Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 Explained

Lego Harry Potter:
Years 1–4
Series:Wizarding World
Director:Jon Burton
Producer:John O'Brien
Genre:Action-adventure
Modes:Single-player, multiplayer

Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 is an action-adventure game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.[1] [2] The game is based on the Lego Harry Potter toy line, and its storyline covers the first four books by J.K. Rowling and its film adaptations in the Harry Potter film series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).[3]

The game was released in June 2010 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable, Android in November 2010, OS X in January 2011, iOS in September 2016, PlayStation 4 in October 2016, and for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in October 2018 as part of the Lego Harry Potter Collection, which bundles the game with its sequel, .

Gameplay

Lego Harry Potters gameplay is similar to that of most previous Lego video games, with an emphasis on collecting, exploring, and solving puzzles. Casting spells is an integral part of the gameplay, with a wide range of spells available for unlocking as the player progresses. As there are many spells available in the game, the player can use the spell wheel to select the spell. Potion-making is another integral feature; potions can help the player complete levels or, if created incorrectly, have adverse side effects such as turning the player into a frog.[4]

Changes to the mechanics of previous games include 'Student in Peril' missions, which are a group of challenges to help a student, and Polyjuice Potion, which allows players to temporarily change one of the player's characters into any other mini-figure unlocked.[5] A major change is to the hub system. Diagon Alley serves as a hub for purchasing unlockable extras, The Leaky Cauldron works as a hub for returning to previous levels, while Hogwarts acts as a constantly evolving massive hub with the unlockable characters found by picking up their hidden portraits.[6] [7]

The bigger areas in Hogwarts have led developer Traveller's Tales to improve the overall level design. Also included is another bonus level that allows players to customize the level similar to . If the player is lost in-game, they can follow a trail of Ghost Studs to the next level. These do not count towards the stud total, but will guide the player to the next section of the level. However one of the collectible 'red bricks', found in the courtyard next to Herbology, gets the player an 'extra' that makes the ghost studs worth 1,000 each.[8] [9]

The central hub is Diagon Alley and its entrance through the Leaky Cauldron. Players can access a room at the second floor of the building to watch cutscenes from the game, as well as using a notice board with pictures from where the player can play completed levels again.[10] Diagon Alley serves as a series of stores where the player is able to buy characters or change a number of customizable ones, spells, and bricks that have a varying range of uses, such as changing the player's wand to a carrot, or making the player invincible.[11] Players are also able to visit Gringotts or Borgin and Burkes in order to play extra levels. There are 167 characters purchasable in the game.[12]

The game covers a wide range of characters of the first four parts, from notable ones like Albus Dumbledore, and Severus Snape, to others like Viktor Krum in shark form or the Trolley Witch from the Hogwarts Express.[13]

The storyline is substantially unaltered from the movies, with slight changes to allow consistent two-player mode throughout the game.

Multiplayer mode

The game employs the two player split-screen technique introduced in . There is also online support for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The plotline of the game differs from that of the books and films several times in order to have at least two characters in each level. For example, Hermione (accidentally) joins Harry during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament,[14] which was unlike both the book and the film, where Harry fights the dragon alone. Another example is in the final boss fight with Voldemort. Cedric Diggory is there to help and dies when trying to escape in the last cutscene despite the fact that Cedric is killed before Voldemort's reincarnation in both the book and movie.

Changes for the Nintendo DS, PSP, Android and iOS versions

In the Nintendo DS, PSP, Android and iOS versions, several changes were made from the versions of the other formats.There is only one hub, the Room of Requirement, but the explorable Hogwarts and Diagon Alley hubs of the other versions were removed and both boss battles and spellcasting were simplified. Also, unlike all previous Traveller's Tales Lego video games, the Nintendo DS, PSP, Android and iOS versions have written sentences. In other Lego video games before 2012, the Lego figures only grunted to each other.[15] The DS version uses touchscreen controls to perform spells, and is a downscaled port of the PSP version.[16] The Android version of the game is not compatible with Android 10 and newer due to changes in the Android OS.

Development

News of the game's existence was leaked in March 2009,[17] although rumours had been circulating since late 2008.[18] Warner Bros. officially confirmed the game in June 2009 with an estimated release of 2010.[19] [20]

A teaser trailer was released on the day of the game's official announcement[21] [22] followed by four individually released vignettes, beginning in December 2009. Each vignette focussed on one of the first four years featured in the game.[23] [24] [25] [26] A new trailer was released to coincide with the game's launch.[27] All six trailers are available on the official website.[28] [29] A demo of the game was made available to download for Windows, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live in June 2010. The game was initially released on 25 June 2010 in Europe, 29 June 2010 in North America, and 30 June 2010 in Australia and New Zealand for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable.[30] [31] [32] A mobile version of the game was released for iOS on 19 November 2010 and was ported to Android on 28 September 2016.[33] [34] The OS X version of the game was released on 6 January 2011 by Feral Interactive.[35] A remastered version of the game was released for the PlayStation 4 on 18 October 2016 in North America and in Europe on 21 October as part of the Lego Harry Potter Collection in which the game was bundled with its sequel, .[36] This collection was ported to Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on 30 October 2018 in North America and on 2 November in Europe.[37] [38]

Reception

The game received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the soundtrack, the fidelity to the material, the graphics (especially for PS3 and Xbox 360), the story and the gameplay. Video Game review aggregator website GameRankings scored the game at 81%, with media review aggregator website Metacritic scoring slightly lower at 80%.[39] The Official Nintendo Magazine gave the Wii and Nintendo DS version 80%, saying that it was "one of the best Harry Potter games ever", however it lacked originality compared to previous Lego video games.[40] GameSpot gave the console versions an 8/10, complimenting the "large amount of secrets and charm", and disagreed with the Nintendo Magazine, saying it was both "easily the best Harry Potter game to date", and "one of the finest Lego adventures to date".[41]

IGN praised the game giving it an 8.5 out of 10, complimenting the new additions to the game, while the PSP version of the game received a 7.0. Greg Miller from IGN said the game had a "general sense of a great LEGO game paired with a great series really makes this game a standout."[42] IGN editor Nicole Tanner awarded it "Best Mindless Fun", at the publisher's "favorite games of 2010 list".[43]

During the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Lego Harry Potter for "Family Game of the Year".[44]

Sequel

A sequel, covering the stories of the final three books and four movies in the series, , was released in 2011 by Warner Bros.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: LEGO.com Video Game: Harry Potter Home. Videogames.lego.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120704114611/http://videogames.lego.com/en-US/HarryPotter/AboutTheGame/Screenshots/Default.aspx. 4 July 2012. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter coming soon!. 26 April 2010. Traveller's Tales. 8 July 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930191004/http://www.ttgames.com/node/206. 30 September 2011. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: Bits N' Bricks Season 4 Episode 39: LEGO Harry Potter™ – A Journey Through All Eight Films . 10 November 2021 . 25 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211225170835/https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blt8bb6cbb9424fa5aa/bits_n_bricks_s04e39_feature_and_transcript.pdf . live .
  4. Traveller's Tales spills the beans on the boy wizard's latest adventure. Marchiafava. Jeff. December 2009. Game Informer. 201. 60–61.
  5. Review: Lego Harry Potter Video Game Has the Movie Magic, Plus Silliness. Matt. Blum. 1 July 2010. Wired. 8 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100702190740/http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/07/review-lego-harry-potter-video-game-has-the-movie-magic-plus-silliness/. 2 July 2010. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (PlayStation 2) - Game Details - PAL Gaming Network . 2010-06-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100713003353/http://palgn.com.au/video-game/7987/playstation-2/lego-harry-potter-years-1-4/ . 13 July 2010 . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: UK Q&A: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4. Blog.usplaystation.com. 6 April 2010. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171007151110/https://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/04/06/uk-qa-lego-harry-potter-years-1-4/ . 7 October 2017. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Ferry . Lego Harry Potter Walkthrough Videos . VideoGamesBlogger.com . 25 June 2010 . 25 June 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100628040819/http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2010/06/25/lego-harry-potter-walkthrough-video-guide-wii-xbox-360-ps3-pc-psp.htm . 28 June 2010 . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter Wiki Guide. IGN. November 12, 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120414144121/http://guides.ign.com/guides/14329937/. 14 April 2012. dmy-all.
  10. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter Wiki Guide. Guides.ign.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002051815/http://guides.ign.com/guides/14329935/page_2.html. 2 October 2012. dmy-all.
  11. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter Wiki Guide. IGN. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002051835/http://guides.ign.com/guides/14329935/page_5.html. 2 October 2012. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Character List & Map Node Interconnections. Dave. Poindexter. IGN. 25 July 2010 . 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120106185011/http://faqs.ign.com/articles/110/1109088p1.html. 6 January 2012. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter Wiki Guide. IGN. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002051852/http://guides.ign.com/guides/14329935/page_90.html. 2 October 2012. dmy-all.
  14. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter Wiki Guide. IGN. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002051857/http://guides.ign.com/guides/14329935/page_62.html. 2 October 2012. dmy-all.
  15. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter PSP Review . IGN . 2 July 2010 . November 12, 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110831201915/http://uk.psp.ign.com/articles/110/1103612p1.html . 31 August 2011 . dmy-all .
  16. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter DS Review . IGN . 2 July 2010 . 12 November 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110831203641/http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/110/1105078p1.html . 31 August 2011 . dmy-all .
  17. Web site: 'Lego Harry Potter' inadvertently confirmed. Liam. Martin. 14 March 2009. Digital Spy. 12 November 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110610213645/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a149546/lego-harry-potter-inadvertently-confirmed.html. 10 June 2011. dmy-all.
  18. Web site: Harry Potter to receive Lego makeover?. Liam. Martin. 1 December 2008. Digital Spy. 8 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20081204090734/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a137179/harry-potter-to-receive-lego-makeover.html. 4 December 2008. dmy-all.
  19. Web site: Warner confirms LEGO Harry Potter. Robert. Purchese. 1 June 2009. Eurogamer. 8 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120725232832/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/warner-confirms-lego-harry-potter_9. 25 July 2012. dmy-all.
  20. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 - 4 "Spellbinding" Behind-the-Scenes Video. Youtube.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305142718/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVZ_KzEqvGw. 5 March 2016. dmy-all.
  21. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter E3 Trailer. Moye. Ishimoto. 1 June 2009. G4tv. 8 July 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120923052609/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/696033/lego-harry-potter-e3-trailer/. 23 September 2012. dmy-all.
  22. Web site: Teaser Trailer. Gametrailers.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120603123341/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-09-lego-harry/50142. 3 June 2012. dmy-all.
  23. Web site: Year 1 Trailer. Youtube.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422122557/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F57e6Ay-b04. 22 April 2016. dmy-all.
  24. Web site: Year 2 Trailer. Youtube.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160412002018/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuShvKiduJk. 12 April 2016. dmy-all.
  25. Web site: Year 3 Trailer. Youtube.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160428170313/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcHq6zwOGYQ. 28 April 2016. dmy-all.
  26. Web site: Year 4 Trailer. Youtube.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170720194448/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX_rM6eZv4w. 20 July 2017. dmy-all.
  27. Web site: Launch Trailer. Youtube.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160418071026/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u89xq1B64mY. 18 April 2016. dmy-all.
  28. Web site: Behind the Magic of the LEGO Harry Potter Video Game!. Club1.lego.com. 30 October 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120316120221/http://club1.lego.com/en-us/news/ExtraDetails.aspx?id=175121. 16 March 2012. dmy-all.
  29. Web site: Lego Harry Potter takes off with launch trailer. Techcentral.my. 30 October 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100628035610/http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=%2F2010%2F6%2F25%2Fit_news%2F20100625150601&sec=it_news. 28 June 2010. dmy-all.
  30. Web site: 2010-06-03 . Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 demo coming June 7 . 2023-02-01 . VG247 . en . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015018/https://www.vg247.com/lego-harry-potter-years-1-4-demo-coming-june-7 . live .
  31. Web site: 2010-06-29 . In Stores Now: Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 (XBox 360, PS3, PSP, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS/DSi, PC) . 2023-02-01 . Inside Pulse . en-US . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015020/https://insidepulse.com/2010/06/29/in-stores-now-lego-harry-potter-years-1-4-xbox-360-ps3-psp-nintendo-wii-nintendo-dsdsi-pc/ . live .
  32. Web site: 2010-06-30 . LEGO HARRY POTTER™: YEARS 1-4 . 2023-02-01 . impulsegamer.com . en-US . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015027/https://www.impulsegamer.com/wordpress/?p=6846 . live .
  33. Web site: Jordan . Jon . Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 out for iPhone and iPad . 2023-02-01 . www.pocketgamer.com . 19 November 2010 . en . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015028/https://www.pocketgamer.com/lego-harry-potter-years-1-4/lego-harry-potter-years-1-4-out-for-iphone-and-ipad/ . live .
  34. Web site: Davenport . Corbin . 2016-09-28 . [You're on Android, Harry] LEGO Harry Potter games now available for Android ]. 2023-02-01 . Android Police . en . 3 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503023128/https://www.androidpolice.com/2016/09/27/youre-android-harry-lego-harry-potter-games-now-available-android/ . live .
  35. Web site: Feral Interactive offers download services for Mac games . 2023-02-01 . Macworld . en . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015027/https://www.macworld.com/article/209942/feraldownlaod.html . live .
  36. Web site: 2016-09-08 . LEGO Harry Potter Collection Releases October 18 for PS4 . 2023-02-01 . PlayStation LifeStyle . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015020/https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2016/09/08/lego-harry-potter-collection-releases-october-18-ps4/ . live .
  37. Web site: 2018-09-06 . LEGO Harry Potter Collection to spellbind Switch players in November . 2023-02-01 . Destructoid - Nintendo . en-US . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015020/https://www.nintendo.destructoid.com/lego-harry-potter-collection-switch/ . live .
  38. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter Collection Officially Announced For Xbox One With Trailer . 2023-02-01 . TrueAchievements . en . 1 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230201015028/https://www.trueachievements.com/n34385/lego-harry-potter-collection-officially-announced-for-xbox-one-with-trailer . live .
  39. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4. Metacritic. 8 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100702031704/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/legoharrypotteryers14. 2 July 2010. dmy-all.
  40. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 Wii review. Chris. Scullion. 27 June 2010. Official Nintendo Magazine. 8 July 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100630075503/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=18343. 30 June 2010. dmy-all.
  41. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 Review. Kevin. VanOrd. 25 June 2010. GameSpot. 5 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100706231118/http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/adventure/legoharrypotteryears14/review.html. 6 July 2010. dmy-all.
  42. Web site: LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 Review. Greg. Miller. 29 June 2010. IGN. 12 November 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100702013114/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/110/1102421p1.html. 2 July 2010. dmy-all.
  43. Web site: Our Favorite Games of 2010 (So Far). 5 August 2010. IGN. 12 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20100817191209/http://wii.ign.com/articles/111/1110674p3.html. 17 August 2010. dmy-all.
  44. Web site: D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 . . interactive.org . 20 November 2023.

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