Great game!! I beat it in about a month, but I didn't play it every single day for hours on end. Had I done that, I probably would have beat it quicker. The story line is pretty consistent with the movies, not the books. Each year has 6 levels to it, and there are 11 bonus levels on top of that- 10 "gold brick" levels and one final bonus level for a character token (Voldemort). Each of the 24 levels has 3 character tokens, 1 student in peril, and 4 pieces of the Hogwarts crest hidden within. Like in any Lego game, you collect studs throughout each level, and once you collect a certain amount, you achieve the "true wizard" status. The point? Collect all 200 gold bricks hidden in the game. (You can only complete the final bonus level once you have collected all 200 gold bricks.)
In order to obtain all of the gold bricks in the levels, you must complete the level in story mode, collect each of the Hogwarts crest pieces, help the student in peril, and achieve True Wizard status. Outside of these levels, you get to roam around Hogwarts where there are plenty of hidden character tokens, gold bricks, red bricks, and students in peril. You'll have to attend lessons in order to unlock spells. The levels and lessons throughout the game are a nice length. You'll be able to sit down for an hour and work through two or three levels/lessons. I've played other Lego video games with levels that seem to drag on forever, so this was definitely nice. I knew I didn't have to commit a ton of time to the game when I sat down to play.
Top three things in this game: the characters, the spells, and the locations. I really enjoyed the variety of characters included in the game. You never knew who you were going to find! Everyone is in it- from Harry Potter disguised as a girl to Ghost James Potter to Krum wit a shark's head and everywhere in between. Another thing I really enjoyed was the variety of spells included in the game. A number of characters have spells and abilities that are unique to them. For example, Harry has the ability to use the Patronus Charm, whereas Hermione and Ron can use the Boggart-Banishing Spell, Riddikulus. Harry does not have that spell because, like in the book and movie, Professor Lupin does not allow him to participate in the lesson for fear of what the Boggart will turn into. When Lupin finds out that Harry's greatest fear is in fact fear itself (in the form of a Dementor) he teaches him the Patronus Charm. Why's that important? Harry, Ron and Hermione all have the ability to defeat the Boggarts in the game, they just use different spells. Lastly, I loved all of the places you get to visit: Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, Gringotts, each of the 4 house common rooms, and SO MUCH MORE! Seriously, the amount of thought and detail in each location is perfect. My little nerdy Harry Potter heart was so happy! I was excited to explore the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw common rooms, the owlery, and even Hagrid's garden. The developers were able to capture and reflect the personalities of each of the 4 houses and express them in the common rooms.
It's a game that is great for a variety of ages. As an adult, I even got a few laughs out of the story line. The developers really did a great job! I did come across a few glitches in the game, but I was able to still get 100%. The first time I played the last level in year 2 (Harry vs. Tom Riddle and the Basilisk), I defeated the Basilisk, but it just sat there. I was so confused! What was I supposed to do next? After wasting 15 minutes trying to figure out what I missed, I restarted the level and completed it with no issues and no glitches. No skin off my back! The amount of detail and entertainment was way more important than a few glitches. The game's entertainment value was not diminished, nor was I disappointed by this, so it still gets a 5 star rating. I can't wait to get the next one! I'm hoping it's as great as this one.
Clearly I could go on forever about this game. Bottom line? Get it, play it, love it. Lose yourself in Hogwarts and the magical world of Harry Potter. To paraphrase the greatest author of my childhood, “Whether you come back by page, through a video game, or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” ― J.K. Rowling
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