With millions of Potter fans and as many (if not more) Lego addicts, this may be the match made in heaven. As with other highly successful Lego and movie transformation (from Star Wars to Indiana Jones), seriousness is cast aside for 3-D platform based entertainment, following the movie narratives pretty closely, but allowing the player to participate in getting there. Taken from his nasty step-family, the orphaned Harry Potter is whisked off to Hogwarts where a new life unfolds as his education in wizardry begins. Besides making friends (Ron & Hermoine), attending classes, mixing potions, flying broomsticks and getting up to some fun tricks (like building objects and casting spells), of course Harry’s destiny is to face his arch nemesis, the dark Lord Voldemort…

Yes, the usual coin collection is part of the gameplay, as are special items needed to advance, from doorknobs to ingredients for a potion cauldron.

With each character possessing different skill and magic spells, you can co-op and jump from one to another in order to access these abilities and reach your goals successfully. There are up to 100 playable characters.

It is always fun seeing how the developers and designers translate the vivid imagery the filmmakers created on screen into that of the chunky plastic Lego world. For those concerned about the prices of games, what’s great about this one is that it combines the first four stories into one.

If you’re a Potter fan but too old to be cool admitting it, you can pick this one up under the guise of being a 3-D platform action-adventure addict (!).

3 / B
- Paul Blom

A:Long Term Shelf Life
B:Deserves Another Play
C:Once Should Suffice