an abundance to choose from with their own unique list of abilities. Nearly every character is available for play, including the background characters that you might have only been able to swap out during specific levels in previous games. They did a fantastic job molding your exploration of the school with the events that happen during the story. I definitely suggest playing this one if you have any desire in learning more about its universe.
2-25-2023