11.12.2011

If one word were to be chosen to describe the Traveller's Tales (TT) LEGO series it would have to be prolific. The catalogue of franchises that have been given the LEGO brick treatment has grown rapidly and what big name should be next is a hot topic of debate among fans of the series and bemused observers alike. While the much hoped for LEGO Halo or LEGO Lord of the Rings will have to wait, TT have returned to end the LEGO saga they started in LEGO Harry Potter years 1-4 and they have done so with versions of the game on pretty much every console on sale today (and even one in production for the playstation Vita!).The first thing to note and indeed it is something that anyone will notice the instant they start playing the game,is that the visuals have been improved vastly. Although there is a limit to how realistic you can make a LEGO brick, the cinematic backgrounds and weather effects make a massive difference. There is more action, more character models on screen, more lightning bolts, and more sparkle. LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7 offers a cinematic seamless presentation right from the first cut scene of the prelude. Unlike previous games it is often actually pretty unclear when you are playing one of the games levels or merely walking around the games main area of Hogwarts. The game's visuals have a real feel of experimentation to them. For example a new in game flame system, which uses a sparkling fiery LEGO piece to simulate a flame, can be found alongside the old particle system flames from previous games. There are many elements in this game that suggest that TT are far from getting tired with the LEGO experience.Many aspects of the gameplay have not changed since the very first LEGO Star Wars game, which itself saw TT return to finish the saga with a second disk edition. Despite being a little harsh, the statement that once you've played one LEGO game you've played them all is both a strength and weakness of the franchise. Long-term fans of the series will find themselves grounded by the infectiously simple smash and grab gameplay and familiar puzzles early on in the piece but gameplay wise there is preciously little new here. Where there were the force powers in earlier Star Wars LEGO games read wizardry in both this and the older LEGO Harry Potter game. Whereas LEGO Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, and LEGO Batman focused on melee combat, LEGO Harry Potter stays true to its source material (and it goes without saying Harry Potter isn't built for brawling) by including a myriad of ice and fire spells with which to wage war from afar. The reward for exploring and destroying every plant pot on an entire level are still those shiny LEGO studs that almost subconsciously force you to veer the analogue stick magnetically in their direction. Hundreds of thousands of LEGO studs later and you'll still need a few thousand more to unlock some character or gameplay option. Completist gamers beware as many hours are needed to unravel all of the secrets of any LEGO game.The combat in LEGO has always been more of a hindrance to the player (not to mention the way to lose your coins) while puzzles have been the main obstacle. Attempts made by TT to boost the difficulty of the combat in LEGO Star Wars the Clone Wars (by including overt combat challenges that required the player to take over bases in a time limit) have not found their way into this game or are the puzzles as inventive as those of the Pirates of the Caribbean (which had the whole of pirate lore to call upon). The player lifts smaller LEGO block objects and slides them into place to build larger objects or smashes larger objects to obtain smaller objects again. This `build it up break it down' formula is one of the defining features of the series. Keys have to be found for doors, lanterns lit, potions of various kinds made from scattered ingredients, ghostly paintings interacted with, missing objects found for distraught bystanders, walls knocked down and so on. The mumbled dialogue and slapstick humour of every LEGO cut scene has also been retained and given a lick of paint by way of improved textures and lighting. The characters in Harry Potter are still skill class based, and numerous character types are required to get the most coins and unlocks from a level. Puzzles often require the player to combine LEGO character skills such as magic, mechanical ability or strength to dissect a problem and find a solution.Staying true to the first LEGO Harry Potter game, the various student in peril puzzles return and require the gamer to rescue a Hogwarts's student who has managed to get himself tangled up in some form of mortal danger. Getting him down from a ledge or clearing poisonous vines from his path will earn you his thanks and hefty amount of coin. The replay value of unlocking the vast number of story mode levels in free play is an ever-present feature. Fans of the Harry Potter series will enjoy playing through the end of the series while visiting scenes from both the final books and films. Gamers who enjoyed the previous LEGO gameplay offerings will enjoy this game regardless of whether they know anything about Harry Potter. It is a solid enjoyable gameplay experience, which is improved by co-operative gameplay, without being ground-breaking. People looking for a fun experience to share with family members around Christmas time should look no further.

19.12.2011

First off I always wonder whether buying a 3DS/DS version of a console game is a good idea or not.. Lego Harry Potter 5-7 doesn't offer anything as in depth as the consoles will.With several characters cut, a major chunk of scenes/levels clipped out and reworked; the game doesn't appear to be worth the addition purchase if you have it on console.. But! If you either do not own this on console, or are looking to play around with a few more levels (on a handheld for long journeys), this game will definitely be worth getting!Levels, Story & Game-play:I won't give any spoilers away here, as I don't think it fair in a review, but the general basis of the game focuses around 4 chapters with 2-4 scenes within each (varies).The cut scenes are somewhat blurred in places; even to the extent that the 3D ceases to exist.. But all seem to strongly follow the story/direction of the films as opposed to the books. So generally if you don't have a clear understanding of the Harry Potter story line from the books, you'll find it familiar from the films! If however you have yet to read HP or watch the films you'll be sadly disappointed with the storytelling here. I found myself struggling to remember which section of story I was up to at times; with several levels and story having been cut during the transfer to 3DS.Game-play wise, although as mentioned before is shorter than say 'Ocarina of Time', it's certainly not lacking a hefty amount of fun! If you're familiar with the LEGO series, the game as always contains GOLD (sorting hats) and RED bricks (cheats/fun objects) to unlock as well as around 5 characters per level (with additional characters unlocked automatically as you progress). Although I have mentioned mainly negatives regarding story/length, I found the fun and humor is enough to keep your kids happy for long enough! Also providing a lot of healthy competition in racing each other for 100% and say a certain extra!For adults/experienced gamers however, you may find the game a bit too short and lacking in content, so I'd strongly advise caution with this title, as it's more aimed at the casual/young gamer: unless you're already very familiar with Harry Potter and the Lego games, and want something fun and relaxing! Quick note as well, there are also 'duels' added to this game which can actually be quite demanding in places, as well as some tricky platforming, so an edge of tactic and wit is needed, although not to that in comparison to a 'gamers' game.3D, does it blend?The 3D on the cut scenes can marginally vanish mysteriously and also be a tad weak.. But, there are some truly outstanding pieces of 3D effects throughout, and instead of just providing depth of image (which I found other 3DS games stuck too) you'll be witnessing a fully pop-out the screen LEGO logo, several spells/effects and objects carting towards your eyes as well as several character close ups that make you want to try and grab the image with your finger tips!Conclusion:I've decided due to being a big Harry Potter fan, as well as loving the game I played and what my kids have said and are currently playing on (they've managed to make it the highest rated game in the 'Activity Log' for average playtime) the game is definitely worth getting for 17.99.. I feel the price set at launch of 29.99 as with most other LEGO releases is far too steep so I'd recommend keeping the price low for reasons stated above. The game does contain some glitches, none of which I found to be 'game-breaking'; most of those I found were related to having red brick rewards enabled causing some random wand misfires, and even a black screen on occasion.. Although this undoubtedly harms it's rating, I didn't find any glitches without trying to without any fun extras turned on! So the story isn't effected as much as your 'free-play' is.Fun game, nice portable graphics and entertains like it should! It's another LEGO game for us Harry Potter fans! I hope this review was helpful in some way, although It is lengthy!I hope those who choose to follow my advice will not disappointed and that you can really enjoy this title!+ Graphics and 3D effects are a great bonus, works brilliantly (3D) turned off as well!+ Comical humor mixed with Harry Potter magic!+ Bonus levels not seen on console versions, keeping it fresh!- Contains glitches- Somewhat short, and lacking the hefty content of the console versions7.5/104/5 Star.

12.2.2012

I recieved this game for Christmas but only started playing it a few weeks ago; however so far it has been really entertaining, even though there are a few faults. It is full of duels, solving puzzles and searching for hidden objects- there is something for practically everyone unless they like being bored. To add to that, the things that are a little upsetting in the books and films have been made suitable, even hilarious, for children especially. One of those things- Ron taking the poisined drink- is really quite funny in the game, and when he takes the love potion, it is even more so. ONLY buy the game for children if they are quite clever and are not afraid of starting over.There are some difficult stages,but once you figure out how to complete them you can travel on through the game. You can play as lots of characters wearing different outfits for different times- for instance, most characters can wear pyjamas when you have bought that outfit and character. There are loads of characters to find throughout the game- characters like Dirk Cresswell, and favorites such as Ginny and Arthur.Even though it is definitely a fun and entertaining game, it can get a little boring having to travel all the way through the grounds to get from the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts, when all you really want is the action. Also you cannot save whenever you want to. You have to keep playing until the Voldemort icon appears. This means that when you need to do something you can't until you have finished a level or section.Altogether I think this game is really fun, can be bought for people of almost any age, and will keep you or whoever you give the game to entertained- but is best played when you have lots of time.Update-Recently I have been reading the reviews and lots of people say they have encountered glitches. I have not come across any glitches so far in the game- I have just completed book 6- apart from one tiny thing where a character stays in the same place. There is a simple way to solve this- switch to another character. Also after reading the reviews, I have noticed that some people are annoyed because at some points in the game, the lighting is so dim you can barely see what you are doing. I agree with this completely; it is really hard to play when you can't see who you are, where you are and what you've got to do. Such a time is on the Hogwarts bridge in Deathly Hallows part two with Neville and Seamus- it is so hard to find one of the bombs to set off the bridge.A glitch-ish thing:I replayed Kreacher Discomfits, but because at that point I wasn't supposed to have a particular spell, I got up a set of stairs I wasn't supposed to. The game froze, and I had to start the level again. It was really annoying! I mean, I haven't played 1-4 yet, which I suppose is good and bad (5-7 isn't a follow on from 1-4 so I had no difficulties) but when I do I hope it has been made more carefully. As a few people have said, it just came out too soon.Right, I have just finished the whole thing- and have also discovered some more annoying things about the game. Me and one of my friends noticed that when you enter Knockturn Alley, (use the red charm on the suitcase) there is a place you can acess from Borgin and Burkes. It is, essentially, a big green lego board covered with all the HP Lego sets. You earn loads of money there by destroying them, BUT- once you get back to the main game, all of those coins have disappeared from your money. What is the point in trying to collect the coins if you don't have them when you can spend them? Perhaps this only happened to me and my friend for some reason, or I didn't save properly, but all the same...

20.11.2011

Ok so we havent played this much yet but with the Lego games you do tend to get a good sense of what's on offer fairly early on. And it is pretty much a follow on from Harry Potter 1-4, which brings both good and badThe 'good' is the sheer fun and attractiveness of the game, especially in two player. We played 1-4 as a family game and people could drop in and out at will with it all working seamlessly most of the time. That is true again (the lack of online co-op is shame but not a big deal, to us at least)5-7 continues the story from the films as you might expect, but it adds more complexity along with a few more spells and abilities to make the game a little different to 1-4.It looks to have a bit more to explore too, which is great, since for us getting to 100% was easily as much fun and completing the story modeThe puzzles are still easy (it's almost like they have run out of ideas) but that does mean 100% is within the grasp of even relative novices (ie younger kids, with some grown up help) if they are determined and persistent. One frustration for us is getting stuck because a specific character is needed to perform a specific task - and it isnt always obvious who/what/why that is. The new combat thing seems a little out of character for the game but I guess we will get better with practice - given the focus of the later films does this too, I guess it make senseThe graphics are more 3 dimensional (there are time when characters become very small/distant on the screen) but can be quite glitchy but it hasnt spoiled the game for us yet. One huge improvement is the brightness control, 1-4 has so many dark sections it can be impossible to see/know what you are doing - no excuses nowAnother slight dissapointment (for us at least) is having got 100% in 1-4 will give you no advantage at the start of 5-7. Some games let you bring some things/abilities with you, this one doesnt. And they have changed how spells work a little so you need to relearn your buttons (ie 1-4 dig is Wii button B in 5-7 it's button Z)Ultimately, if you have liked playing 1-4 you are probably going to enjoy/want 5-7 to finish the story. If you enjoy 5-7 without having played 1-4 then you probably will want a copy of that too (though the price of 1-4 has gone up quite a bit since 5-7 came out so they obviously expect demand)UPDATE - well after a few weeks playing the new spells and exploration are still fun but we are getting a little fed up with glitches. The structure of the game is such that it isnt always clear when you are in a story segment, but sometimes if you dont complete the story segment for some reason you get stuck later on and have to begin the whole game again. We got all the way to Just Desserts in Story Mode recently but didnt have the Focus spell to move on - so we had to start over from the beginning and hope whatever we didnt do last time we do do this time. This is proving rather less fun that HP 1-4, so much so the kids arent playing with 5-7 any more. I guess it was rushed out too soon to tie in with the film release and/or Christmas.

22.1.2012

I'm a huge Harry Potter fan so I was greatly anticipating this game.I'd played years 1-4 on my Macbook and was looking forward to playing the next one on the Wii. I wasn't disappointed this is a really fun game, one that you can play for hours at a time, it truly is entertaining. I real joy for HP fans.The general game play is relatively simple, you have to collect coins and house badges (one for each Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff) to make up the house crest. This has to be done for each level, these are hidden in such a way that you won't be able to get all of them straight away and will have to re-do the level once you've unlocked and purchased say a character that can perform dark magic for example.

18.7.2012

If you've played Lego games before, you'll know the score already and if you've played the earlier Harry Potter before, you'll know it double. Typical Lego game play of stud-collecting, extras-gathering and basic puzzle-solving abound. As with its predecessor, this is more linear than other Lego goes, locking you in a game-spanning narrative for the first stage of the game. As you go, you will unlock the spells that allow you to explore the levels and hub world in free play.This game is less massive than years 1-4, but is still big and really more of a manageable size (1-4 is enormous). It doesn't have the bugs that riddled part 1 and has a neat new innovation: an icon in the hub-world that

18.11.2011

I've been a big fan of the Lego games from the start, and I was thrilled when they announced they were making a Harry Potter version. However, I was greatly disappointed with the first one (years 1-4), the DS version was very simplified compared to the console one, and I was frustrated when I saw how much I was missing on.Years 5-7 on the other hand, is brilliant. There are so many things you have to do in order to complete each level. Being able to use the pets for example, or the spectrespecs... The characters on screen are bit bigger too, so you can actually see who you're playing with, a delight when it comes to custom characters.

12.1.2012

as a 46 year old wanting an action game that doesn't have swearing, blood (lots of little lego bricks) and doesn't need the reaction time of a 14 year old.This one is also great fun and continues from where the previous title left off. There have been some changes with some new spells and the loss of some others. There are some interesting sections with a sort of hand drawn feel to them that provides both variety and confusion. I've not seen the last 2 films so can't comment on how it compares but there is the usual Lego tongue in cheek humour.Like the other Lego games there are a few issues, though this game has only crashed once. The puzzles are a bit repetitive and simple.

3.4.2014

I love this DS game and its even better in 3D. I ordered this as my other one has been played so often its starting to go a little strange. Its a typical Lego game where you collect studs / coins and character tokens and wizard hats to reach your 100 %. You buy all the characters and bricks at the shop and in free play you can choose who to play as. I like to play as Dumbledore...elder wand in hand. Some characters has special abilities - Ron and Dumbledore have the deluminator - some have pets and Luna has her magic specks.Lupin turns into a werewolf and the Dursleys are 'strong' characters. Its a game suitable for kids age 7 up to adults. In 3D when you cast a spell to destroy objects they jump and flap which is really effective.

13.1.2012

Lego Harry Potters back and this time Dolores is involved. This game is fantastic, the sheer epicness of it. Playing as Kingsley, Lucky SunHat(Not wearing his SunHat unfortunately, maybe he will later on. It's cutting it pretty close), Mad eye Moody and lets defiantly not forget the best of the best Big D. Now in full form. Roam Hogwarts and find all your favourites lurking about, such as station guard and all the rest. There aren't really enough jokes in this game but there is a wild amout of destruction. Lego has always been good but this one will smash a massive hole in your face. Great for children and massive Harry Potter Nerds I.E. me. This game will kick you inj the face over and over.

7.4.2013

un-like previous lego games this is a much darker take on the lego franchise...wich makes it funny to watch!!! The basic structure remains the same.But this does not stop being less fun. The game is based on the final four Harry Potter films and have each been split into six stages, allowing you to play out iconic moments from the films like Half-Blood Prince's raid on Gringott's, or the EPIC Ministry of Magic battle from Order of the Phoenix. and in-between missions, players are free to explore Hogwarts and other areas in the wiziding world of harry potter.You spend most of the time in levels solving puzzles, and Zapping anything made of Lego.

12.5.2015

This game is brilliant I have only completed the first few levels, as a few are very hard.I very much enjoy anything to do with Harry potter. I have read all the books and seen the movies, and got lots of the lego sets. But I just felt my collection wasn't complete.When I first got my Xbox 360 I was playing every now and then. I hardly got new games and just stuck with minecraft and Disney infinity for a few months. I usually am browsing on amazon and I managed a £20 note of 'fun' money. I decided I had enough shoes and wanted to add to my Harry potter collection. When I saw this I was sold and chose next day delivery (mostly because I was too excited to wait 3 days)When it arrived I played straight away.

7.2.2012

familiar game play with some new bits thrown in .. it follows on nicely from 1-4 and is a little less confusing in its layout but you will still get lost from time to time .graphics are bright and colourfull with lots of light sourcing and reflections . its surround sound is accurate and powerfull .it's easy to pick up and get going and can probably finish the story quite quickly .. however to complete the game will take a lot more work , hunting down all the characters and specials in the various levels and at hogwarts .it's great fun chosing a loved character like Bellatrix and taking her somewhere she wasn't in the films .

19.11.2011

First, I have played Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 and I expected a lot worse from the sequel, mainly due to the manufacturing glitches of 1-4 on the Xbox 360 version. In 1-4 you would get stuck in the middle of levels and the system would consequently crash. 5-7 has none of this but what it does have is a few graphical glitches such as screen going funny on certain actions in places such as the leaky cauldron. In addition to this, the Ghost Studs don't line up on the staircase properly, meaning when you have unlocked the "Collect Ghost Studs" Red Brick, you don't get to collect half of them here.Positively with this game, it is a lot of fun, time consuming and there is always something you can be doing,

29.2.2012

As a fan of all lego titles and the first instalment of Harry Potter, I was eagerly awaiting this ones release. While it is a fun game, it is nowhere near as much fun as the first one. They seem to have dumbed it down a bit by more or less telling you what you have to do next rather than letting you discover it. Then there are other bits that are impossible to work out without the online forums - the teleport rings in the cave being one. Don't know if it is a glitch in the game, but it took me ages to find out how to choose the direction I wanted to teleport in. The games didn't take as long as the first one either. I would say the duelling is rather repetitive and got very annoying after a while.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 - Reviews

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