The first LEGO® Harry Potter game was released in 2010 and covered the first four films and a sequel based on the final three years at Hogwarts followed in 2011. Fast forward to 2016 when both games were remastered and packaged in the LEGO Harry Potter Collection exclusively for PlayStation 4. The newly repackaged game was then released on the Nintendo Switch and Xbox in 2018. But it doesn’t end there, even though the 2016/18 remaster is playable on current consoles, it’s been remastered again for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. But is this re-remaster of an almost 15-year-old pair of games worth playing?
The short answer is not really. The game does have sharper visuals and better lighting. But despite these noted ‘improvements’ to the game, it doesn’t feel much different to the 2016 remaster. It certainly doesn’t play any differently from the original games, let alone the 2016 remaster. Another issue is the trophies/achievements, in the 2016 remaster, both games have their own list of unlockable trinkets and for PlayStation that meant two platinum trophies to earn. This new version features a singular list of trophies/achievements so you’ll only be able to unlock one platinum.
LEGO Harry Potter Collection Remastered 2016
LEGO Harry Potter Collection Remastered 2024
It’s also vastly overpriced, the 2016/18 remaster can be picked up for around £15 either physically or digitally. The new remaster is over £32.99/$39.99/€39.99. if you do own the original you can upgrade which splits the RRP in half for a limited time, even then it’s still not favourably priced. As it’s classed as a ‘new’ game, your original save won’t transfer over nor will trophy or achievement data.
Warner Bros. Games has plenty of other LEGO titles it could remaster, why they keep choosing Harry Potter is unclear beyond the fact it’s their IP. At least TT Games haven’t been hindered by having to knock out this remaster. Allowing them to focus on their next game, which is supposedly a new LEGO title based on a major IP, it’s fair to assume this will be something based on a Warner or DC property. I guess it’s a way to keep WB Games’ LEGO offerings alive before what TT Games is working on appears.
Still, it’s hard to recommend this remaster over the original one. That plays almost identically to this new version, it’s much cheaper and it has two platinum trophies to earn. The LEGO Games scene has vastly changed since the year this was first released that could even be said about the Skywalker Saga. TT Games may have forged the way for almost all LEGO titles since the first LEGO Star Wars game. But others have picked up the baton and sprinted ahead with it. This remaster is certainly not a great way to build excitement for TT Games’ future game.
Thanks to WB Games for supplying access to the game. Version tested PlayStation 5. Featuring Harry Potter products is not an endorsement of the author responsible for the Harry Potter series.
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