Wasn't expecting much so i guess i got what i bargained for.
The story in lego harry potter is shown through nonsensical cut-scenes which will have you lost if you are not familiar with the franchise. Like any good lego game, there is no dialogue; only motions and gestures which bring a comedic sense to the series. If you plan to play this game expecting good plot elements, think again.
I found the graphics in Lego Harry Potter to be not what you would call good. There are 100-something characters to collect and I found it pretty hard to tell any difference between any of them. The areas in this game are pretty bland and don't offer much variety. You will get stuck looking at the same room over and over again in certain missions and this gets repetitive quite quickly.
The gameplay in this game is clearly designed for children. It's more of a puzzle game than an action one but even so I was disappointed with the limited amount of spells I could cast. You are given only one attack spell (which is as simple as sliding the stylus from you to your target) and one stun spell (which has you draw a circle around yourself). They seem bad enough but it can even be more frustrating when the spells don't work. More than a few times I struggled with casting a spell at my foe only to be striking nearby objects which seemed to have no purpose for being hit. However, the enemy encounters are not often and there is little penalty for dying unless you think losing 1000 studs is considered a big punishment. Like I said, it's more of a kids' game. The missions in Lego Harry Potter don't offer much variety either. It's a simple formula every time: Walk around a little, find an object highlighted with a green border, cast the spell (which requires a little tracing with the stylus), and move on. It's the same with boss battles as it is with pure navigation. Short and simple. Once you complete the story missions you are given the free play option which allows you to bring other characters into the area to find and unlock some items and chests which couldn't be opened beforehand due to your characters limited spells or ability. It's seems like a nice feature that adds replay value, but chances are you won't be interested in doing it after you complete the main game.
Overall, it's like I expected. Lego Harry Potter years 1-4 on the Nintendo DS is a kids game. Sure, some parts can get frustrating and even a bit repetitive but it's short, its simple, and it's just something for the kids to have in their pocket for some quick entertainment. Dont play it if you are an adult like me. I would NOT recommend this game to anyone to buy at full price. Wait until you can get it used for twelve dollars or less. Better yet, wait a few more years for them to put all the years on one cartridge and sell it new for only 20 dollars.
I'm BJ. Thank you for reading my review. You just wasted your time.