See title.

Seriously, I'm not going to write about all that dorky video game stuff. It's just a fun game to play.

• from

My 6 year old blasted through this entire game in a week. He has experience from Star Wars and Ind Jones but my observations are that the game play is a little easier. Once he was done though he only had about 40 of the 200 characters so he needed an adults help to find everyone. Its been an additional week and we have about 160 of the 200 and have run through the entire game a second time. So, I'd guess you have to run through about three full times to complete everything. From a time perspective the $ was well spent

For fun rent the four movies and watch them as you are going through each level.

• from

I PURCHASED THIS GAME YESTERDAY FOR MY 12 YEAR OLD DAYTONA, WHO ENJOYS THIS GAME AS MUCH AS I DO, ITS JUST FANTASTIC! I RECOMMEND LEGO HARRY POTTER 1-4ANY AGE!!!! IAN & DAYTONA

• from

After the disappoint of Indiana Jones 2 now comes this new Lego game. Back to the original format that made these games so great. This one is almost more fun than the others because it doesn't involve a lot of shooting. Good puzzles and if you are a fan of the movies and the previous Lego games you will not be disppointed.

• from

Granted, this is a Lego franchise game. It has the same frustrations as previous Lego games. BUT . . . IT'S HARRY POTTER! So that staircase you're having a hard time building . . . well, at least you're doing it with a WAND! The characters and cut-scenes are adorable and humorous (except creepier-than-usual Filch). This game will please fans of the story/movies with its accuracy. Familiarity with the Harry Potter story is almost a must for gameplay. For example, you may need a Ravenclaw prefect to access the Ravenclaw common room, Griphook's ability to open a safe, or Snape's impressive power to blast something. If none of what I just said makes sense, this might not be the game for you.

It is appealing to Harry Potter fans of all ages. My game has been played by four people between the ages of 6-41. Player 2 can jump in or out at any time for a quick assist. Changing characters and spells is easy. Even fighting Volde---I mean, He Who Must Not Be Named--- isn't particularly scary or stressful.

Competent gamers will finish the game---for the first time---in less than 12 hours . . . BUT most things are not unlockable/accessible on the first time through a level. You will be shocked to see your low level of game completion at the end of each stage. If you can't get to something on the first try, don't waste a lot of time on it. For example, don't worry about those large black balls you see everywhere, which don't seem to respond to any character or spell. They're for Snape.

One kind of irritating feature of the game: the special abilities and sensors you purchase from the Owl Emporium must be enabled through the "Extras" menu each time you play. That slows you down a bit, but it's nice to be saved from falls and get 10X score, etc. Definitely read the instruction manual so you will know what to do with red bricks, how to purchase and upgrade things, etc.

Enjoy! I wonder if my game will ever be 100% complete.

• from

Another great entry in the LEGO video game series. Harry Potter is a natural fit for the game mechanics, and the game is very well done. The new camera/split-screen feature is very cool works well. The game is very enjoyable; can't wait to beat it!

• from

If you like Harry Potter then you will probably love this game! I know I did. The detail in the Hogwarts castle, the town, the grounds, and the characters is amazing. I literally spent hours going through the hogwarts grounds after the levels were beat collecting lego pieces and unlocking new characters. The levels are a lot of fun too and a lot of the cut scenes and the jokes are funny.

I haven't got all the characters unlocked yet, but I can tell you that every person that was ever mentioned in the series (well at least the first four years) is in this game. Characters I didn't even remember (I've read the books and watched the movies tons of times). So, yeah I was impressed with how many characters they added in the game. I still haven't unlocked Dumbledore (which I'm hoping is on the list!)

Anyway, I was overall very impressed with this game. It was the best lego game that I have played! Harry Potter fans will not be dissappointed.

• from

After having previous LEGO games dished out to us, here comes along "Harry Potter Years 1-4", an exciting achievement that stands out among a basket full of other bland eggs. I was instantly amazed by the beautiful graphics, clever dialogue, and the challenging gameplay. What makes this stand out from other Harry Potter games released in the past is that you have the ability to play as other characters: Ron, Hermione's cat, Hagrid. Each character has their own special ability, as well as their own strengths and weaknesses, which adds some flare to the gameplay. What is also new about this addition is that a multiplayer mode has been included for more than just one player.

The premise is fairly simple that most of us are already aware of. It covers years 1-4 from J.K Rowling's popular book series based on a teenage wizard. The game moves smoothly over each storyline of the book and stays true to the source material: defeating Aragon from the Chamber of Secrets, all the way to casting the Patronus charm at Dementors in the Prisoner of Azkaban. Gameplay and controls are fairly simple as well and especially fun when you are casting spells with your Wii remote. Many of the challenges involve quick puzzle solving and exploring unknown territory, and can become quite difficult. The crisp graphics combined with the dynamic and elevating score also provides us with a clear insight into Harry's wizarding LEGO world.

"Harry Potter: Years 1-4" is by the far the finest Harry Potter video game to hit the shelves, possibly the best LEGO game. It gives us a new gameplay experience that we have not yet experienced in a Harry Potter video game and yet still harnesses that ability to captivate us. But, what I love the most about it is that it has allowed me to revisit that childhood I remember as a kid when such things existed. It will certainly keep Harry Potter fans on their feet as well while providing a vivid blast from the past for all of us who enjoyed the previous first four installments.

Jordan Utz, 5 Stars

• from

I have purchased LEGO games before and have been astounded by the level of intricacy and detail put into a children's game. I love the Star Wars games (Batman is good too) and I was really excited for the Harry Potter game. This game blows the others away. This game keeps evolving with the different locations and hidden treasures to find. I live for collecting new characters. This game is must-have for Harry Potter and LEGO fans alike. Parents will be satisfied that they will have found a game that will keep their kids' attentions for a very long time. This game will keep me interested until October, when the next one comes out.

• from

This game was super cute -- we have all the other Lego games and I have to say the standard approach was getting a bit tedious -- run around breaking everything and collecting studs. While there is still plenty of stud-collecting, there are also a ton of nifty puzzles and task to accomplish as well. We have done nothing else since we got it last week! We love that you have to 'learn' different spells and use the right one for the circumstance. Also that it is more of a 'puzzle' and less just having to fight off enemies and blow stuff up. Very enjoyable and well worth the dollars.

• from

My 9 year old son asked for this game for his birthday. We did the pre-order on his birthday. He was so excited he checked every 20 minutes all day for the UPS guy. He has played it so much since he got it. He loves it. The Lego Wii games have been "safe bets" for me. I don't have to worry about violence except the cute violence of Legos spilling all over the place. And the kids enjoy it, even my 16 year old son and his friend have played it all afternoon.

It's also a great bonding time for my husband and my sons. They have enjoyed learning the game together and I like that it seems to encourage verbal communication between the boys when they are playing. I highly recommend any of the Lego Wii games but especially the ones with 2 players.

I would love to see 4 player Lego games for the Wii and perhaps a little more physical movement from them, but for a safe, non-violent, non-sexual yet fun and interesting enough to keep them playing, Lego games can't be beat!

Kudos to Amazon for the $10 "coupon" that automatically applied to the next electronic purchase I made.

More Kudos to Amazon I got a $4 refund because the game premiered lower than planned.

• from

I have all the other Lego, save for Lego Rock Band and Indiana Jones 2, and this game is a great addition to the franchise. I was worried because, of the bad reviews of Lego IJ2 and thought they are trying to change the format too much, but the changes here are positives. I do like the split screen because it allows for dual exploration much easier than previous Lego games. My five year old daughter thinks its "easy" and enjoys "leading' on the adventure with me.

I haven't gotten too far into the game yet, but what I have seen I have liked. Once I figured out how the spells were able to be changed and a few of the other new additions, I felt very comfortable with the controls. Reading the booklet would be helpful, but I like to figure things out for myself.

This game is not for everyone, but if you're into less violent games that allow for puzzling adventure. This is for you. Anyone who liked the other Lego games are sure to enjoy this one as well.

• from

My 10-year-old son is utterly engrossed in this game right now. I asked him how he would rate it and initially he said "five out of five stars." Then he though for a moment and amended his rating: "A million out of a million stars." I guess he loves it.

• from

I received this game for my birthday a couple of weeks ago and have done little else in my free time than play it. It is really fun and very addicting. I have not played any of the other Lego games, but I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter books and movies. I think that the game does a great job of immersing you into the wizarding world. You get to wander around Hogwarts and Diagon Alley. You get to learn and use spells. You can (eventually) play as almost any character from the series. Also great are the movie shorts at key moments in the game where the story is reenacted with the Lego characters. Cute and funny! Since I am not a seasoned gamer, it is also nice that you cannot really "die." If you walk off an edge or get stunned by an enemy too many times you simply "fall apart," lose some studs and come right back, as many times as it takes to get through the level. Cool bonus levels and a building mode where you can create your own playable scenes. It's easy enough for my 5 year old to play, but complicated enough for my and my husband. I love it!!

• from

We have had this in our house for a week, and I must say that there are many features in this that improve over the earlier LEGO games by this company. My son (11) and daughter (15), whom I have watched with his friends rather than played myself (on a new flatscreen TV, which admittedly adds to their excitement), are utterly mesmerized by the world and narrative that they are able to enter with this game.

When I bought it (in Europe at about 1/3 more in price), I was worried that it would only be a simple variation on the earlier LEGO video games. To summarize, the earlier games (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman, all of which we have in more than one format) allow children to become part of the story. They know the films, but are able to interact in the environment and create their own versions. These are not games with an adversary to beat or at least compete against, but a collaborative journey where you try to get through a number of obstacles, more similar to a maze than, say, monopoly. This is a wonderful variation for kids, who too often seek enemies in video games or someone to conquer. In the LEGO tradition, there is also a building motif, where you collect enough parts to get to a kind of construction critical mass, so you win a level and objects are assembled and a film episode is played with LEGO characters. It has action, but is not bloodily violent, so good for little kids. Finally, it is easy to start over and keep going on a journey through the films. Just this makes these unique game concepts, but you can only get so many. There is absolutely wonderful detail and characters in a simplified LEGO version that is charming, though they don't talk.

While this is definitely in continuity with the earlier games and so reassuringly familiar as all great brands should be, I was happily impressed with this version, which I think is a quantum improvement. The environment is more complex and multi-facetted, with all of the HPotter universe to explore. The levels and tasks they have to perform are more complex than the earlier games, so it is longer lasting, and there appears to me to be more character in the powers and personalities of each figure that my kids can choose to play. There is absolutely nothing that seems derivative about this. For example, instead of hitting, whipping, or cutting with a light saber, they can cast spells that are far more varied in their effects. As a school, there are also lessons to learn at each stage, which adds a new dimension that relates to the narrative.

Warmly recommended. This is a wonderful addition to an evolving medium.

• from