LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- January 5, 2012
- Traveller's Tales
- 86h median play time
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 may not be the best LEGO game around, but it's one that all fans of both the super-successful brand names will want to try out.
In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, players continue the magical journey of Harry Potter through the final three books and final four films. Explore new locations, faces, and spells as you relive iconic moments from the series. Rediscover the story in a light-hearted, humorous way with LEGO's signature puzzle-solving and adventure gameplay.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and humorous retelling of the final Harry Potter films, with engaging gameplay and charming graphics.
- Improvements in gameplay mechanics, such as new spells and a more open world, enhance the overall experience compared to the previous installment.
- Co-op mode is enjoyable, allowing players to work together to solve puzzles and defeat enemies, making it a great game for families and friends.
- The game suffers from significant performance issues, including frequent frame rate drops and bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- Control settings do not save between sessions, requiring players to reconfigure them each time the game is launched, which can be frustrating.
- Some levels feel repetitive and lack the depth and challenge found in other LEGO games, leading to a less engaging experience overall.
- story267 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7" closely follows the plot of the latter films and books, offering a mix of humor and darker themes that reflect the source material's tone. While many players appreciate the comedic twists and immersive experience, some find the storytelling inconsistent and feel that the game lacks the creative liberties that made the first installment enjoyable. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit sometimes tedious, journey through familiar narratives, appealing primarily to fans of the Harry Potter franchise.
“The story is good and the game is more serious than its prequel, which is expected since the books and the movies 5-7 have in fact darker tones, but they also found creative ways to make things lighter due to the LEGO part of the game.”
“If you like the LEGO game formula, and you have a desire to have the Harry Potter story retold brick by brick, then this is the game for you.”
“The games follow the storyline of the Harry Potter books and movies, with each level taking you on a new adventure through Hogwarts and beyond.”
“The developers seem to have done their best, but the tone and complexity of the later films doesn't translate well to the classic LEGO style of storytelling, making years 5-7 a bit of a bore to sit through story-wise.”
“Most of the levels feel like busywork instead of actual levels that advance the story.”
“Also, the storytelling just felt off, with both me and my wife (who have read all the books and films) feeling slightly confused about what is going on.”
- gameplay169 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title has seen significant upgrades from its predecessor, featuring improved graphics, new mechanics, and a more intricate story. While many players appreciate the fun and variety offered by the dueling and spell mechanics, some criticize the repetitive nature of certain gameplay elements and the presence of tedious animations. Overall, the game provides an enjoyable experience for fans, though it may not fully capture the charm of the earlier installments.
“The gameplay is a fun, richly detailed experience that rewards curiosity and offers plenty of variety, making it well worth the effort for LEGO and Harry Potter fans alike.”
“A straight upgrade to its predecessor, years 5-7 delivers a more polished gameplay with a wide open world and well-designed levels.”
“The mechanics are a lot better and more interesting, featuring a dueling mechanic that could stand alone as its own game due to how much fun it is.”
“The game is filled with tedium, such as long unskippable animations (both player action and mid-level events), and a stupid dueling mechanic that results in a priori incantatem button mash for many boss fights, some of which are actually multi-round duels (and a duel is already a minimum of 4 rounds to begin with, now do that but 3 times).”
“The gameplay is an absolute chore.”
“They made lots of good quality of life changes from years 1-4 but they added so much bloat mechanics that are there just to be there that it’s genuinely not as fun as 1-4 was.”
- graphics148 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game have received significant praise for their beauty and improvement over previous installments, with many players noting that they hold up well even after a decade. However, some users have reported performance issues, including frame rate drops and glitches, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the visuals are considered top-notch for a LEGO game, technical performance can vary, leading to mixed experiences.
“The game is outright gorgeous, and while 1-4 has perfectly fine graphics, this is definitely an improvement.”
“Even though this game is 10 years old, the graphics are amazing and work well on lower-end models with decent graphics as well!”
“This game by far has the best graphics for a LEGO game I've seen.”
“One advantage it does have over years 1-4 is a bit of a graphical upgrade, but the cost of this seems to be frequent frame rate issues, which for a game over a decade old is highly disappointing.”
“The cover picture is extremely misleading as the actual graphics of the game personally did not look like Lego.”
“Like the first game, this game is also very broken with graphic glitches galore and appalling AI.”
- humor95 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the typical Lego charm and funny cutscenes that bring a lighthearted touch to the Harry Potter story. However, some reviewers noted a significant drop in humor compared to previous installments, attributing this to the darker themes of the later books and films, which made it challenging to incorporate the usual comedic elements. Overall, while there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, the tonal shifts and serious subject matter sometimes lead to a disconnect in the humor.
“The game is filled with plenty of opportunities for teamwork and we found ourselves laughing and high-fiving each other throughout our playthrough.”
“You will find yourself laughing out loud at the antics of the LEGO characters and their silly expressions.”
“It's hilarious and great fun to play in a casual fashion - although I will say you do definitely need to know the Harry Potter story anyway, as the cinematics contain only grunts and nudges in the traditional LEGO game style.”
“The relationship between Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione feels so artificial and forced that it's not funny.”
- optimization58 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 55 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including significant frame rate drops and lag, particularly on modern hardware. While some improvements were noted compared to the previous installment, overall, the optimization is considered poor, making gameplay frustrating and unplayable for many. Despite its potential, the game's performance problems overshadow its positive aspects, leading to a disappointing experience for players.
“Pretty solid optimization and no crashing (the one exception being Diagon Alley caused some noticeable lag).”
“I did have a strange performance issue that prevented me from enjoying the game until I updated my graphics drivers, but other than that and a few additional very minor complaints, I absolutely adore this game.”
“Fun, but poorly optimized.”
“However, there is something you need to know: this game suffers from horrible performance issues, especially on modern hardware. There could be a few bugs as well.”
“The game is as badly optimized as Ark: Survival Evolved. It lags terribly; I have a GTX 1070 OC and a Ryzen 5 3600 OC with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and I only get 27 FPS on minimum settings. This game came out in 2012, and I get better frame rates on Borderlands 3 on maximum settings.”
“Terrible performance—hands down the worst of any LEGO game to date.”
- stability54 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability has improved compared to its predecessor, with many users noting it is "way less buggy" than the earlier titles. However, players still report encountering various glitches, softlocks, and frame rate drops, particularly on PC, indicating that while the game is more enjoyable, it remains prone to technical issues. Some users experienced significant bugs that hindered gameplay, especially in specific levels, suggesting that further optimization is needed.
“Very good, no lag problems. I am on a laptop and it runs great on the best graphics.”
“It's a little weird too, because the first one (released in 2008) runs great on new high-end graphics cards.”
“It's still a good game, but I encountered many glitches that resulted in softlocks.”
“The game is buggy when trying to complete it normally, so you're softlocked once you reach the bell bike level. I tried turning my graphics settings down for 30 minutes and still softlocked, as it doesn't register when you press the button to ring the bell even on the lowest settings.”
“However, it suffers from even worse technical glitches than its predecessor.”
- grinding36 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious, especially when aiming for 100% completion. While some enjoyed the overall experience, they noted that the repetitive duels, character selection, and level replaying can feel like a chore, particularly towards the end. Overall, the game is described as grind-heavy, with some players suggesting it detracts from the enjoyment of the otherwise fun LEGO gameplay.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A majority of the 200 characters are cosmetic, tedious to select, tedious to buy, and sometimes even tedious to unlock.”
“It unfortunately is a lot more grinding and drags out towards the end to prevent players from accessing certain abilities.”
“Compared to the last game, this one is so much more tedious; 100% is such a struggle it feels more like a chore than any other LEGO game.”
- music35 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and connection to the Harry Potter films, enhancing the overall experience. While the soundtrack features beloved tracks from the movies, some players noted that the limited selection can become repetitive over time. Overall, the sound design complements the game's mood effectively, making it a satisfying aspect for many players.
“There are few new spells, graphics are improved and the soundtrack still kicks ass and makes you experience all spectrum of emotions.”
“What I enjoyed the most about the game is that the films’ soundtracks are placed at the same scenes as they were in the films, which allows for a deeper connection to the events happening.”
“As always, the sound design and musical accompaniment feel perfectly suited to the mood of the game and really make finding those collectibles satisfying.”
“The very limited soundtrack doesn't take long to bug you with its looping, and music is recycled throughout the game.”
“The very limited soundtrack doesn't take long to bug you with its looping, and music is recycled throughout the game.”
“Order of the Phoenix is a sunny, safe environment with racy, peaceful, and happy music.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers high replayability due to its collectible elements and engaging story, although some users express a desire for a two-player mode, which could enhance the experience. While it may not reach the replay value of other titles like Lego Star Wars, it still provides a satisfying and varied gameplay experience.
“There is a high replay value.”
“Despite the occasional slipup, the game successfully builds on the original story to offer a simple yet satisfying experience that has depth and replay value.”
“This gives it a lot less replayability than, say, Lego Star Wars.”
“I wish the Lego games were playable in 2 player mode.”
“While the game's story moves along with effortless charm, it's the collectible element that adds both variety and replay value.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the LEGO Harry Potter games is generally praised for its coolness and charm, typical of LEGO titles. However, the transition to a darker tone in the later installments, particularly in "Harry Potter: Years 5-7," creates a challenge in balancing the serious themes of the source material with the playful essence of the LEGO universe, leading to mixed feelings among players.
“From book to book, from film to film, the atmosphere of the wizarding world is getting more serious and dangerous.”
“Second LEGO Harry Potter game sets players in a much darker atmosphere of the last books and movies.”
“And here lies the main problem of Harry Potter: Years 5-7 – of being hard to keep the balance of serious adult events and the childlike atmosphere of magic.”
“And here lies the main problem of Harry Potter: Years 5-7 – it is hard to keep the balance between serious adult events and the childlike atmosphere of magic.”
“Maybe I’m too much of a moralist, but I just cannot reconcile these themes with the atmosphere of the LEGO world.”
“The second LEGO Harry Potter game sets players in a much darker atmosphere compared to the last books and movies.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its thoughtful integration of elements from the source material, enhancing the depth and design of the characters. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail that enriches the narrative experience for fans of the original books.
“I love the character designs; as a book reader, I really appreciate the effort of providing us with small bits and pieces from the books.”
Critic Reviews
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 Review
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 may not be the best LEGO game around, but it's one that all fans of both the super-successful brand names will want to try out.
85%LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 Review
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is an adequate title that doesn't really take advantage of the PS Vita. Fans of Harry Potter will love to return to the magical universe, but everyone else will probably get bored.
55%Xbox 360 Review - 'LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7'
80%