That’s why Defence Minister Richard Marles has appointed a predecessor, Stephen Smith, together with the massively respected former forces’ boss Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, to conduct a strategic review into force structure, preparedness and investments.
Harry Potter´s archives ↓
‘Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts’ to premiere on Prime Video in India
The much-awaited retrospective programme “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” will exclusively premiere on Prime Video on January 1 in India, the streamer announced on Tuesday.
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The event, an HBO Max original, will be available on Prime Video at 2.30 pm for the subscribers across the country.
The retrospective special aims to take fans of the Blockbuster franchise on a “magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time”, as it reunites lead stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson to celebrate the anniversary of the franchise’s first film, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”.
The 2001 fantasy film was directed by Chris Columbus and marked the beginning of the universally loved franchise, which culminated in 2011 with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2”, the eighth movie in the series.
The films, based on the eponymous novels by JK Rowling, chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Other cast members and filmmakers across all eight “Harry Potter” films will also be seen on the special.
Additional “Harry Potter” film alumni joining the memorable tribute include Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Ian Hart, Toby Jones, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, producer David Heyman and filmmakers Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell and David Yates, a note from the streamer read.
“Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” is produced by Warner Bros Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon at the iconic Warner Bros Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter.
The special is executive produced by Casey Patterson of Casey Patterson Entertainment and Pulse Films.
HBO Max, a WarnerMedia-owned streaming platform, is yet to be launched in India.
LEGO Harry Potter 76401 Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirius’s Rescue [Review]
Continuing our reviews of the summery 2022 Harry Potter sets which are now available, today we take a quick look at the second-smallest set in the wave: 76401 Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirius’s Rescue. This set is in many ways a modern version of 4753 Sirius Black’s Escape, featuring Harry, Sirius, Buckbeak, and more. Is it worth picking up? The set, featuring 3 minifigures and 345 pieces, is available now for US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £44.99.
This set is based on a license The LEGO Group has with the Warner Brothers films, not J.K. Rowling directly. The transphobic views expressed by Rowling do not reflect the values of The Brothers Brick or, indeed, those of The LEGO Group. The magical world Rowling created, in which many who felt a bit different could see themselves, meant a great deal to so many people, including those that Rowling now demeans. TBB affirms each individual LEGO fan’s choice to claim a piece of the world for themselves, or to reject it entirely.
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Contents and build
This is a relatively small set – the back of the box shows some highlights and reminds us that there are two of the Wizard Cards included. Inside the box are the instructions, a loose sticker sheet, three numbered bags, and a separate sealed bag for Buckbeak.
Bag one starts with building a corridor area. Greenery is worked in and the large archways are appealing, but there’s nothing very recognizable or distinctive about the area. It is built in two pieces so that the individual 8×8 sections can be attached anywhere in a modular Hogwarts arrangement. It would be tricky to use them anywhere other than the ground floor, though.
Next, we get an 8×8 section with a spiral staircase, and above that, a room with Harry’s Firebolt broom in it. This is a bit of an oddity, given that the LEGO Harry Potter sets usually follow the movies, not the books, and in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie, Harry doesn’t receive the Firebolt from Sirius until after the escape portrayed in this set! Even in the books, the broom has been returned to Harry before this scene. The choice to have the window panels facing inward also seems strange; even looking at the whole Hogwarts modular example in the instructions, no other sections appear to be this way. It could be an attempt at making them seem inset, but it doesn’t come off.
The top level gives an impression of a turret and tower top from the outside, though again the reversal of the outer panels representing crenelations seems an odd choice. On the inside, there’s a cell just big enough for a minifigure representing where Sirius was held in the movie version, in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower (in the books, he’s locked in Flitwick’s office). The sticker above the cell does resemble movie stills of the location, but the effect still seems … jumbled.
And that’s that. We’re left feeling like the anonymous corridor pieces might come out best; most of the tower segment has pieces that seem obviously “backward” when viewed from outside in ways that are distracting and that hinder modular re-use.
The Minifigures and Buckbeak
The included versions of Harry and Hermione feature common outfits for both, but with additional printing showing tears and mud from their rough night leading to Sirius’ capture. However their heads have appeared before, and the same muddy printing appears both in the Hospital Wing from earlier this year and The Shrieking Shack Whomping Willow in this wave. Sirius has unique printing, but it’s very similar to the ones that appear in Expecto Patronum and again in the new Shrieking Shack. It does have leg printing, though, a significant upgrade over the version in the new Shack.
This mold of Buckbeak has appeared once before in the revived Harry Potter line, in 75947 Hagrid’s Hut: Buckbeak’s Rescue. That one was light blueish gray, vs. the white here. Going by the movie footage, the hippogriff should be somewhere in the middle – some shots make it look like the body is closer to white with a grayer head. Almost 20 years ago in 2004, two sets had an earlier version of the hippogriff, all gray with no printing but which did have some nice feather texture molding. Not having that molding is a loss, but the printing here is a huge advancement. This white version vs. the light blueish gray is going to be your personal preference, I think, and it’s not essential to have both.
Finished Build and Recommendation
This would be a great $25-$30 set – a few essential characters, one big unique animal, and some scenery to play with them in.
However, it isn’t a $30 set — it’s $50. For less than 350 pieces, 3 figures of which only one has new printing, and Buckbeak, that seems very pricy. Furthermore, the scenery here is largely forgettable – apparently, the corridor area appears in some of the video games, but it’s all very generic. We can’t help but feel like this one is just missing too much to recommend it. For your money, 76398 Hogwarts Hospital Wing has the same muddy printing for Harry and Hermione, a unique character in Madame Pomfrey, a key recognizable location, and more pieces. Pick this one up only if you missed Buckbeak in Hagrid’s hut, you must have every modular piece of Hogwarts, or you find a steep discount.
76401 Hogwarts Courtyard: Sirius’s Rescue contains 345 pieces and 3 minifigures. It is available now from the LEGO Shop and worldwide for US $49.99 | CAN $64.99 | UK £44.99 or from Amazon. It may also be available from third-party sellers on eBay.
The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Check out the gallery for even more images:
Fantastic Beasts: The secrets of Dumbledore review – Not as magical as Harry Potter
The evil wizard (Mads Mikkelsen, replacing the cancelled Johnny Depp) remains crushingly familiar (he’s Voldemort with a nose) but the Danish actor delivers a less showy and more creepy villain.
Now we’re in the 1930s and Grindelwald is hoping to hijack an election and become the first anti-Muggle leader of the magical world.
When Dumbledore and Grindelwald were young lovers, they made a blood pact never to fight each other, and sealed it in a magical amulet.
But while the Hogwarts’ headmaster can’t stop him with magic, he can scheme from the sidelines.
So a crack team is assembled made up of Newt, Newt’s brother Theseus (Callum Turner), witch Eulalie Hicks (Jessica Williams) and Muggle baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler).
Highlights include a subterranean prison break and a spectacular wand fight in the streets of Berlin.
It’s more entertaining than the first two films but there’s still a Hogwarts-sized hole in this series. I suspect it was the childish wonder of its young heroes that made the original Potter movies so magical.
Fantastic Beasts: The secrets of Dumbledore… in cinemas now
25 years of Harry Potter: Nostalgia hits internet on silver jubilee of JK Rowling’s book
India Keeps Renewables Target Flexible
India dropped its target of establishing 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, giving itself the flexibility of 50% power from non-fossil fuel sources by then in its commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This keeps India’s options open for new coal-based power plants in the projected 820 GW total capacity, if excess demand cannot be met from green fuels, sources told ET.
The first ‘Harry Potter’ book was published 25 years ago in the U.K.
A MARTINEZ, HOST:
Twenty-five years ago, the first “Harry Potter” book was published in the U.K. The “Potter” series has been hugely influential, especially for young writers, though some are conflicted about its author, J.K. Rowling. We’re going to hear now from three of those authors on what “Harry Potter” has meant to them. We start with Laura Lam, author of “Pantomime” and “Shadowplay.”
LAURA LAM: I always loved that Hermione was wicked smart and wasn’t really ashamed of it.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “Harry Potter AND THE SORCERER’S STONE”)
EMMA WATSON: (As Hermione Granger) Of course. Here it is. Nicholas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer’s Stone.
DANIEL RADCLIFFE: (As Harry Potter) The what?
RUPERT GRINT: (As Ron Weasley) The what?
WATSON: (As Hermione) Honestly, don’t you two read?
LAM: Especially as kids, we read to escape, and we read to kind of believe that, like, you can be more than you’ve been told you can be. I’d love for some other reader to really enjoy disappearing into my world as much as I used to into the “Harry Potter” world when I was a kid. But the thing is – is, overall, the books are a little bit complicated for me now. I have kind of complicated emotions about J.K. Rowling’s, you know, comments on trans people.
(SOUNDBITE OF JOHN WILLIAMS’ “HEDWIG’S THEME”)
AMY E REICHERT: Wow. First of all, I cannot believe it’s been 25 years. That is shocking to me (laughter).
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “Harry Potter AND THE SORCERER’S STONE”)
RADCLIFFE: (As Harry) Make a wish, Harry.
REICHERT: My name is Amy E. Reichert, and I’m an author. I have always loved fantasy and science fiction. I’ve loved the idea of – there is this parallel, fantastical world running next to ours that only special people get to see and be a part of. So I always really just love that first time Harry gets to go to Diagon Alley and see the magical world in its fullness. That’s one of my favorite scenes in the movies, too.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “Harry Potter AND THE SORCERER’S STONE”)
ROBBIE COLTRANE: (As Hagrid) Welcome, Harry, to Diagon Alley.
REICHERT: Inevitably, I’m a very nerdy person, so through all of my books, even though I write these fun romantic comedies, there is, like, this undercurrent of nerd. There’s “Harry Potter” references. There’s references to other franchises. So my characters are just as aware and love these things just as much as I do.
(SOUNDBITE OF JOHN WILLIAMS’ “HEDWIG’S THEME”)
SCOTT REINTGEN: I discovered “Harry Potter” alongside my brother. We shared a room, and my mom at night would read the books to him, and I would just kind of listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Reading) Yes, their son, Harry. Mr. Dursley stopped dead. Fear flooded him. He looked back…
REINTGEN: I think the thing that sticks out to me is, like, how you create your own family as you go forward into the world. And it’s something that I write a lot of. It’s something that I focus on a lot in my own life.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “Harry Potter AND THE SORCERER’S STONE”)
MAGGIE SMITH: (As Professor McGonagall) Welcome to Hogwarts. Before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now, while you’re here, your house will be like your family.
REINTGEN: You know, those books meant a lot to me as a reader, but I can also look at the person who created them and say, I vehemently disagree with what they say and what they’ve been saying. And now I can also treat “Harry Potter” as what it was for me, which is an entryway to all the other work that I read.
(SOUNDBITE OF JOHN WILLIAMS’ “LEAVING HOGWARTS”)
MARTINEZ: That was Scott Reintgen, author of the “Nyxia” trilogy. These interviews were conducted by NPR’s Miranda Mazariegos.
(SOUNDBITE OF JOHN WILLIAMS’ “LEAVING HOGWARTS”)
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NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
Harry Potter Fans Agree: Wyoming Is Not A Hufflepuff State
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By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily
Fans of the “Harry Potter” series disagree on many things: whether Harry and Ginny should have ended up together (they should not have); which book is the best (the fourth); and which character’s death hurt the most (Hedwig).
But they could come together and agree on one thing Thursday: Wyoming is not representative of the Hufflepuff house.
In mid-July, just in time for Harry’s birthday, Dish Network affiliate USDish issued a map that “sorted” each state into one of the four Hogwarts Houses from the Harry Potter series, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.
More than half of the states fell into the Slytherin category, but Wyoming was sorted into Hufflepuff.
USDish “sorted” those states into houses by using Google Trends to see which of the four houses was the most frequently searched for in each state over the last five years. Additionally, the company polled 1,000 people who were sorted into a Hogwarts house through an online quiz.
For those of you who missed the Harry Potter mania that started in the mid-1990s and continues well into this decade, there are certain attributes that represent each of the houses. Bravery represents Gryffindor, empathy represents Hufflepuff, intelligence represents Ravenclaw and ambition represents Slytherin. First-year students are sorted into one of the four houses, which act as a sort of cohort for the rest of their time at the wizarding school.
But Harry Potter fans from Wyoming did not think Hufflepuff (or empathy) was the best representation of the Cowboy State.
“When the Legislature starts passing laws that show they give a crap about actual people, I’ll believe Wyoming is a kind, loveable Hufflepuff state. Until then…back to the Sorting Hat!” Cheyenne resident Kristine Galloway said. “Do you think they’re considering Hufflepuffs entirely by the adjectives ‘loyal’ and ‘hardworking’? Those two are ones I can’t argue with.”
“I do think people in Wyoming are hardworking. And God knows they are loyal to Trump,” she continued. “But everyone knows Hufflepuff is the house of sweethearts and cinnamon rolls. And Wyoming is not that.”
Jennifer Barella of Casper thought that Wyoming aligned more with Gryffindor.
“Wyomingites are brave like a Gryffindor but not friendly enough to be Hufflepuff,” Barella said. “You always hear Wyomingites talk about how they don’t want people from other states moving in, that’s not a very Hufflepuff thing to do. Someone probably read a headline that Casper is the most giving city per capita in the country and they decided that constitutes Hufflepuff.”
Aaron Goldberg of Cheyenne said there were not enough Slytherins in Wyoming, in his opinion.
However, it should be noted that it was rare for states to receive the Hufflepuff recognition, as Wyoming was only one of five states to be “sorted” into the house. Gryffindor was the most rare, with only three states (Utah, Michigan and Connecticut) receiving the distinction.
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Harry Potter Reunion Trailer Makes Fans Miss ‘Snape’, ‘Narcissa’, Some Rue Rowling’s Absence
Harry Potter, be it the books and films have always been an integral part of the Potterverse fans and when Emma Watson in the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts trailer says, “When things get really dark and times are hard, there’s something about Harry Potter that makes life richer,” the millions of ‘Potterheads’ across the world nod their heads. So it was an emotional rollercoaster that lasted 1:48 minutes when we were introduced to a faint idea of what the reunion is going to look like.
The trailer starts with a shot of the ‘Golden Trio’, main stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint sitting in what was the Gryffindor Common room and laughing. There is a perfect old friends catching up vibe to it, when you pick up from exactly where you left it all those years ago. The last installment of the Potter films ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 came out in 2011.
Filmed in the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London, the trailer then moves on to Radcliffe, Watson walking through different areas of the set, the Diagon Alley with its shops and lighted up counters to the ’93/4’ platform at King’s Cross station, the Great Hall set in Hogwarts until Watson while walking down sees former fellow castmate Tom Felton, who played Potter’s Slytherin nemesis Draco Malfoy.
We feel the emotions and the tears!
Radcliffe’s voiceover in the trailer is heard saying that the idea of the Potter films ending ‘scared him was the implication that the most meaningful thing in our life was done.’ But seeing as “everyone is joyous” because he realizes “it wasn’t though.”
Helena Bonham Carter who played the dark witch Bellatix Lestrange says what was a scene worth focusing on for her was when she “had to pretend to be Hermione pretending to be Belletrix” in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
Ralph Fiennes, who played Dark Lord Voldermort reminisced how his sister, who had young children had told him when he had informed of being asked to play the character that “You’ve got to do it!”
“It’s a strong bond that we’ll always have,” Grint says and he and Watson are shown to embrace.
The trailer also shows shots of cast members Gary Oldman, Bonnie Wright, James and Oliver Phelps and many others laughing and sharing a beautiful moment after all this time.
The reunion, however will not be featuring author JK Rowling after having courted controversy after some of her comments and stance were perceived to be anti-trans community.
Fans reacted on social media as many retweeted the trailer, some commented and many said they couldn’t wait to watch. Some also were affronted that the author was not part of the celebrations.
“There’s something about Harry Potter, that makes life richer.” YES EMMA, ALWAYS. ?? pic.twitter.com/xEfJCkmiVr
— Siddhi (@Sectumsempra187) December 20, 2021
Where is the creator of this world?
Not inviting @jk_rowling is like gathering for Christmas and not invite Jesus!— Dr. Shayan Mirbabaei (@shayan_pmb) December 20, 2021
Harry is still the third wheel. ?❤️ pic.twitter.com/zbWRIBUhDd
— Siddhi (@Sectumsempra187) December 20, 2021
The ones that love us, never really leave us. You will always find them… In here. SIRIUS BLACK, YOU WERE THE BEST GODFATHER EVER ?? pic.twitter.com/FbQhy1xU1W
— Siddhi (@Sectumsempra187) December 20, 2021
I’m crying, you’re crying, we all are crying
— Nikita (@YehFitoorMera_) December 20, 2021
And none of this would be possible without the genius of JK Rowling
— Elizabeth Montgomery (@ElizaMontyBurns) December 20, 2021
I’m crying?❤️but good tears! I shared all these movies with my kids and every year,with winter’s first BIG snow,we would pile all our blankets and pillows on the floor in the living room,in front of the fireplace and have a Harry Potterathon it WAS magical!They’re all grown now
— ArJones77 (@Jones77Ar) December 20, 2021
Haven’t forgotten about you Alan Rickman. Almost 6 years now. ? pic.twitter.com/EORyKkzz9T
— TheTaoOfOat (@TheTaoOfOat) December 20, 2021
Oh I can’t wait. Harry Potter really made my childhood amazing. Still love it so many years later. When I’m sad I just read or watch it again and disappear in this magical world.
— ᴴLizzy ◟̽◞̽ 1D Family ✨ (@Larry_The_Tease) December 20, 2021
wholesome ????? pic.twitter.com/jmgV4aIn1X
— S A T H Y A (@_sathyeah_) December 21, 2021
And the fact that these two cannot be there. I’m not fine ? https://t.co/Jy7jAPqL13 pic.twitter.com/MIJd32M4vq
— Lene ⍟⧗ (@miss_LulaMae) December 20, 2021
Thank you @jk_rowling for writing such a wonderful series, and encouraging a generation of young people to enjoy literature. If it weren’t for your genius, this whole franchise wouldn’t exist. Shame on @hbomax for not giving credit where credit is due #IStandWithJKRowling https://t.co/zBKyriagKk
— WeAreWomenJapan (@WeAreWomenJapan) December 21, 2021
bawling my eyes out ??? https://t.co/FSiwQbVfzV
— ???? (@aidahdarcy) December 20, 2021
The fist film in the Potter film franchise released back in 2001- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It has spawned 8 films altogether as well as several games, digital experiences, studio tours and much more.
Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here.
Harry Potter obsessed gran transforms attic into impressive Gryffindor common room
A self-confessed Harry Potter ‘addict’ has converted her loft into an impressive Hogwarts-themed common room.
53-year-old Janice Burnett became obsessed with JK Rowling’s wizarding world 11 years ago when she watched one of the Blockbuster films with a friend.
Since then, the gran has amassed a huge collection of 4,000 items devoted to Gryffindor – the Hogwarts house that Harry, Ron and Hermione belong to – which Janice believes most closely fits her character.
The mum-of-two has now converted the entire attic of her bungalow into a shrine for her beloved items, which mirrors the Gryffindor common room.
READ MORE: ‘ It’s just crazy’ – The people struggling to keep up with soaring rents in Manchester city centre
Janice, who helps run Harry Potter fan pages online, said she became addicted to buying Harry Potter memorabilia.
“When you’re a collector, you do get addicted to things. At the start, as soon as I saw something with Harry Potter on it, I had to buy it,” she said.
“But you have to be careful in the end because you’re overcome with a kind of rubbish collection.
“So I’ve had to cut down on all the stuff I don’t need, but I do want to collect the expensive things.”
(Image: Lee McLean/SWNS)
The gran from Warrington said she was originally drawn to Harry Potter after binge-watching the films with a friend.
“My interest started when I visited a friend. She had Harry Potter on the TV, and I thought: ‘I quite like this film,” she said.
“I then went back round and for eight weeks, each Saturday, we used to get some popcorn and we used to watch Harry Potter.
“I was just enthralled with this film, and then I just started collecting from there.”
(Image: Lee McLean/SWNS)
Janice, who is a full-time carer, began collecting her first Harry Potter-themed items back in 2011.
She said: “In the beginning when I first got into it, in 2011, you couldn’t really buy things in shops.
“Now, it’s kind of everywhere. The franchise has really expanded. It doesn’t matter which shop you go into now, you’ll find Harry Potter stuff.
“I always felt that I was Gryffindor, and then I got sorted into it on Pottermore – the Harry Potter fan club.
“I don’t have anything else to do with Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. It’s just Red and Gold – that’s it!”
(Image: Lee McLean/SWNS)
Janice is most proud of her miniature displays, which depict scenes from the films in detail.
She said: I’ve got the Great Hall and The Gryffindor Common Room, which has been made by a company called Valentines Miniatures.
“They are going up in value at the moment, so I’m very proud of them.”
In her attic, Janice also has a purpose-built fireplace, similar to the one found in the Gryffindor common room.
She said: “We built a fireplace in the attic. It lights, and it does actually look very cosy when you’re sat up there – it looks like a proper room.
“The little bedroom is kind of a replica of the Gryffindor boys’ dormitories.
“The furniture that I have got in there, I’m lead to believe, is a one-off piece, which was all on display in Harrods. “
I found the perfect game to pass the time until Hogwarts Legacy finally launches
Welcome! This column is part of a regular series in which we share what members of the Tom’s Guide staff are playing and enjoying right now, with an eye towards helping you find great games that you may have missed. Be sure to check out our recent entry, where we talk about Spellforce 3.
As the self-declared biggest Harry Potter fan in the Tom’s Guide office — a title that comes with far more uncomfortable baggage than I’d like — I’m finding the wait for Hogwarts Legacy to be almost unbearable. I talk about my excitement for the upcoming Harry Potter RPG so often that at least one of my colleagues is ready to throttle me if I mention the game again.
My hype continues to bubble, but there’s only so many times I can rewatch the recently-released gameplay trailer (I must be hitting double-figures by now). So, in order to pass the time until the game’s release date, tentatively scheduled for holiday 2022, I decided I need to find a distraction in the form of another Harry Potter game that I could play right now.
Read next: Warlord: Britannia is the (almost) perfect blend of strategy and first person gaming.
Curiously, for a franchise as popular as Harry Potter, the Wizarding World remains largely unexplored in the medium of video games. In fact, over the last decade, there have been exactly three Harry Potter games released on console.
One of these was a shovelware Xbox Kinect title, one was a shovelware title for Sony’s PlayStation Move peripherals, and the other was LEGO Harry Potter Collection — a repacking of two games originally released in 2010 and 2011 respectively. My options were pretty slim.
Seeing as I had no desire to explore the Wizarding World using either the Xbox Kinect sensor or a PlayStation Move controller, my decision was an easy one. LEGO Harry Potter Collection it was, and so last week I purchased a copy for the Nintendo Switch. And much to my delight it’s filling the void quite nicely.
LEGO Harry Potter is charming and funny
LEGO Harry Potter Collection bundles together 2010’s LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 and 2011’s LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7, allowing players to adventure through Harry’s entire school career in a single package.
Considering that both games are more than a decade old at this point, it’s quite remarkable how well they’ve held up. Perhaps that’s more a testament to how timeless the LEGO game formula is, but even visually the collection looks great on a standard Switch display. The plastic characters are ridiculously adorable, and even the more realistic backgrounds look pretty good if a little lacking in detail.
it’s a delight to explore the iconic Wizarding World even in a more simplistic plastic brick form.
I’m also pleasantly surprised by just how humorous the LEGO Harry Potter games are. Each movie in the Harry Potter series is retold without any voice acting, instead cutscenes tell the story by combining visual gags with pantomiming mini-figures. Seeing iconic moments from the Harry Potter movies play out in this form is always a hoot.
If you’ve somehow never played a LEGO game before, the formula is simple. Each book/movie is split into six levels, where you’re tasked with solving basic puzzles, engaging in even more basic combat and generally smashing everything in sight in order to collect lego studs which act as currency.
Outside of levels, you can explore iconic locations from the Harry Potter universe including Hogwarts castle, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Plus, there’s so much to collect it’s actually pretty overwhelming.
The best collectibles are of course the plethora of playable characters, of which there are over 200 to unlock. These range from the expected picks like Dumbledore to the slightly more obscure ones such as Doris Crockford — 10 points to Gryffindor if you know who that is.
As a LEGO game designed very much for younger players, LEGO Harry Potter isn’t challenging in the slightest. The only time my progress has been halted has been when I’ve encountered one of the game’s annoyingly frequent bugs. Nevertheless, it’s still extremely charming and, for a fan like me, it’s a delight to explore the iconic Wizarding World even in a more simplistic plastic brick form.
Surprisingly, I’m finding the LEGO Harry Potter Collection very much at home on the Nintendo Switch as well. Because of its kid-friendly design, it doesn’t manage to hold my attention for very long. However, the portable nature of the Switch means I’m usually only playing in sessions that last less than half an hour. This is helping to stave off any feelings of tedium as I slowly make my way through the game’s wealth of (pretty repetitive) content.
But I need Hogwarts Legacy soon
While I’m enjoying my time with LEGO Harry Potter, and at my current pace I probably won’t have completed the game until the winter months, the game is only serving to make me even more excited for Hogwarts Legacy.
The idea of exploring a more visually-impressive Hogwarts castle, with a rich cinematic story, proper side-quests to complete, more complex gameplay and a deep upgrades system as well, has me positively bursting with anticipation. LEGO Harry Potter is a nice appetizer, but Hogwarts Legacy is the full meaty main course that I’m really craving.
Unfortunately, just when I’ll get to enjoy that entree remains a mystery. Developer Avalanche Software and publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are being frustratingly tight-lipped on when gamers can expect to actually have Hogwarts Legacy in their hands. But until that date, I’ll be chipping away at LEGO Harry Potter and enjoying my time in its plastic-brick recreation of the Wizarding World all the same.
LEGO Harry Potter is also helping pass the time until The Last of Us Part I hits the PS5. Sure, it’s a completely unnecessary remake but I’ll still be playing it on day one when it launches in September.