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masterofmystery · #1 (**permalink**) 10-21-2011, 01:57 PM

Ten new images from the upcoming LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7 video game were released online along with a new interview with the producers of the game, who discussed how it differs from the first game, Years 1-4, as well as the new territories and locations explored in the second installment. The new images, including of Harry in the Department of Mysteries, with Dumbledore, of Umbridge, and Ron and Hermione, can be seen here.

Following LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4, what sort of things did you want to improve or expand upon?
Arthur Parsons (director of game): "The first game was a different direction for LEGO, because we wanted to create that experience of going to school, being a wizard at Hogwarts and it was very light-hearted and jovial, like the first films are really.

"So for Years 5-7, the big change is that dark times are coming, now it's not about learning magic and having fun with it - although it is - [but] it's about learning new magic that you're going to be able to take and fight the forces of Voldemort with.

"While it's still fun and exciting, and things that you don't expect to happen are always going to happen, it's always that element of danger... We just had a lot of fun with that, and bringing that into the universe we created with the first one. So we've refreshed all the mechanics, added a load of new spells and characters, and changed the mood and feel of everything as well."

LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 had the biggest hub world of all the LEGO games with Hogwarts. Does that setting return, and have you amended it?
"What we've done for this game is make it bigger. In the first game, you were in the walls of Hogwarts, and you could explore Hogwarts, go off the beaten track, you could go to your lessons and your story events, or you could go have a bit of fun.

"We kept that, because that was such a massive positive. And instead of just keeping it, we've expanded it. You can actually walk outside of Hogwarts, you can walk to Hogsmeade Station, you can get the Hogwarts Express, go to King's Cross, explore King's Cross, go out into London, wander around London.

"We've actually linked it all up, so now it's not just Hogwarts, the whole Harry Potter universe is there to wander round and explore. There's Hogsmeade and Hogshead, and you've got the whole forest hub area, because obviously Deathly Hallows Part One in its entirety is set outside Hogwarts, so we had to make sure we captured that.

"Now it's created an even bigger hub world, which still is ram-packed with interactions and fun and fiction points that hardcore fans are going to pick up on. It was really key for us that we took that and advanced it and took it forward."

Most of book seven is set outside of Hogwarts. Does that mean that it's quite linear as the characters are on the run?
"No. You'd think that, but what we've actually got within the forest area, during the course of that year that Harry, Ron and Hermione - or Ron when he's there - is [when] camping, the tent moves around to mimic like it does in the film.

"But if you go into the tent via the Marauder's Map, you actually go back to Hogwarts, but when you link into Hogwarts you're playing as Seamus, Neville and Ginny. So you can still get to Hogwarts and explore. It's not linear, because you can still go and explore everywhere, but it's just obviously you go around Hogwarts as anyone but Harry, Ron and Hermione."

Does that mean if you can return to Hogwarts early, there are new objectives there?
"Oh absolutely. There's always new stuff to do in Hogwarts, and because there are always new characters to unlock in free play, right up until the end of the game, there's always new stuff to access and explore and entertain people. Areas are never devoid of interactivity, there's always something more to do."