REVIEW – Fans of the Harry Potter franchise and sophisticated RPGs alike have been eagerly anticipating the release of Hogwarts Legacy, an original and ambitious AAA video game set in the Harry Potter universe, a hundred years before the events of the novels. After delving deeply into the epic adventure, we can confidently say that the game offers a promising magical journey with its open world, captivating story, and charming characters, which will appeal to those unfamiliar with the book and film series as well.

The Harry Potter series has become one of the most popular youth fantasy book series in contemporary history, with millions of fans worldwide. The series has been adapted into successful films that have brought the magical world of witches and wizards to the big screen.

While several video games based on the franchise have been released in recent years, most of them were straightforward adaptations of the films. When Warner Bros. Games and Avalanche Software announced Hogwarts Legacy, an ambitious AAA title that tells an original story set in the Harry Potter universe, it garnered a lot of attention.

As someone who has played the game, I can confirm that Hogwarts Legacy is an absolute must-play for fans of both the books and the films. The game’s open world and captivating storyline make it a charming and charismatic adventure that will excite both fans and newcomers to the franchise.

A Hundred Years Before the Books

Hogwarts Legacy takes place 100 years before the events of the original books, providing a fresh setting and an opportunity for new fans to immerse themselves in the franchise. The game’s first major success is its departure from the narrative arc of Harry Potter and his friends.

Despite its simple storyline, the game is charming and engaging enough to hold our attention. The sense of adventure is enjoyable, even though there is a lurking evil that threatens the magical world. The tone remains light and avoids unnecessary drama.

In the game, we play as a fifth-year student who has just arrived at the world’s most renowned school of witchcraft and wizardry. We appreciate that the character has a voice, even though it is an avatar with no name, as it provides him with personality and natural interactions with other characters. The main and secondary cast is charismatic and diverse, featuring classmates, teachers, and all sorts of creatures associated with the school we all dreamed of attending.

Hogwarts Legacy offers an immersive open-world experience

Avalanche Software has successfully created a magical universe that brings the world of Harry Potter to life in a game. The attention to detail in the setting is impressive and adds to the immersive experience. Hogwarts and its surroundings are portrayed beautifully, with each location having its own unique character. It is a dream come true to explore the open-world map both on the ground and in the air.

The open world is vast, and while there are some areas that lack interesting features, the developers have done a good job of placing points of interest throughout the map to keep players engaged. The game is filled with optional content such as collectibles, puzzles, dungeons, enemy camps, animal reserves, and side quests. While these activities are not groundbreaking, they are enjoyable and add to the overall experience.

However, the most interesting missions are the relationship missions that involve secondary characters. These missions offer a more elaborate narrative arc and exposition sequences, which add depth to the game.

The world is huge and beautiful

The developers of Hogwarts Legacy have done a fantastic job in bringing the magical universe created by J.K. Rowling to life. The game features highly detailed settings that make Hogwarts and its surroundings feel alive. Players can travel across the map on the ground or in the air, making the game world feel rewarding and immersive.

Although the open world is vast, the developers have done an excellent job of distributing the points of interest so that the empty areas are the exception. While there are wastelands and forests with little to see or do, there are also plenty of optional activities on the map, including collectibles, puzzles, dungeons, animal reserves, and side quests. These activities may not be groundbreaking, but they are enjoyable and help to keep the game fresh.

The combat system in Hogwarts Legacy is a brawler similar to the Batman: Arkham series. Players can attack, dodge, and counter, using energy attacks with the wand instead of punches and kicks. The combat system is not boring, thanks to the special spells and abilities that we unlock as we progress through the campaign. These spells and abilities are divided into six categories, each with its own function. For instance, control spells are useful to keep enemies at bay, while damage spells are great for attacking monsters.

One of the most charming aspects of the combat system is the ability to intertwine abilities to create devastating combos. For instance, players can use Accio to get enemies closer and use Fire to burn them when they are close. Combining these spells offers endless possibilities, making skirmishes dynamic and fun. Additionally, players have the ability to improve spells to create more powerful and exciting versions. Players can also throw stage objects, parry to counterattack, and use finishers to deal massive damage, making fights more thrilling and satisfying.

Hogwarts Legacy offers seamless integration of spells and exploration

Exploring the magical world of Hogwarts Legacy is a fantastic experience, with the developers skillfully integrating the use of spells into the game. Whether navigating a complex dungeon or an open world environment, players can use spells like Accio to pull platforms or Confringo to burn webs that block the way. The game also includes spells that interact with the environment, such as Reparo to repair damaged items and Wingardium Leviosa to move objects.

In addition to the magical spells, Hogwarts Legacy offers an impressive presentation with beautifully designed locations, high-quality textures, and excellent lighting effects. The characters’ facial animations are also well-done, enhancing the immersive experience.

The game’s audio is equally impressive, with voice actors delivering outstanding performances for both the main and secondary characters. With a large script to work from, the quality of the voice acting is particularly noteworthy.

Minor problems in a magical paradise

As I mentioned earlier, the combat system in Hogwarts Legacy has some minor issues that keep it from being perfect. The most significant problem is related to the camera and aiming system. While fighting against small groups of enemies is smooth, larger groups can be a challenge as the camera position sometimes makes it difficult to target the right enemy. To overcome this, players can lock onto a target, but this limits their freedom and visibility.

Additionally, there is a lack of enemy variety in the game. While there are different types of enemies with their own abilities and weaknesses, they look too similar to one another, making it hard to distinguish them in the heat of battle. The same goes for bandits, spiders, and other threats.

Another issue is the limited inventory space, which can fill up quickly. When players reach the inventory limit, they will not be able to carry any more gear until they free up space by selling or destroying items. Expanding inventory capacity requires players to complete Trials of Merlin, a type of collectible.

Hogwarts Legacy’s Technical and Narrative Issues Hold It Back”

Hogwarts Legacy, while a promising game, is not without its technical issues. Although most of the bugs are minor and don’t detract from the gameplay experience, frame drops during fights and occasional freezing can be bothersome. The game’s developers need to address these issues with patches.

The campaign also has an irregular rhythm, with many main quests feeling like side quests, as they focus on a character unrelated to the conflict. While some of these sequences introduce new mechanics and magic, they ultimately weaken the narrative arc and make the conflict feel less significant.

Furthermore, Hogwarts Legacy includes many different systems, such as resource gathering, base customization, and equipment upgrades, which add depth and length to the experience but also make it needlessly complicated. While some players may enjoy exploring all the possibilities, others may find it overwhelming.

Finally, the game’s absence of certain features, such as the ability to watch Quidditch matches or participate in magic classes, is disappointing. Despite these issues, Hogwarts Legacy remains a promising game with much to offer.

Hogwarts Legacy – The Ultimate Harry Potter Experience

Hogwarts Legacy is undoubtedly one of the best Harry Potter games of all time, offering a unique journey that immerses fans into the world of wizardry and magic. The game delivers a rich open-world experience that has a personality of its own and is not just a rehash of the original stories.

The game’s main story may be simple, but its characters are charismatic, and the gameplay is exciting, addictive and fun, despite some minor issues with the camera and the limited variety of enemies. The game’s beautiful presentation and attention to detail is the icing on the cake.

Hogwarts Legacy is not just another game based on a popular license; it is a love letter to the world of Harry Potter that expands upon it while respecting the source material. It’s similar to how the Batman: Arkham saga treated the DC Comics’ hero, and has made the game accessible to a new audience.

Although there are areas for improvement, in general, Hogwarts Legacy is a phenomenal, huge, and magical game that every Harry Potter fan should experience. Points to Warner Bros. Games and Avalanche Software for creating an unforgettable adventure!

-BadSector-

Publisher: Warner Bros.

Developer: Avalanche Software

Style: Action RPG

Release: February 10, 2023.