The LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 video game starts off just as the books and movies do: in Privet Drive. The sequence with baby Harry being dropped off at the Dursleys home is the first of many video segments to carry along the series’ story from first to fourth book. The first interactive play begins in The Leaky Cauldron, which is also the safe point throughout the game. Here, Harry and Hagrid try to find their way out of the inn, using Harry’s jumps and cartwheels, and Hagrid’s simple yet effective spells (via his pink umbrella). Players are able to play between Harry and Hagrd and learn their characters’ mannerism and rather amusing personality traits throughout.

From The Leaky Cauldron is the brick wall that opens into Diagon Alley. It is easy and fun to get lost and check out all the shops and nooks of the famous wizarding village. And very few things in the game are more amusing than Hagrid’s need to continuously hex Draco Malfoy whenever he’s in proximity. A potion needs to be brewed before the entrance into Gringotts, which Hagrid can easily take care of with a flick of his umbrella. Hagrid, though not the best jumper, is fantastic for pulling at and picking up large and heavy things. Throughout the game are golden Galleons, silver Sickles and bronze Knuts shaped like tiny circular LEGO pieces, which Harry and various other characters pick up for more points.

When Hagrid and Harry enter Gringotts, they walk across the marble floor and past high tables where goblins are counting money, measuring jewels and, in one case, drawing a childish picture. Griphook, with Harry’s key in hand, leads the group past a few LEGO-makeshift doorways, on a insanely-fast cart, and to the underground vaults. All three characters are playable, where Griphook needs to turn keys, Harry jumps to reach high-reaching coins, and Hagrid charms torches to light and objects to be destroyed and constructed. Eventually, Harry finds the mounds of gold left to him by his parents (he looks elated by the discovery), and Hagrid hides a tiny brown package under his beard.

Now that Harry has his money, he can pick his wand. This is another video segment, as Harry’s wand is already predetermined. He and Hagrid walk into Ollivander’s shop, and like the book and movie, the wand chose the wizard. From there, Harry heads straight to Hogwarts, and is sorted, like every other first year.

As the first years walk down the Great Hall, they are just as scared as shown in the first film. Ron is sorted first, frightened from head to toe, but naturally goes to Gryffindor. Draco, smirk etched across his face, is nothing but a pure Slytherin. When McGonagall puts the hat on Harry’s head, the Slytherin crest shakes ever so ominously, but with vehement shakes of his head, Harry is placed in Gryffindor to a round of applause.

From here, Harry, along with Ron and Hermione, begin their journey as first year students. They break apart the Gryffindor common room for gold pieces, follow Nearly Headless Nick, who guides them through the never-ending corridors and staircases. At one turn up the staircase, they open a door to find themselves face to face with a menacing three-headed dog. They flee for their lives.

Naturally, at a wizarding school, Harry, Ron, Hermione and their fellow students attend classes, the first of which is Charms. Wingardium Leviosa ie essential for the young wizards, as they need it to levitate objects as small as candles to huge, colourful blocks of LEGO to walk along their Hogwarts path. The trio destroys shady-looking bodies of armour, puts together various large objects, and tries to avoid hexing each other (though that would take the fun out of the game!).

This is just the very beginning. The game continues on through Harry’s first four years of Hogwarts. There are various options on how to play: one method would be to straight play the story of the game, going from chapter to chapter as though reading through the books; another option allows the player to explore the wizarding world, where defeating enemies and seeking dangerous adventures take a backseat. So much of Harry’s world is explored (including all four common rooms, in beautiful detail), that it may just take the entire summer to beat the game. Not because it’s difficult, but because there is just so much to do. And with over 100 characters to play as, who could resist?