Is there still anything of worth to mine out of the LEGO series of games? You take the bricks, you add a license, and away you go. Surely these titles have to feel like paint-by-numbers by now... right? After playing LEGO Harry Potter for an embarrassing number of hours, I'm happy to report that there is still much life to be found in the series.

The game follows Harry Potter's four years of school at Hogwarts, and replays the events of the books and movies in the expected humorous fashion. Familiar scenes and characters are given that special LEGO touch, and the graphics have been given a little kick in the pants. It's an attractive game, with many delightful moments and extra touches for fans of the world. Hogwarts castle is almost another character in the game, and you'll unlock different areas as you learn more spells and become more powerful. You're in a school, after all, and this Metroid-vania aspect of the game is very welcome.

Flying on the broomsticks, saving other students, exploring the nooks and crannies of the castle—there is a lot to do, and parents will have even more fun by giving their children the other controller and playing the game in co-op mode. Like past LEGO titles, there is only a slight penalty for failure, making the world safe and enjoyable to explore and poke around. The presentation won't hold the hand of people who don't already know the story, but if your children are already fans of the movies or books, they're going to get these jokes. This is something to play in addition to the book and film treatments of Harry's world, and is best enjoyed after those.

Plus, according to my press pack, a patch for online co-op play is expected to be released very soon. With 170 playable characters and damn near every setting from the books and movies included, being able to play with someone online will be a nice touch. At launch though, only local co-op is supported.

Still, there is almost an embarrassing amount to see and do in the game, and the progression of learning spells, interacting with the castle, collecting items for potions, or simply trying to find all the bricks you need in each level will keep you occupied for a very long time. You probably had a good idea whether or not you were going to buy this game before you began reading this review, but if you were on the fence, I can tell you that this is better than even fans will expect. This is a series of games that could have easily gone stale, but I found myself exploring Hogwarts with a large smile on my face. What more can you ask for?