The LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 video game holiday pack for Nintendo DS is the same as that released this past June, but comes with extra goodies, including an adorable LEGO Harry Potter figure, smirking and with wand at the ready, as well as a thicker-than-average Harry Potter stylised stylus, with which to aim spells at opponents to overcome, furniture to destroy, and most fun of all - fellow students to irritate.

The difference with the DS version of the LEGO game, as compared to the Wii or PS3, for example, is that it is set up in a more Zelda-like manner, where the camera angle for the entire game is from above while Harry and other characters go through rooms, rather than on their eye level. Extra perks in the DS game include mini-quests, beginning with the Dursleys at Privet Drive, before Harry finds out he's a wizard. That is a tremendous change from the other consoles, as the Dursleys aren't even in them. They are just as rude ad irritating as shown in the books, and work off perfectly. Plus, we get to see a map of Privet Drive from above, as well as other locations, such as the Burrow, and best of all, Hogwarts.

The DS version seems to be aimed towards a younger audience, what with the two-screen system, where the top shows the map in which Harry and his friends are trying to pursue their quests, even pointing out the destination for the player to see. It is a much easier game than that of the other consoles as a result of this handicap, but at the same time, allows the player to have a better idea of what Hogwarts looks like. In fact, the maps for Hogwarts very much look like the parchment of the Marauder's Map, so there's a extra nod of authenticity to the books.

There are a few obstacles, mostly because characters and spells haven't been unlocked yet, so you can't cast a spell on certain objects to move or hex them. Those you can touch are highlighted green, and those you can't are red. The red ones are frustrating to see for a player because you just have no idea which spell you need to get past that particular obstacle. Worst of all, especially if you may have a bit of a faulty DS (and might not even know it!), is that Harry has to speak Parseltongue in a few scenes in the Chamber of Secrets chapters. In order to do that, the player must 'hiss' into the Nintendo DS microphone, and if it doesn't work, for whatever reason, you're stuck. There's no button to press or trick to get around it; if your mic's not working, you're not getting past the Duelling Club.

Overall, the game is a lot of fun, especially for younger fans (around 12 years or younger). It's easy, as always, to fall into Harry's world, and get better looks at Hogwarts, Gringotts, Diagon Alley, and Harry's home.

The LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 video game holiday pack, out now, can be purchased at Amazon.com.

KP1

GinnyFan

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