GAMING: LEGO Harry Potter

(PS3)

4 1/2 out of 5

I don’t want to go taking credit for games that are developed on the other side of the world, but back in 2006 I said to a number of gaming friends that I thought the Harry Potter series should definitely be made into LEGO games. Jump ahead to 2010 and looky looky. Not only was it a great idea, it’s made a fantastic game. My biggest fear was that the developers would be lazy and just do another LEGO Star Wars, replacing the lightsabers with wands. Thankfully, I had no need to fear. Basing its dialogue-free stories around the first four Potter movies, there are a lot of new things to do here. Sure, LEGO Harry Potter still has all the smashing and building that you’ve come to expect, but though bashing baddies into blocks is still a fun aspect, it has taken more of a backseat, with casting spells now playing the major roll.

Sometimes you’ll find yourself waving your wand around more than Jesse James at a strip club, as you search for the secret to unlocking the puzzle that will take you on to your next level. It’s a hell of a lot of fun to watch how different items respond to your magical manipulation. Hogwarts is fabulously realised and full of life, with students, teachers, creatures and magical beings filling its many rooms, hallways and gardens. Time between levels can be enjoyed in Diagon Alley, where you can purchase new spells, outfits, characters and other stuff, or other areas like Gringotts Bank or the Forbidden Forest. The main story mode can be played in around six hours, but many more hours can be spent unlocking all of the game’s secrets, and it’s fun enough that you probably will come back time and time again to try. Not only is this a welcome addition to your LEGO games collection, I think the developers at TT Games have built the best LEGO adventure yet. Bring on LEGO Star Wars III.

This review plus loads more in the August/September 2010 issue of Rip It Up Magazine. Review by Matt Ruys