Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 debuts for iOS
There's something about Harry, who makes a much-anticipated return to iOS in this port of the popular console game.
I'm a full-grown adult, and I must confess that some of my favorite Xbox games have "Lego" in the title.
Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones -- these games may be aimed at kids, but they're funny, clever, and thoroughly entertaining for all ages.
Alas, although they're available for nearly every platform known to man, only one has made its way to iOS: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4. It was great -- but it was also 18 months ago.
Finally, finally, there's more Lego goodness for iOS, even if it's just a sequel: Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7.
Needless to say, this is a port of the console game that debuted just a few months ago, which GameSpot awarded an 8.0 rating.
The iOS version brings much of the same adventuring, fighting, and spell-casting to your iPhone and iPad (and make no mistake -- it's a much better experience on the iPad's larger screen). There are 25 achievements to unlock and leaderboard bragging rights to be earned.
Alas, like its predecessor, the iOS version lacks any kind of cooperative play, an oversight I don't understand. How awesome would it be to play this on side-by-side iPads, without all the usual split-screen hassles? Half the fun of all the Lego games is playing with a friend.
A Warner Bros. PR rep declined to provide a review copy of the game, so I wasn't able to test it firsthand. The user reviews on iTunes are mostly positive, though many players found the app's onscreen D-pad control difficult to use. As I recall, Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 had the same issue, but the developers released an update that allowed for other, better control schemes. Why revert to the old, unpopular method here?
The rep also offered a "no comment" on questions regarding Android versions of the Lego Harry Potter titles or any future Lego games for either platform.
This vexes me. Instead of giving fans something to look forward to, of perhaps hinting at "exciting things to come," Warner Bros. takes the old "we're not discussing our plans at this time" approach. Barf.
That grievance aside, it's hard to argue with the economics: Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 for iOS costs $4.99. The PlayStation Vita version sells for $19.99, while the Xbox version runs around $40. Even a Muggle can figure out that if you're itching for some Potter-themed gaming, this is the deal to beat.