For: PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, Wii, DS, PC
From: Warner Bros
4 stars (outs of 5)
It is possibly fair to say many people groan when they hear of the release of yet another Lego video game.
The market has been saturated in recent years: Lego Star Wars (two), Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones (two) and Lego Pirates of the Caribbean. Now the Harry Potter phenomenon is in on the act, with this, the second of two games about the brilliant, bespectacled boy wizard.
Because the basic gameplay has not changed - you bash and build, solve puzzles, collect Lego studs as currency and unlock hundreds of characters and boosts - the series has come in for some criticism.
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 covers the final three books (which made four films), and does its usual jolly job of following the storyline at the same time as being completely irreverent.
There is a handful of new abilities, areas requiring "Weasley Sticky Trainers" to explore, and Muggle equipment that can only be fixed by Arthur Weasley.
Otherwise, it is more of the same-old, same-old. And that is just fine by us.
• The Otago Daily Times has a copy of Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 on PlayStation 3 to give away.
To be in the draw, email your name and a daytime contact number to Hayden Meikle (hayden.meikle@odt.co.nz) by noon on Thursday. Five runners-up will receive a Lego Harry Potter key ring.
