Game Guide: LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7 [Punksroach]

Game Guide: LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7 [Punksroach]

1. Introduction
Overview: LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 5-7 covers the final four books of the Harry Potter series—Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and both parts of Deathly Hallows. The game combines LEGO's classic humor with the magic of the wizarding world, providing an accessible and fun experience for all ages.
Gameplay Style: A mix of puzzle-solving, exploration, and light combat with plenty of collectibles. Each level contains hidden secrets, and replaying with unlocked characters is key to 100% completion.
What Makes it Unique: The blend of LEGO’s playful humor with Harry Potter’s darker final years makes for a unique experience. The game features spell casting, potion-making, and the use of various characters with unique abilities.

2. Before You Play: Must-Know Tips
Play with Friends: The game supports local co-op. It’s designed for drop-in/drop-out multiplayer, which makes solving puzzles easier and more fun.
Explore Everything: Exploration is key. There are tons of hidden secrets in Hogwarts and other locations, so don’t rush through the levels—look for breakable objects, secret paths, and hidden characters.
Unlock Free Play Mode: Each story level can be replayed in Free Play mode once you finish it. This mode allows you to use any character you’ve unlocked, which is crucial for accessing areas that require specific abilities.
Collect Studs: Studs (the game’s currency) are everywhere—destroy objects, interact with the environment, and complete tasks to collect them. They’re essential for purchasing characters and items.
Focus on Story Mode First: Complete the story mode to unlock all levels, spells, and basic characters. This will make Free Play mode much easier and more enjoyable.

3. Beginner Tips & Tricks
1. Use Wingardium Leviosa Frequently: The levitation spell is useful for solving puzzles and moving objects. Almost every level has something you can lift or manipulate with this spell.
2. Switch Characters Often: Each character has unique abilities. Use Hermione for her knowledge of magical creatures, Ron for digging with Scabbers, and other characters for their unique traits.
3. Focus on Gold Bricks: Collecting Gold Bricks is essential for unlocking secret areas. You earn them by completing levels, solving puzzles, and finding collectibles.
4. Destroy Everything: Almost every destructible object in the game has a purpose—whether it's releasing studs or revealing a hidden path. Break everything in sight to uncover secrets.
5. Memorize Spells: Over time, you’ll unlock several spells. Knowing when to use them is key—whether it’s Lumos to remove Devil’s Snare or Aguamenti to put out fires.

4. Advanced Tips & Tricks
1. Character Abilities Are Key: Some characters have unique abilities like invisibility, strength, or access to specific locations. Remember these traits when replaying levels in Free Play mode to reach previously inaccessible areas.
2. Red Bricks for Boosts: Find Red Bricks to unlock helpful features like Stud Multipliers or Fast Build. These significantly speed up progression and help collect studs faster.
3. Take Your Time in Hogwarts: Hogwarts itself is a huge hub with numerous secrets, mini-games, and side missions. Explore each floor and room thoroughly—you’ll find plenty of hidden characters, collectibles, and challenges.
4. Prioritize Purchasing Stud Multipliers: These make it much easier to afford characters and extras later in the game. They pay off in the long run, especially for completionists.
5. Pay Attention to the Student in Peril: Each level has a hidden "Student in Peril." Rescue them for extra rewards and to work toward 100% completion.

5. Character Abilities & Unlockables
Character Types:
Wizards/Witches: These characters have the ability to use spells like Wingardium Leviosa, Lumos, and more. Some, like Harry, have additional abilities like using Parseltongue.
Strong Characters: Certain characters like Hagrid can pull heavy levers or move large objects.
Dark Wizards: Some puzzles require Dark Magic, which is accessible only to characters like Bellatrix Lestrange.
Animal Abilities: Ron’s pet, Scabbers, can crawl into small spaces to solve puzzles. Keep this in mind when you need to access tight spots.
Unlockable Characters: Some characters are hidden throughout the levels and can only be unlocked by finding their character token. Use Free Play mode with various abilities to locate them.

6. Exploration & Puzzle-Solving
Exploration Tips:
Look for interactable objects—they’ll often glow or move slightly.
Many secrets are behind obstacles that require special spells. Experiment with spells when you find suspicious objects or walls.
Utilize the Marauder's Map in the Hogwarts hub to navigate and locate hidden secrets.
Puzzle-Solving Tips:
Use the right spell for the job—Lumos for vines, Aguamenti for fire, Reducto for silver objects, etc.
If you’re stuck, look around—puzzle solutions are often nearby or related to objects in the same area.
Make use of character-specific abilities to bypass obstacles. For instance, use Hermione's bag to access special items.
7. Story & Free Play Mode

Story Mode: Follow the story from Order of the Phoenix to Deathly Hallows, completing missions and progressing the narrative. This mode introduces you to basic mechanics and spells.
Free Play Mode: After finishing levels, you can replay them in Free Play with any unlocked characters. This mode is essential for completing all objectives, finding collectibles, and accessing hidden areas.
Side Quests: Some NPCs in Hogwarts give you optional tasks. Completing them rewards you with studs, Gold Bricks, or other bonuses. Look out for characters with exclamation marks over their heads.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do I unlock new spells?
A: You unlock new spells as you progress through the story mode. Practice them in specific locations like Hogwarts classrooms to learn their mechanics.
Q: What are the best characters for Free Play mode?
A: Choose characters with diverse abilities, like Harry (Parseltongue), Hermione (knowledge & spells), Bellatrix (Dark Magic), and Hagrid (strength). Having a variety helps you access most areas.
Q: How do I get more Gold Bricks?
A: Complete levels, find hidden secrets, and rescue Students in Peril. Many are also scattered around the Hogwarts hub.

9. Secrets & Collectibles
Character Tokens: Each level has several character tokens hidden. Collecting them unlocks new characters for purchase in Diagon Alley.
Gold Bricks: There are 200 Gold Bricks in total. Collect them all to unlock bonus levels and other secrets.
Red Bricks: These are hidden throughout the game and grant unique bonuses. Use the Detector spell if you're struggling to find them.
Crest Pieces: Each level has four House Crest pieces to collect. These are required for 100% completion.

10. Final Thoughts & Summary
Strengths: Fun puzzle-solving, LEGO’s signature humor, a faithful adaptation of the Harry Potter storyline, and lots of replay value with Free Play mode.
Weaknesses: The game may feel too easy for older or experienced players, and some puzzles can be a bit repetitive. The camera angle can sometimes obstruct your view during exploration.
Replay Value: High due to collectibles, multiple characters, and the Free Play mode, which encourages replaying levels with new abilities.

11. Additional Resources
Video Guides: Check YouTube for walkthroughs, collectible locations, and puzzle solutions if you’re stuck on specific levels.
Community Forums: Visit forums dedicated to LEGO games for tips on finding rare items, completing side quests, and maximizing your game experience.
Official LEGO Harry Potter Wiki: Use the Wiki for character information, ability guides, and detailed walkthroughs.

[Cleatos]

the deathly hallows is one book - but two films so i understand where the mistake occurred
other than that, this is a really good guide!