Hogwarts Legacy

The Harry Potter world - and its fans - are among the most loyal and fanatic in recent memory. It is safe to say that without J.K Rowling’s work the pop culture industry would look very different today, as the magical aspects, ambiance, traits presented paved the way for other fantastical worlds. However Harry Potter fans, have eagerly awaited a proper title surrounding the Wizarding World, and that’s exactly what Hogwarts Legacy promises players.

The game albeit still set for release in the distant future will be the first AAA title for Harry Potter. Developed by Avalanche Software, and backed by gaming giant Warner Bros. Interactive, gamers from Xbox, Playstation, and PC can expect a fully-fledged action role-playing game sometime in 2022.

Fantastical Games and Where They Inhabit

The upcoming game won’t portray any of the original characters, but players can expect iconic places, houses, classes, beasts, and enchantments that made the series critically acclaimed to be present. Hogwarts Legacy will accompany a new student at Hogwart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the late 1800s. As any self-respecting RPG, Hogwarts Legacy will allow players to customize their characters however they see fit, with news even announcing that gender identity, voice, and even the house your character will be selected for can be chosen.

There is limited information surrounding the game, but Slytherin, Huffle-Puff, Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw will have different quests, tasks, and gameplay features. Rumors also state that a system similar to Shadow of Mordor’s rivalry, which will deepen or strain relationships with the NPC’s that populate Hogwarts. The open-world concept will most likely provide leveling up, inventory, crafting, brewing, and unique combat styles based upon your choices. Even the acclaimed Quidditch matches may make their way into the project.

The Game Who Lived

As mentioned previously, the game won’t have any connection lore-wise to the contents from the books, instead, the game aims to showcase a more intimate portrayal of day-to-day life at Hogwarts. Players will face unexpected journeys, puzzles, and mysteries as they explore everything in, and out of the school. Avalanche and Warner Bros. have stated that morality, heroism, and the essence of the characters will be tested in a series of quests and events throughout the campaign.

The character that players will control will also have a unique background as he won’t be accepted at eleven years old through the owl correspondence. This one-of-a-kind acceptance will probably be explained in-depth, as well as the reasons why your characters have a special ability or connection to ancient and unknown magic. The story of the game remains shrouded in secrecy, but we also know that there will be a more villainous, or heroic path depending on your actions, and the types of magic you choose to involver yourself with.

Conclusion

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is an amazing story, that delivered peculiar creatures, magic, characters, and places, and in 2022 players will finally have the chance to craft their own adventures within that world. The expectation is enormous as there haven’t been any astounding Harry Potter-linked games that delivered a great experience.

The customization seems astonishingly detailed, and the game is visually stunning running on Unreal Engine. The mechanics aren’t clear, and nothing surrounding combat has been shown, neither what types of quests and activities will be available to the game. We do know that riding flying animals, brooms, and leveling up will all be part of Hogwarts Legacy.

PROS:

• In-depth Customization
• Visually Stunning Graphics
• Actions Affect The Gameplay
• Rivalry System
• Hogsmead and Forbidden Forest
• Unique Story
• Day-to-day Life at Hogwarts

CONS:

• Might Not Live Up to The Extreme Hype
• No Multiplayer Announced
• No Gameplay Shown
• Single-Player Might Lower Replayability

Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive RPG experience that lets you enter Hogwarts School of Witches and Wizardy as a 5th year student. The game is set in a period earlier than the popular book series, but with hints of what is to come. For those who have spent their days secretly regretting the fact that they turned 11 and no owl came for them, this game is the next best thing.

Beautiful Graphics

The graphics in Hogwarts Legacy are very good. They don’t quite reach some of the heights of games like Ghost of Tsushima, which frankly look real, but they don’t need to be. This is a fantasy game after all. One of the most fantastic visuals in the game is riding a Hypogriff over the lake surrounding the castle and recreating the scene in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix while you’re at it.

The sound is also very well done. The earliest release of the game nearly drove players to distraction with the constant chatter of Ignatia Wildsmith, also known as “The Floo Flame Lady.” Thankfully, a recent patch quieted down how often she comments on player activity.

Quidditch Conspicuously Absent

Hogwarts Legacy is rich with details, with secret rooms, progressive unlockable content, and so much more. It’s clear from a little digging in the game however, that much more content was intended and never quite made it. There’s hints in the game’s coding that companions were meant to be part of the game as well as a few other things, but what is most obvious is that Quidditch isn’t there.

The game has a whole storyline about how the current headmaster isn’t allowing it due to a pureblood getting hurt, but why fully detail a quidditch pitch if you were never planning to add it?

An Uncomfortable Amount of Slavery

In the books, house elves are voluntary slaves who don’t want to be freed. Dobby, the popular character from the series, is considered an extremely odd creature because he wants to be released. Although house elves are often treated horribly by their masters, they would still rather get beaten than be released.

In Hogwarts Legacy, you’ll also end up with a house elf slave named Deek. Although he belongs to Hogwarts rather than you in the strictest sense, it can feel a little uncomfortable working with him, especially as you learn more about his story. On the same note, it’s also not all that easy to distinguish yourself from the poachers. Poachers take and kill animals, and we’re saving them from that—by taking them and exploiting their ingredients ourselves? How helpful.

Realistic Hogwarts Experience

Beyond those details, the game is a great experience. The story is well written, the enemies are balanced, and content unlocks in such a way that you nearly always have something to do. The game allows you to experience classes just as if you were in Hogwarts and interact with teachers in a believable way. There’s plenty of side quests and hidden Easter Eggs to keep you busy long after the main quest (about 60 hours of gameplay alone) is completed.

After all the side quests are complete, improving your time in the broom racing competition and redecorating the room of requirement all continue to add to your play value. If you were disappointed by the Lego Harry Potter games and wished for something a bit more realistic, this is the game for you.

Pros:

• Immersive Hogwarts Experience
• Well over 60 hours of gameplay
• Great Story

Cons:

• Some uncomfortable themes