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Developer(s): Traveller's Tales
Publisher(s): Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Distributor(s): Time Warner
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
Release date(s): NA June 29, 2010
EU June 25, 2010
AUS June 30, 2010
PlayStation Portable
NA June 29, 2010
EU August 05, 2010
AUS June 30, 2010
Genre(s): Action-adventure
Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s): ESRB: E10+
OFLC: G-PG
PEGI: 7+
Media: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Wii Optical Disc, Nintendo DS Game Card, UMD
Input methods: Keyboard, Gamepad, Wii Remote


Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 is a video game in the Lego video game franchise, developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Released in June 2010, the game is based on the Lego Harry Potter line and its storyline covers the first four books and films of the Harry Potter series: Philosopher's Stone (Sorcerer's Stone in the U.S.); Chamber of Secrets; Prisoner of Azkaban; and Goblet of Fire.

Gameplay
Lego Harry Potter's gameplay is similar to that of most previous Lego games, with an emphasis on collecting and exploring. Casting spells is an integral part of the gameplay, with a wide range of spells available for unlocking as the player progresses. As there are many spells available in the game, you use the spell wheel to select your spell. Potion-making is another integral feature; potions can help the player complete levels or, if created incorrectly, have adverse side effects such as turning the player into a frog.

Changes to the mechanics of previous games include 'Student in Peril' missions, which are a group of challenges to help a student, and Polyjuice Potion, which allows players to temporarily change one of your characters into any other mini-figure unlocked. A major change is to the hub system. The Leaky Cauldron works as a central hub for purchasing unlockable extras and returning to previous levels, while Hogwarts acts as a constantly evolving massive hub with the unlockable characters found by picking up their hidden portraits.

The bigger areas in Hogwarts have led developer Traveller's Tales to improve the overall level design. Also included is another bonus level that allows players to customise the level similar to Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues. If you are lost in-game you can follow a trail of Ghost Studs to the next level. These do not count towards your stud total, but will guide you to the next section of the level. However one of the collectable 'red bricks', found in the courtyard next to herbology, gets the player an 'extra' that makes the ghost studs worth 1,000 each.

Multiplayer Mode
The game employs the two player split-screen technique intro. for Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues, but there is no online support for all consoles.

Changes for the Nintendo DS version
In the Nintendo DS version, several changes were implemented from the versions of the other formats. These include that there is only one hub, the Room of Requirement, but the explorable Hogwarts of the other versions has been removed and both boss battles and spellcasting have been simplified.

PC version
Despite listing the mouse as a recommended/required input method, there is no mouse support in the PC version.

System Requirements for Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4:
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP/ Windows Vista/ Windows 7
Processor : Intel Pentium IV at 1.8 GHz / AMD Athlon XP 2200+
Video Card : 128 MB VRAM – NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 / ATI Radeon HD 1300 Pro
Memory : 256 MB RAM (XP) / 512 MB RAM (Vista / Win 7)
Hard Disk : 4.5 GB of free Hard Drive space
Sound : DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
Direct X : 9.0c
Controls : Keyboard & Mouse
Installation : DVD-ROM Drive