With the rerelease of LEGO Harry Potter does the magic reignite or fizzle out? Check out Kidzworlds review of the return to the LEGO Wizarding World!
By: Max Cannon
LEGO Harry Potter Collection doesn't just return players to the wizarding world but it also returns us to some of LEGO's earlier games. This is a remaster of the original LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 and LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7. While the first chunk of games definitely show their age the second grouping feels much more modern and on par with the LEGO games of today.
You're a LEGO, Harry
When I was playing through the first four of Harry's years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry I couldn't help but notice how dated this game felt. 2016 feels like the year of the package deal remaster so I'm not new to playing rereleases of older games but this one really, really shows its age. Like most LEGO games you'll collect studs, while smashing, and constructing objects made from LEGO pieces. In Hogwarts however you'll be using different magic spells to explore your world. Wingardium Leviosa lifts objects, Lumos will light up the darkness, and so on. You'll see many secrets early on in the game that can't be accessed until you return with the proper character or knowledge of a new spell.
Harry Potter battles Voldemort in the close of the game.Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Selecting your different spells can be frustrating at times, switching from one to another feels cumbersome and I feel if the game autoselected for me the process would be more streamlined. I also found myself stuck more frequently than other games, not necessarily because of the challenging puzzles but because of how obtuse their explanations were. One segment of the game gave me a brand new character that could dig to solve a puzzle without telling me, so I ran around for 30 minutes trying to figure out how to progress before noticing that Hermione had decided to bring her cat along for this level.
LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 also isn't a looker, but that's ok because of part 2.
Harry's first game of Quidditch is just as you remember it in the movies - but with LEGO.Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
LEGO Harry Potter Collection - Launch Trailer
You're a much, much better LEGO, Harry
The moment LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7 started I immediately knew I was in for a treat. The opening cutscene was gorgeous and well choreographed, the gameplay felt significantly tighter, and the level design was more par for the course with a 2016 LEGO game. While neither game has voice acting, that doesn't hold back the second game's storytelling - though the first could definitely use some tightening up.
The issues still persist with choosing spells, but the puzzles and characters have much more personality. This feels like a charming, LEGO-fied version of the movies I love so much. While the first game visually looks like HD versions of older textures the newer game's lighting and environments look modern.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione return with better graphics in the second half of games.Courtesy of Eurogamer
Final Thoughts
LEGO Harry Potter Collection may have a rough start but the second half of the game is worth skipping to or sticking around for. The modern game design and visuals surprised me for a game that's nearly 5 years old. And while the first bit's medicocrity stands out, the second game shines brightly in almost every way. In a post LEGO Dimensions world - my favorite LEGO game - that's some high praise for me to give.
Pros
- Great Visuals
- Modern Level Design
Cons
- Years 1-4
LEGO Harry Potter Collection Game Rating:
Available now for PlayStation 4
LEGO Harry Potter Collection Box ArtCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Have Your Say!
Are you a Harry Potter fan? Are you looking for something to tide you over while Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them releases? Comment below!
