

The story outside of Hogwarts has its own struggles with creativity. Though, to its credit, they certainly feel about as fun to complete as homework. Rather than putting its own unique stamp on the idea, Hogwarts Legacy simply uses its premise as a means to pepper in a dozen quests. Even Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gets clever with an independent study setup that shakes up an old series’ formula. Fire Emblem: Three Houses uses classes to motivate its RPG hooks, giving players a narrative justification for why their troops grow smarter and stronger through the tactics game.
#HOGWARTS LEGACY NEWS SERIES#
The Persona series uses daily routines to emulate the experience of studying for midterms by day and tormenting perverts by night. There are no shortage of ways to think outside the box when crafting a “school” premise.
#HOGWARTS LEGACY NEWS HOW TO#
It’s the first clue that Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t have a lot of ideas about how to make Harry Potter feel special in a video game. Image used with permission by copyright holder There’s not much depth to the education aspect here as “classes” only play out as 12 checklist-driven subquests, each of which rewards a new spell for completing some challenges while out in the world. That perfect premise is the first area where some expectation setting becomes necessary. Set in the 1800s, the story focuses on a generic fifth-year student who’s tasked with taking down a brewing Goblin rebellion in-between their school duties. If you’ve ever found yourself fantasizing about being whisked away to Wizard school as a kid, Hogwarts Legacy grants that wish. The only unique aspect it brings to the open-world genre is franchise branding, making for a shallow experience that doesn’t offer much more than wish fulfillment for fans unable to let go of a dream. Despite having access to an entire universe of possibilities, its sole trick is using magic to cover up tired video game clichés that feel entirely disconnected from the vibrant source material it’s adapting. Hogwarts Legacy delivers a perfectly competent adventure, but its most unforgivable curse is its lack of imagination.

Strip away all those aesthetic trappings like wallpaper from your childhood bedroom and you’ll find something cold and clinical cleverly disguised by warm nostalgia.
#HOGWARTS LEGACY NEWS SOFTWARE#
Looking in as an outsider, though, I can’t help but feel like developer Avalanche Software has cast an effective illusory spell. Every corner of it is stuffed with some visual reference or lore tidbit for fans to pore over as they finally get their chance to role-play as a Hogwarts student. The glitzy open-world adventure game goes to painstaking lengths to bring the franchise to life. Hogwarts Legacy is a beautifully crafted love letter to the magical universe millions have escaped to through Rowling's books and films.īut while many of those who pre-ordered did so out of pure anticipation, others say they did so to spite the boycott movement or to show support for Rowling.For some of the series’ most die-hard loyalists, I’m sure Hogwarts Legacy will be a dream come true. The love, care, and attention to detail that went into this game are obvious. Locations have been digitally recreated almost exactly, and hardcore fans of the franchise will be able to find their way around the grounds simply by orientating themselves by the films.Ĭombat is intuitive and gives the player the option to approach battles how they see fit with a wide array of available spells, including unforgivable curses such as Avada Kedavra. Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and the Forbidden Forest are just some locations players can explore, each one meticulously built and teaming with life. Traversing the landscape is a joy once you unlock the broomstick or ability to mount various beasts.


There are a countless number of side quests and collectibles to find, leaving the player to gallivant to their heart's content before deciding when to progress the story. Politics aside, Hogwarts Legacy is an exceptional open world game. A CONTROVERSIAL RELEASE, BUT AN EXCELLENT GAME
