Lego Harry Potter Year 1-4 PS3 Demo Thoughts

“Years 1-4” is the title of the currently released “Lego Harry Potter” PS3 game, which refers to the time Harry spent in Hogwarts. It may as well indicate the ages of kids, for whom this game was created. It looks like it was made for toddlers.

The reality of “Harry Potter” film series is truthfully represented by variety of characters, made of plastic Lego bricks. Not too concerned with their appearances, you will still ponder: Why do they communicate to each other using unclear sounds, as though they were numb? It looks like the first couple years of a child’s life, when facial expressions reveal one’s emotions and mean more than words.

Besides, if you are not a toddler, why would you waste so much time trying to complete one level? You are not given any map, you just have to find the way yourself and sometimes you are at a loss not knowing where to go. The most annoying level is the Forbidden Forest, where you can see the next scene but cannot get there because it is too hard for you to jump to, since it is separated from you by tree branches, and there is no way you can cross them. If you have plenty of time, like toddlers do, you can keep struggling to find a path to the next level; however, if you spared an hour or two for your gaming passion, you will be disappointed and even annoyed.

The good thing about the game is, however, its musical accompaniment is taken from the film, though it doesn’t help a lot when you are already irritated.

What confuses you the most is the variety of characters, whom you are supposed to switch to very quickly, as each of them possesses unique skills. Every time you need to do something, you have to decide which character is capable of completing the task successfully. It gets hard when you transform into a dog and there is a bee attacking you while you are attempting to find you way, so that you need to become Hagrid, who can shoot the bee before it kills you. When the bee is out, you become a dog again and, here you go, there is another bee trying to get you. And so it goes, until you destroy the bees’ nest. Even a toddler will end up crying, “Mommy, they keep destroying me.”

If you are a toddler, you are not the one who pays for your toys and games. And if you are not, then it is probably not a good idea to get this game.