Go from place to place, using various characters' skills to solve puzzles and defeat enemies, collecting all sorts of items and discovering new characters.
Anyone who's familiar with Harry Potter should know that story's tropes:
The heroes go from place to place, using various magical abilities to solve puzzles and defeat enemies, finding special items and meeting new people.
Clearly, this was a game that was always waiting to happen. Every element of Harry Potter translates into Lego so well that the game becomes totally immersive.
The music, taken directly from the film scores, works brilliantly. John Williams' themes are meant to be played in concert style, which fits the looping requirements of gameplay very well. The overall feel of the game often tilts more towards being a Harry Potter game than a Lego game, which actually works rather well. At the same time, it's infused with the fun of Lego—that being, essentially, building and/or breaking things.
This game is massive. Not only are there plenty of story-based missions to go on, but also a huge overworld in the form of Hogwarts Castle, which has an almost mind-boggling amount of hidden collectibles and secrets. Even with a guide, it takes around a week of nonstop gaming to find everything. Of course, once it's all done, then that's it. It's done. The fun of the game really is the discovery and collecting; once you've completed it to 100%, there's really not much reason to go back.
That being said, though, the perfect synergy between the "magic" of Harry Potter and the fun of Lego makes the overall experience a great one, even if there's a limit to how long it can last.
8/10
