The portable version of Lego Harry Potter is different from the consoles, being smaller in scope, shorter and generally easier to play. This Vita version, unfortunately, is a port of the 3DS version. One of the most disappointing things about this game is the fuzzy cutscenes. While not as indistinct as Lego Batman 2, it is still horrible and looks very low-res. This reflects upon the developer's laziness and gives an overall unpolished feel to the game. The in-game graphics are better but does not push the Vita's limits at all. Objects have indistinct outlines and textures are low-res to the point where you can see them being all fuzzy and smudged. It is still bearable but you just wished that the graphics could be crisper, especially on the Vita's awesome screen.
The Vita version has various changes to accommodate the weaker hardware and portable nature. First off, you lose the big free roam hub world in which you can explore Hogwarts and the like at your leisure, finding hidden secrets and collectibles. Instead, you go from story level to story level with a tiny tiny hub room in which you can select levels and purchase characters. This shaves off a significant chunk of the game. Furthermore, while this version retains the same cutscenes as its console brothers, because the game cuts out so much content, unless you have already played the console version, you will be at a loss at why there are constant time skips and continuity problems. This is disappointing and will easily confuse players who are playing this for the first time.
There are no voice acting but with that said, the humour of the cutscenes remains intact. Level designs are largely shared with the console version but being smaller, simpler and less collectibles. If you've already played one version or the other, you will quickly get bored as they are at the core, the same game. The shrunken areas make the game feel more cramped and it feels as if too many items fill the screen when you first start an area. The biggest change to the game play controls is duelling. You now aim either to the left or right and can deflect the opponent's attack. It's not bad but it gets used way too often so that it will get grinding by the end of the game.
The levels are short, there are approximately four levels for each book/movie except for Death Hallows Part 1, the game covers off the last three books or the last four movies. This makes for a total of fourteen levels. Each level is truncated versions and can feel very short when each area (which can be separated by loading screens) is tiny. The game doesn't do a great job at explaining all the mechanics to you such as switching characters, performing different spells and activating stuff. Touch screen controls are not as responsive as you would like, therefore you will probably use the physical controls 100% of the time. Often, wanting your character to use a spell to manipulate some Lego pieces such as levitating will not work as the auto targeting system just doesn't seem to find it.
In such cases where the target system fails, you end up walking away and back a few times before it detects. This is annoying, especially when manual targeting doesn't work in those instances either. The camera can cause accidental deaths as it cuts off hazards like holes and fires, which adds to the cramped feel. The game can be finished in around four to six hours depending on if you like to explore every nook and cranny before heading to the next area. It can also easily be finished much faster than that. With that said, the final level felt too long and artificially stretched out. You end up having to duel enemies multiple times, making it boring and tedious.
It doesn't help in the final level when in certain areas you are constantly fired at by the enemy, even at one point being instant death projectiles. When you're trying to explore and get stuff, it gets annoying if you're constantly interrupted by these unnecessary attacks. Another nitpick of the game is that there are various areas (more than you would like) where what you should do next to advance the game is not clear. You end up wandering aimlessly trying to find out what you have missed and it's usually something that's not obvious or intuitive. While I am not saying make the game super easy (it already is), at least give hints as to what to do next when you've tried to find out what to do for a while already.
As it is a Lego game, everything is a Lego representation which means it's very cool. There are plenty of collectibles to go for; you will have to play each level at least twice in order to collect everything. Of course, stud collecting is a major point and encourages you to smash everything in sight (which is, to say the least, quite satisfying). Due to the limitation of the hardware, the number of smashable objects are reduced and the amount of studs just lying around doesn't ever satisfy your thirst for more and more studs. Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is probably one of the weaker Lego games. It wasn't that much fun, you end up breezing through it really fast and feels bland overall. The jump from story cutscene to another without any sort of coherency ruined any enjoyment you would get out of the story. Only recommended if you're a huge Harry Potter fan and can't find anything else to play.
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