LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 25 June, 2010

A kind of magic.

Version tested: Xbox 360

LEGO Harry Potter is enormous, which is no mean feat given that the title character is two centimetres tall. And plastic.

By the time I finished the sizeable story mode, encompassing the first four years of Harry's life at Hogwarts, I'd put more hours on the game clock than most "adult" action games demand, yet I was still at just over 45 per cent completion. I'd not completed any of the Hogwarts crests hidden in each of the levels. I'd unlocked a fraction of the game's 160-plus characters. I'd found only six of the secret red power bricks, rescued a mere 20 of the 50 imperilled students and earned less than half of the golden bricks which add up to unlock more bonus levels.

So, for a game built from tiny pieces, LEGO Harry Potter builds into a seriously epic undertaking. This has been true of all the LEGO games, of course, but this is by far the most impressive and most rewarding iteration of the beloved formula to date.

The basics are much as they were for LEGO Star Wars five years ago. You explore, smash things, build things and earn shiny LEGO studs that can be cashed in to unlock even more content. Famous scenes from the stories are re-enacted in irreverent style, and you swap between characters to make use of their unique abilities.

To some adult observers, this unchanging bedrock represents a series in stagnation. To the kids who flock to these games, it's comforting, familiar and provides a dependable springboard for the ever-evolving challenges that each game asks of them. As with all the best franchises, the key gameplay elements have endured for a reason.

'LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4' Screenshot 1

This is a basic block manipulation puzzle. There's no single correct configuration - just whatever you come up with to reach the next area.

To criticise this game for adhering to formula would be a mistake, since the structure now built on top of these reliable foundations is ambitious and daunting, and part of the reason for that lies in the distinct properties of the Harry Potter saga.

Unlike Star Wars, Batman or Indiana Jones, Harry's adventures don't take him around the world, across a city or to other planets. Pretty much everything that happens to him happens in Hogwarts. Rather than allow this restriction to hold things back, TT Games has instead turned it to the game's advantage.

You no longer retreat to a hub area and dip into key set-pieces one by one. Instead, Hogwarts is a gigantic, continuous gameplay area full of living detail. When it's Christmas in the story, everyone wears Santa hats. When the Dementors arrive, looking for Sirius Black, students huddle in corners, terrified. When Gilderoy Lockhart arrives at the school, gaggles of cooing girls follow him around. It's lovely and hilarious.

For the vast majority of the game, you'll be traversing the staircases, corridors and courtyards, triggering story levels as you go, and learning new spells in lessons along the way. Navigating this imposing environment is never a chore, as the house ghosts are on hand to lead you to the start of the next story mission, leaving a trail of translucent studs as a marker just in case you get distracted by yet another intriguing detail and wander off to explore again.

'LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4' Screenshot 2

The screaming mandrake roots can be used to shatter glass objects, provided you can find some earmuffs first.

It gives the story mode a seamless feel, since you're never taken out of the game world, while also offering dozens of chances to try out each of your spells and abilities by interacting with secondary puzzles tucked away all over this sprawling location. Pixies, for example, can be found messing with scenery items. Learn the spell that freezes and shatters these pests, and those scenery items will form part of another task that might earn you another character, golden brick or just a lovely shower of studs.

In fact, one of the great things about all the LEGO games, but especially Harry Potter, is that everything does something. There's always some item to blast or levitate or twist, and the result is always useful, funny, or both. Remember how on school trips, the best bits of the museum were the exhibits that had buttons to press and models that moved? TT Games understands that need to fiddle, prod and simply make stuff happen. The developers never let their young audience get bored and the procession of well-placed background gags goes a long way to keeping these neophyte players engaged.

This is also a much more tangible game world than previously seen in the series. There's physics here, and a persistent nature that means changes wrought in a room at one point will remain there when you return. Stacks of books can be knocked over, LEGO blocks shatter and scatter in realistic ways, and there is even a whole slew of new puzzle types where you can manipulate individual LEGO bricks and build your own towers and bridges to reach new areas. These grow in complexity as the stories progress, and while they'll never tax adult gamers, they'll certainly stretch youngsters and force them to think laterally about what their powers can actually do.

In fact, the game as a whole is more intricate and more cleverly layered than before. Potions can be mixed in cauldrons, but finding the three ingredients usually requires three smaller puzzles to be solved first. Time and again, working out how to get from A to B means taking a fun mental journey via X, Y and Z first, always adapting, always using new abilities to get past problems that were previously off limits. If there's one thing the LEGO games do well, it's their fantastic structure, gently coaxing kids to do better each time, to find something new they hadn't done before, and it's never been better than this deep, deep rabbit hole of clever interlocking gameplay challenges.

If LEGO Harry Potter has a weakness, it's that the stories themselves don't always lend themselves particularly well to the silent comedy that LEGO demands. As so much of J. K. Rowling's plotting is driven by dialogue - the one thing LEGO figures can't provide - unless you know your Potter lore inside out, some of the cut-scenes can be sparse of narrative and struggle to match the belly-laugh moments from previous titles.

'LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4' Screenshot 3

Hogwarts looks confusing at first, but all those moving staircases and secret passages work to help the player, not bamboozle them.

This problem spills over into the collectables; while having over 160 characters makes for an impressive back-of-the-box bullet point, it doesn't really translate into compelling gameplay. The thrill of finding or earning a new character token deflates when you realise you have no idea who the person is and, since the majority of them are Hogwarts students, they don't offer much variety in appearance or abilities. Hardcore Potter-philes may care who Ernie Macmillan is, or be thrilled at the prospect of playing as Lee Jordan, but it adds little of value to the game beyond rather obsessive fan service. There's also some of the old screen tearing, a consistent problem with the series that hasn't been fixed yet.

It's doubtful that the target audience will notice or care about such adult quibbles. In the past, my son has absolutely loved all the LEGO games, and it's through him that I've been able to appreciate just how much craft and care goes into precisely balancing every tiny aspect of the design in these seemingly silly confections. Recently, however, he'd been lured away by Banjo Kazooie, and although he's read the Potter books and seen the films, he was never particularly infatuated by them. When I told him LEGO Harry Potter had arrived in the post, he only gave a non-committal shrug. I began to wonder if this would be the first LEGO game I'd have to review without his help.

'LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4' Screenshot 4

Light is one of your magic weapons. Here's hoping LEGO Alan Wake is next.

But then he saw me playing it, and it was like a moth to a flame. He'd chuckle at the funny bits. Then he'd recognise something from the films. Then he spotted how familiar elements from the old LEGO games had been reworked to fit Harry Potter. Sure enough, about 10 minutes later, he wanted to know when I'd be giving him the disc.

And that's the genius of these games. In the past I've always been cautious with my praise for the LEGO titles, because as fun and as charming as they were, I always felt they could be something more: that there was some as-yet unreached plateau where the great ideas would coalesce into something truly special. With LEGO Harry Potter, they've reached that level. If there's a better kids' game this year, I'll eat my Sorting Hat.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (73) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Mkwone #1 2 years ago

    Better than...

    Does look a great game. Think i'll prefer it over the batman game which i couldn't get into.

    One question though, which version did you review and do you know of any differences bettwen the Wii and HD versions
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 14:13

  • huckan #2 2 years ago

    Brilliant, a very praising review and I'll very much look forward to playing it! Lego and Harry Potter, how can it go wrong!

  • BiscuitBase #3 2 years ago

    Good work Jon Burton & friends!

  • Darren #4 2 years ago

    Great news for the kids and those among us that refuse to grow up but, sadly for me, I got fed up of the LEGO formula with the first Indiana Jones game and haven't played any of the others except briefly in demo form just to verify that, yep, I was utterly bored of them. And I *HATE* Harry Bloody Potter too so I'm guessing this isn't a game for me. :)

  • sonicyoda #5 2 years ago

    See, this is why I play games. When someone actually makes a 'game' and understands that their sole purpose is for fun, some remarkably great stuff happens. Also, it's a true merit to Traveller's Tales that they have managed to create a game about a franchise I really don't care about into a game I really, REALLY want to play. Can all franchise-based video games be developed by TT?

  • MaxHughes #6 2 years ago

    Better than Halo :(

  • andywilkie35 #7 2 years ago

    Played through the first nook last night in one sitting, its up there with Lego Star Wars easily, absolutely magnificent

  • Xnoybis Verified Senior Software Engineer, Holition #8 2 years ago

    Absolutely loved the demo, despite my total antipathy towards Potter. Think I'll pick this up on my way home tonight.
    Edited by 3 at 25/06/10 @ 14:58

  • Embra #9 2 years ago

    My wife and I played this last night for way too long. Nice that the old mechanic of just walking around smashing things has been replaced with something far more engaging and satifying. Beautifully realised, and oozing with charm. Great (not-at-all) little game.

  • darkmorgado #10 2 years ago

    I don't even know why I read this fucking website anymore.

    Then don't, and the rest of us may be spared from reading your trolling attempts.

  • Xnoybis Verified Senior Software Engineer, Holition #11 2 years ago

    @ fröd

    Your constructive contributions will be sorely missed

    Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

  • JunglistVIP #12 2 years ago

    Wheres the DS review?

  • Vanmunt #13 2 years ago

    better than dead space.....................

  • tomjoadsghost #14 2 years ago

    @ xnoybis, too deadpan - not sure if you're joking (about the transformers thing).
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 14:37

  • LondonSquare82 #15 2 years ago

    Awesome work to all the guys at Travellers Tales and at TT games.

    My son is finally of an age where I can play these games with him, and it seems like the Lego and HP marriage is a great one. And at least in Lego HP I won't have to feel guilty for wondering if "doing hermione" (films 5 and onwards!!!) is a matter for the courts... :p

  • WinstonChurchill #16 2 years ago

    @Xnoybis

    I don't think Transformers lends itself to a point 'n click adventure game. Better to give the license to Traveller's Tales.

  • muscleblade #17 2 years ago

    Better than Red dead redemtion. Not bad at all.

  • tomjoadsghost #18 2 years ago

    @ Winstonchurchill.

    Yup, cause that worked marvelously last time.

  • darkmorgado #19 2 years ago

    @frod,

    Don't be such a moron. The game has been scored on its own merits, and did you really just try to compare it to Demon's Souls?

    You really haven't got any clue, have you?

    As for saying you thought EG was an adult-focussed website... newsflash! It's a GAMES focussed website. It covers the GAMES industry, and a large number of readers are of different age groups and gender groups, and some of them will have children of their own. It doesn't matter who a game is aimed at - a good game is a good game, regardless of genre or demographic.
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 14:42

  • Vanmunt #20 2 years ago

    yeah go frod... fight the power.

  • darkmorgado #21 2 years ago

    I'm sure frod can do a much better job of setting up his own gaming website and, no doubt, within a year of doing so he will be receiving the same industry-wide respect enjoyed by Eurogamer. The only question is why he isn't doing it?

    Put up or shut up, frod.

  • MaFlippinHeadHurts #22 2 years ago

    9/10 Wow

    This is great news for my kids, they've been playing far too much football in the garden lately, this should get them back indoors!

  • X3Entente #23 2 years ago

    not all genres are created equal, great for a kids game granted and im sure its a charming little game, but alan wake, dragon age are inherently better. Like, SSF4 got 10/10 and soul calibur is according to game rankings the 5th best reviewed game of all time, so therefore could it be argued that its means its the 5th best game of all time better than deus ex, system shock 2, half life 2. fuck no. because its just a fighting game, which is a shallow genre that doesnt have the same credibilty as an rpg, fps or rts

  • sonicyoda #24 2 years ago

    You know, like, how we all got into games as kids? Yeah... that's not allowed to happen anymore apparently.

    SARCASM ALERT.

  • gallow #25 2 years ago

    I shall be picking this up so the wife and me can have a little co-op action going on now that we have finally bought a HD tv.

  • metalangel #26 2 years ago

    @Sonicyoda: But back in those days pretty much everything was bright and colourful, without setting out to be overly so. Grunting space marines were still bright eyed and un-gravelly.

  • Cosmopolitan #27 2 years ago

    "Wheres the DS review? " or the PSP's for that matter.
    I'd suggest EG could do multiplatform releases cross-comparison, perhaps there are other people besides me who would like to know differences between the DS and PSP versions. As normally there are differences e.g. Dirt 2 DS/PSP, latest Star Wars games, Assassin's Creed games, etc. Also the latest Prince of Persia is completely different between DS and PSP.
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 15:03

  • Stompy #28 2 years ago

    fröd wants attention because:

    1) He is lonely
    2) His SO left him, and he is lonely
    3) His Xbox has red ringed, and he is lonely
    4) EG has disagreed with his hardline stance on only giving 'proper' games (like Monopoly and Pooh Sticks) >7 out of 10. And he is lonely.

    Cast your votes now!!!

  • sonicyoda #29 2 years ago

    @metalangel

    Which is the exact reason why something like this should be celebrated. Bring back colour!

  • Fletche #30 2 years ago

    Always amusing when people complain when a game, that is aimed at younger people, gets a high mark, would these same people knock down scores for Toy Story, Wall:E etc? Just a shame they have forgotten what being young is like and have grown up? to be such bitter people.

    Anyway, I love the Lego games, they are funny, fun to play and, well, relaxing in a way, also a great fun way to play some co-op, oh and did I mention they are fun to play? Having fun, the reason I play games.
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 15:03

  • DanWhitehead #31 2 years ago

    "not all genres are created equal, great for a kids game granted and im sure its a charming little game, but alan wake, dragon age are inherently better."

    Sorry, that's nonsense. I didn't give this 9/10 because it's good considering it's a kids game. I gave it 9/10 because it has the sort of carefully balanced construction that marks it out as a great game. Strip away the graphics and the gore and the atmosphere of most "inherently superior" adult games and you'll often find a few cool game mechanics repeated over and over. Alan Wake is the perfect example. Dead Space and the first Assassin's Creed are the same. Structurally, they flatline after the first few hours. Lego HP continually gives you new things to find and do, and everything you do moves you closer toward lots of interdependent goals. It's excellent game design, regardless of the target audience.

  • Slipstream #32 2 years ago

    Nice review, really liked the personal aspect it had to it.
    I've never really been a big fan of the Lego games, the lack of skill which led to really boring repetition really set in quickly for me, but I always though they could work wonders with Harry Potty since there's so much going on in the Universe, plus they've spent alot of time on this one it seems and that looks like it may have paid off.

  • smurphs #33 2 years ago

    My daughter has been devouring the harry potter books so this is perfect timing to resurrect our gaming time since little big planet got stale.

  • kendoji #34 2 years ago

    I'm 33 - am I allowed to play and enjoy this?

    /worried

  • ignatiusjreilly #35 2 years ago

    I love the Lego games and have played them all (I think), but this is the first time I don't know anything about the subject matter, which is usually a big part of the fun. For that reason I probably won't bother with this one, which is kind of a shame as they've clearly done a good job with it.

  • FireMonkey #36 2 years ago

    My kids are still pretty young but can just about manage Lego StarWars with a little help here and there.
    How much more complex is this game to that? If they can manage LSW do you think this should be ok too?

  • Madafunkola #37 2 years ago

    Gamer age: 0-12, plays games because they are fun.
    Gamer age: 13-21, MUST ONLY PLAY GAMES WITH 18 CERT, BLOOD, SWEARING! MUST LOOK COOL TO OTHERS!
    Gamer age: 22-26, Still plays Bubble Bobble = Dark secret
    Gamer age: 27+ Can play "kids" games such as the Lego franchise or LBP as they realise NO ONE CARES if you LOOK "COOL"!

    EDIT: In addition, I believe a similar pattern exists for people who refuse to wear 3D glasses because they look stupid.
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 16:35

  • darkmorgado #38 2 years ago

    @Earlbasset

    Sorry, you're calling me arrogant? You, who has actually said that it is your duty to criticise Eurogamer and that it would fail if you didn't?

    Wow.

    Also, I love how I was hardly the only one mocking him and yet you single me out. Could it be perhaps because your attempt at bullying me the other day backfired miserably?
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 15:46

  • riceNpea #39 2 years ago

    imagine what life would be like if everyone was really as sensitive as they are on the internet.

  • Rajin #40 2 years ago

    The comment section on reviews on EG make me laugh frequently.

    While there's a genuine lack of great kid-games these days, the lego franchise seems to be a lonely pioneer admists the shovelware.

    Now we'll have to wait till' Disney releases ''Epic Mickey''......

  • darkmorgado #41 2 years ago

    @riceNpea

    Lol you just made me think of that episode of Family Guy where they send Peter on women's sensitivity training.

  • thefold #42 2 years ago

    @Madafunkola How true, I play anything these days and don't care what people think.

  • Cherub007 #43 2 years ago

    Point one - I ignored Frod immediately after reading his post, so just reading all the responses to him, without his trolling replies, gives the section an avant garde, surrealist feel I remember from times past. And, EarlBassett, without being rude, the reason Frod is being targeted is because he made points which instantly labelled him a cunt. You and darkmorgado go and have your little thing someplace else.

    Point two - Anyone notice how little Whitehead asked Dan when he was going to get the DISC? Not the CONTROLLER. Dan's kid has got his own XBox.

    I wish Dan was my dad, and he may even be younger than me.

  • TonyHarrison #44 2 years ago

    I loved the Lego Star Wars games, didn't play Indy or Batman though... I might have to pick this up.

    /doesn't care what 'mature' elitist balloons think.

  • darkmorgado #45 2 years ago

    I liked Batman, mainly because I am a comics fan and so it had that extra level of appeal. I liked the fact it had a campaign as the villains as well, which was a nice touch.

    Lego Indy I felt was ok, but nothing special.

    Lego Star Wars though, was awesome.

    I still live in hope of a Lego Godfather ;-)

  • VicViper #46 2 years ago

    Good score, in many ways childrens games should be better as if you gonna get new players into the industry you better make a damn good first impression that and make a good product regardless I suppose.

  • Geordiemp #47 2 years ago

    Bought this for my 7yr son, but he has to pause when I am not there in case I miss something (LOL)....

  • FeralGamer #48 2 years ago

    Wow! I'm impressed. I haven't played a LEGO game since Star Wars and that got so repetitive I quit, but this looks ace!

  • Armoured_Gideon #49 2 years ago

    @fröd

    Welcome to ignoresville, you odious git.

    Whilst this game isn't to my taste I'm not going to go out of my way to disparage it for that reason. I enjoyed Dan's review, and it makes me happy to think that kids and kids at heart are going to get a lot fun out of this title.

    So take your unsolicited arseholery and bugger off.

  • X3Entente #50 2 years ago

    @DanWhitehead
    Let me be clear about this, Dead Space absolutely sucked, to think that game started out as system shock 3

  • darkmorgado #51 2 years ago

    @Earlbasset

    Grow up. Your attacks are getting boring.

  • metalangel #52 2 years ago

    @sonicyoda: it is quite jarring seeing something really colourful on a modern console, isn't it? The two (proper) Viva Pinata games nearly melted my TV.

  • miiiguel #53 2 years ago

    The only Lego game I have is Indy (the 1st) and I found it barely above average. I want to give these another try, maybe I'll go for this one, or maybe SW...

  • tomjoadsghost #54 2 years ago

    Oh, yeah in case anybody didn't get the memo (or visited hotukdeals) sainsburys are doing this thing for £24.99 on PS3/wii/360 today(and the weekend presumably) not sure on handheld versions.

    The one i visited (Norwich, Queens road) was very low on stock (i got the only 360 version) but if you're after the game its worth giving them a try at that price.
    Edited by 1 at 25/06/10 @ 19:01

  • CaptainQuint #55 2 years ago

    There's more than just the Lego theme linking these game: John Williams provides the score for most of 'em too. What a legend.

  • Osahi #56 2 years ago

    About the screen tearing you mention: I don't know which version you played, but in the pause menu of my PS3 version I have the obtion to turn on V-Synch, which automaticly enables motion blur too. So if it really is a bother, you can change the settings (I didn't as I hardly notice any tears. Only the occassional drop in frames in the bonuslevels)

  • drxym #57 2 years ago

    My 4 year old loves the Lego games so I preordered this one. I am very surprised by the score but I guess I can't complain. Some of the older titles had pretty ropey PS3 support (screen tearing etc.) so I am glad the series is making progress enough it can garnish high marks.

  • Praetorianer #58 2 years ago

    Will there be a PS2 version as well?

  • WinterSnowblind #59 2 years ago

    Not a fan of Harry Potter, but I've been really loving the game.

    The second Indy wasn't great, but it added an interesting twist by making the actual levels smaller and the hub world bigger. While that had more negative effects than good ones, they've managed to take the concept to make Hogworts a large hub world that opens up as your progress, but still having the large levels from the previous games.

    It basically takes all the best elements of the previous Lego games to make the best experience by far. I'm still looking forward to Lego Star Wars III a lot, but I don't see it comparing to this.

  • Nephirion #60 2 years ago

    Harry gets his wand out...

  • Dop #61 2 years ago

    Is there anything that can't be improved by making it a LEGO game?

  • Stupid_Fat_Hobbit #62 2 years ago

    Does anyone know whether the PC version has online co-op, or just local? I can't seem to find any definitive info on the googles, and it's the difference between "instabuy" and "wait for Steam sale" for me.

  • ic4ruz #63 2 years ago

    Stupid_fat_hobbit: I think none of the version has online co-op, only splitscreen I think.

  • Grayvern #64 2 years ago

    Loved star wars but didn't like Batman, probably cause less attachment to the source material and the fact the game was too dark or too grey with gamma up.

    The fact that it's one contiguous area sounds great so I may well pick this up.

    And talking about the series being repetitious is a bit weird given the number of shooters that play almost exactly the same, to me the TT lego games have always been tantamount to a genre of their own, meaning that it's the minutiae, the setting and the periphery that really matter.
    Edited by 1 at 26/06/10 @ 01:48

  • smelly #65 2 years ago

    OH NOES!!!! It's not a grey and brown "mature" fps shooter aimed at "mature" 12 year olds.. it MUST be shit.

    Right.. Actually it's not as bad as i thought reading the first page of comments.. It's good to see there are actually quite a few grown up around here who like games which are (you know) good regardless of whether they're "grown up" or not ... or appreciate that the industry isnt just there to just give THEM games...

  • smelly #66 2 years ago

    >Better than Red dead redemtion. Not bad at all.

    Well i certainly hope its not as easy as RDR, or so short...

  • Praetorianer #67 2 years ago

    Ok. It will be released for PS2 :)

  • BlitzwingHaz #68 2 years ago

    Got this game today, does it automatically save at the end of a level? I'm guessing it'll tell you when you read it.
    Can't find mention of it in the manual and was pretty pissed off when I turned it off earlier on and had to start at the beginning again.
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/10 @ 22:39

  • PeacockDreams #69 2 years ago

    24.99 in Sainsburys - i had to pick it up at that price after all the positivity it is getting on here, yes there are a few like Frod who cant physically compute the fact that a game dosent have to be Space Marine Brown/Grey Explosion 4 to be a great title, but end of the day its there loss

  • sneetch #70 2 years ago

    To be honest "Space Marine Brown/Grey Explosion 4" is an excellent game but I'm waiting for "LEGO Space Marine Brown/Grey Explosion" though, I reckon it'll be more fun.

  • sneetch #71 2 years ago

    Most importantly does anyone know if there's any difference in the content on Wii/PS3/Xbox/PC versions (apart from the differences in resolution and controls)?

  • cmiller #72 2 years ago

    I am a major fan of the Lego games that have been brought out. I own the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman and Rock Band. I was so excited to finally have the Harry Potter one to add to my collection. I have always overlooked the little annoying things of the lego series – like how annoying the camera can be at times and the minor glitches that they all seem to have. So far I have put up with whatever has bothered me and not complained to anyone. However, the “glitch” that I have come across in the Harry Potter game is truly disappointing, nerve racking and frankly unacceptable. I am talking about the room with the dragon in it where you unlock Moody Mad Eye. At first I thought I was doing something wrong until I looked it up on the internet and found forums tell everyone to avoid this room at all costs for you will be stuck in that room and never get out. This is very disappointing. Yes, I could restart the entire game and start over but I don’t want to do that. A massive company like TT should be able to find a quick fix for what is probably a minor problem. According to the many forums I have found, no one has seemed to have received a response from TT. Too bad for I will now think 5 times before I buy a lego game again.

  • wighthouse65 #73 2 years ago

    09-05-10
    I'm a LEGO game fan from the first Star Wars release and across multiple platforms. I actually pre-ordered this game back in May so that I could have a copy on release day to play with my daughter on the family PC.

    Out of the clamshell, the game played smoothly on my system through Years 1 and 2 and was a great pleasure and a heck of a lot of fun to delve through. I played both solo and dual config with my daughter and thoroughly enjoyed the LEGO spin on the Potter universe. We botha greed that this was THE BEST LEGO GAME EVER!!!!

    But then I got to Year 3... Random crashes (never occurring in the same spot twice... until later (see below), sound and video lockups and irretrievable levels began to occur in completely different places and locations in the game. Task Manager resets SOMETIMES took care of the issue but most times a reboot was required to clear and reset the system. These crashes were entirely random but became more and more prevalent the further into Year 3 I went.

    Almost to the end of Year 3, I ran into the "famous" sneezing statue issue. This is becoming a well-known issue on many forums on the web and more and more people are seeing this problem with the PC game both in North America and Europe. Total lockup simply by activating either of the statues to the side of the door with the ice block. I have "dumbed down" my system by turning off sound, all effects, setting screen resolution to it's minimal configuration and setting the game to run in XP or Vista compatibility mode (all service packs). No luck on any variation; hitting either the left or right statue, gave me a sneezing sound and then... freeze.

    I am running Windows 7 32-bit which I was assured would be fine as an OS from EB Games when I ordered the software as it was initially advertised as such in their media materials; I DID actually ask about this. I have noted that the gamebox states only Vista/XP under minimum system requirements on the back. Point of interest is that it also states that it "Supports Parental Controls on Windows Vista and Windows 7) right next to the machine specs.

    Note that my machine is running a clean, legitimate, fresh install of Windows 7 32-bit Home Professional with all current operating system and driver updates. It was wiped and reformatted about 2 weeks before the game came out. The blanket response from TT Games to all inquiries I have seen regarding PC game issues has been pointing to Windows 7 OS or hardware incompatibility. Interesting that everyone having major issues are having them in the same exact spots in the game, regardless of their OS or hardware specs...

    I am hoping for, but not really expecting, a patch from the game provider as their response to this issue has been mediocre, transparent and repetitive. The issue from their standpoint is not with the game but with each user's machine and/or environment...

    I find it interesting that TT Games coded what was going to be (obviously) a high-demand, popular game for 2 operating systems that had already been announced by Microsoft as being phased out due to the release of Windows 7. Add to this that Windows 7 was already being bundled as the main OS on all new machines here in North America in August 2009 with game being (officially) announced here in October, 2009 and you have to wonder what TT Games was thinking.

    GREAT FUN AT FIRST (probably the best thought out LEGO game yet) but A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT by Year 3. Buyer beware!!! If you REALLY want this, invest in the console version... although I have been hearing rumblings about issues on 360 and DS as well.

    Points of interest...

    1 - What would J.K. Rowling think of this shoddy product being associated with her brand?

    2 - Does ANYONE want to purchase LEGO Star Wars 3: Clone Wars after this fiasco?


    12-07-10
    I received a response back from TT Games support on the weekend asking for my machine specs. I sent over the document and received the standard operating system incompatibility letter everyone else has been receiving with suggestions to run the game in compatibility mode to try to workaround the issues.

    What TT support did not know was that I totally wiped my machine after submitting my email to them and installed Windows Vista (one of their recommended OS's) from the ground up on an empty formatted drive (they have since been informed). I spent the evening downloading all MS update files and moved the OS to Vista SP2 with all patches and updates. Nothing else installed on the machine except the XBOX 360 usb gamepad. No peripherals attached, no A/V installed, no TSR's or remote connections. I even disconnected the machine from my router so it was stand-alone.

    I then installed the Potter game and dropped my game save file in from a USB key backup file I made before formatting. The file registered correctly at the launch point and loaded without incident. I was able to travel to other points of access in the game and play through levels in years 1 and 2 without issue (I was able to unlock some stuff I had missed), save the game and exit and relaunch it with success, noting that the per cent complete figure had updated accordingly to a higher completion ratio.

    I got to the trouble spot in Year 3 (after 3 random, non-repeating crashes) and the game locked up again at the flaming statues... 4 times. I tried numerous workarounds and even tried to trick the game by playing with dual players and keeping one on the split screen so that they wouldn't both move into the active area. I had the single character jump and shoot a statue from below the ledge so that the actions would take place off screen. As soon as the action triggered (I'd get the sneezing sound), the system would freeze again.

    Another player on a UK forum suggested that I complete the Owlery quest before moving to the problem spot. He had some success with this. I tried this last night and was able to open one statue with the other locking up the game again. This, again was performed off-screen to keep the resources minimized.

    So in summary... these issues also occur in a clean install of Windows Vista SP2 with nothing else installed or running on the machine. I had also tried to run the game in compatibility mode (all variations of XP AND VISTA) before I sent my prior email but did not include the information as I figured it would be a suggestion.

    Other players are now having issues with their XP machines and these complaints are showing up on the forums this week. TT Support's suggestion that it is an OS issue OR a machine issue is pretty thin and lame; especially when the clamshell actually states on the back that "Increased performance will be noticed on more powerful systems".

    Interesting as this indicates the game won't run on anything not running current hardware on top of obsolete operating systems.

    I have returned an email back to their support as of yesterday (July 13, 2010) seeking further assistance but am still waiting for a response. If anyone else is having issues with this game, please feel free to contact me at [...]. I'd like to hear what is going on out there regarding this.