LEGO Harry Potter Key Features
To get a better grasp and help me come up with puzzle mechanics I decided to research into the LEGO Harry Potter games:
Key Features Introduced:
Character Abilities
Many different types of characters who can each solve different types of puzzles.
Control Mechanics
Different mechanics used to control the character.
Enemies
Different enemy types attack in different ways. May need to use different spells to deal with each of them.
Gold Bricks
200 in total to collect, unlock a bonus level. 24 for finishing the level, 24 for getting True Wizard on each level, 24 for completing the Hogwarts Crest on each level, 50 for saving the Students in Peril, 34 littered around Hogwarts, 16 for completing each class, 12 available to buy, 10 for each level in Gringotts, 4 in the Leaky Cauldron and 1 each in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley.
House Crests
Collect a piece to make up the Hogwarts Crest. Each level has 4, one for each house.
Magic Spells
Different magic spells to solve different puzzles. Can be used as well as potions
Puzzles
Main gameplay of the games. Solve puzzles to progress to the next area.
Red Bricks
20 different types of upgrades/bonuses that can be unlocked.
Student In Peril
Save 50 students throughout the Years 1 -4, unlocking a gold brick each time.
True Wizard
Collect enough studs, and receive a Gold Brick at the end of the level.
Mechanic Types
Broomstick Riding – Can fly on a broomstick
Mandrake Handling – Wear earmuffs and place in a pot.
Buckbeak – Can ride Buckbeak
Time Turner – Able to turn back time using clocks in certain rooms
Werewolf – Turn into a werewolf
Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes Box – Retrieve items such as rockets to demolish objects
Jump
Double Jump
Fire – Fire a blast of magic from wand
Types of Spells & Potions Used
Ageing Potion – Gives character a beard to pass barriers
Aguamenti – Spray water
Ateoculatia – Turns character’s hair into antlers
Avada Kedavra – The Killing Curse
Colovaria – Removes character’s hair
Dark Magic – Lift up objects for evil characters
Diffindo – Cut out lego bricks to create new objects
Divination – Read tea leaves to tell the future
Entomorphis – Turns characters into bugs
Expecto Patronum – Defeat Dementors
Expelliarmus – Disarms enemy
Flipendo – Flips characters
Glacius – Freeze characters
Herbifors – Flowers grow where character’s hair should be
Immobilus – Freezes characters in a bubble. Kills Cornish Pixies
Locomotor Mortis – Ties up character’s legs
Lumos / Lumos Solem – Creates light, use against Devil’s Snare / Attack with light from distance
Parseltongue – Allows character to talk to snakes
Polyjuice Potion – Allows character to change to another that is available
Redactum Skullus – Shrinks character’s head
Reducto – Destroy silver objects
Rictumsempra – Tickles characters
Riddikulus – Changes a boggart into another form
Slugulus Eructo – Make character vomit slugs
Strengthening Potion – Temporarily increase strength to pull chains
Stupefy – Stuns characters
Tarantallegra – Makes characters dance
Transfiguration – Turn characters into animals
Trip Jinx – Makes characters fall over
Wingardium Leviosa – Lift up objects
Types of Puzzles
Unblock Path - Players must find a solution to an object blocking their path of progression to the next area.
Boss Battle – Players must work together to defeat a Boss, who’s lives increase as the games go on, increasing in difficulty.
Build Puzzle – Players must build a certain object to be able to progress. This could be finding the items to make a potion
Flying Mechanic – Players must use a broomstick to fly across a gap/retrieve an object.
Light Puzzle Pattern – Players must use a character who has the ability to solve a puzzle.
Create Path – Players must use objects to create a path.
Retrieve Object – Players must work to retrieve an object teased after a cut-scene.
Distract Enemy – Similar to Unblock Path, players must find a way to distract an enemy to progress.
Types of Character Abilities
Invisibility Cloak – Harry Potter
Control Animals – Hermione Granger (Crookshanks), Ron Weasley (Scabbers), Argus Filch (Mrs Norris), Neville Longbottom (Trevor)
Animagus – Professor McGonagall (Cat), Sirius Black (Dog), Peter Pettigrew (Rat), Rita Skeeter (Beetle)
Dark Magic – Professor Snape, Tom Riddle, Lord Voldemort
Werewolf – Professor Lupin
Digging – Professor Sprout
Avada Kedavra – Lord Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, Barty Crouch Jr, Death Eater
Crucio – Lord Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, Barty Crouch Jr, Death Eater
Strength – Rubeus Hagrid
Crossbow – Rubeus Hagrid
Types of Red Brick Bonuses
Character Studs
Character Token Detector
Christmas
Collect Ghost Studs
Extra Hearts
Fall Rescue
Fast Dig
Fast Magic
Gold Brick Detector
Hogwarts Crest Detector
Invincibility
Red Brick Detector
Regenerate Hearts
Score x10
Score x2
Score x4
Score x6
Score x8
Singing Mandrake
Bibliography
Brickipedia. (n.d.). LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4. [online] Available at: http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/LEGO_Harry_Potter:_Years_1-4 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2017].
FearedAngel (2012). LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 - Walkthrough - Episode 1 - The Journey Begins!. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iClJ22xYR_g&list=PLMGuirk6GNVOyuDC5vGMmm20ulhwOctRO&index=1 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2017].
Kratos15354 (2011). LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 FAQ/Walkthrough for Wii by Kratos15354 - GameFAQs. [online] Gamefaqs.com. Available at: https://www.gamefaqs.com/wii/960493-lego-harry-potter-years-1-4/faqs/60509 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2017].
Harry Potter Wiki. (2009). LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4. [online] Available at: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/LEGO_Harry_Potter:_Years_1-4 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2017].
Harry Potter Wiki. (n.d.). LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7. [online] Available at: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/LEGO_Harry_Potter:_Years_5-7 [Accessed 18 Nov. 2017].
Image used from: https://metalandthegeek.com/2016/09/08/lego-harry-potter-games-remastered/
