Gaming den: Hogwarts Legacy Review

BY Hardikkumar Joshi PUBLISHED Feb 11,2023

Serene landscapes and mythical nightmares await in the magical corner of the Wizarding World.

Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG set in the universe of the Harry Potter franchise. The game appears to be set in a timeline preceding the events of the Harry Potter books and the movies. This appears to be an excellent strategy, as it paves a path for fresh stories to be told devoid of continuity issues within the established universe. It is an ambitious project, as the game lets you customize your character before embarking on your adventure in the fabled Wizarding World.

Getting a letter from Hogwarts and being given a chance to study at the prestigious wizarding school feels special. Your character is a fifth-year student with extraordinary abilities. The story wastes no time establishing the core conflict of the game. In an action-packed sequence, the principal characters are introduced. Professor Fig is the primary mentor throughout the journey who aids your character in discovering the truth behind the connection with ancient magic. Your character development is balanced with the academic curriculum, attending classes, making friends, and dealing with the goblin rebellion.

Every spell has a distinct use throughout the journey. It forces players to plan carefully for sorting out spells into limited slots. Some spells might be primarily used for exploration. Meanwhile, players may find that others are better suited for solving puzzles. Hogwarts Legacy comprises an impressive array of obstacles, which require critical thinking and memorizing spells with their respective functions.

Its open-world setting allows your character to interact with a myriad of interesting characters. With the magical ambience and immersive experience, the game does a stupefyingly impressive job of nailing the fan service and nostalgia aspect. The sound design amplifies the nostalgia.

For all the zesty fans of the Harry Potter franchise, the inclusion of a broom for traversal and race challenges proves to be an alluring treat. Zipping through the forest and Hogwarts grounds while breathing in the magical air, feels revitalizing. Flying mechanics mixed with the visual spectacle balances out the unpolished parts of the game. Using this strategy, the developers make it harder for players to put down the controller.

From brewing potions, growing plants, mounting magical beasts, soaring above the grounds on a broom, there's so much to do for players. Grooming magical beasts is also one of the enticing attractions of the gameplay. Visiting Hogsmeade village gives a more personal look at the interior and the place where some crucial characters reside. The architecture of Hogwarts Castle and the surrounding areas are depicted grandiosely. It succeeds in capturing the essence of awe and wonder as much as the books as well the movies have previously accomplished.

While the plot itself subsists on inconsistencies, the experience as a whole is not abated by it. Spell casting and combat mechanics feel fluid. The intensity of the combat feels satisfying. Evasion is a crucial part of combat as well as action. Creating spell combos for facing different enemies adds an exhilarating layer. It alludes to the fun part of the game where experimenting with different spells together makes up for a vivid sensory engagement.

The most engrossing parts of the game are the characters. Endearing and mesmerizing characters inhabit the world, which enhances the experience. They have ample screen time to showcase their importance and their actions evince their motivations. Their interaction with the playable character is complemented by their mannerisms. The voice acting is impressive. However, eccentric remarks related to untold mysteries throw casual fans of the franchise off because of the subtle references. Along with that, dialogues are less expressive of the character's conscience and more for the sake of starting the next mission.

From translating extensive lore about the Wizarding World to realizing it on the game screen, Hogwarts is a maze of revelations. It delivers on the premise of the story by visiting iconic locations from different perspectives. A grim aspect of magic is portrayed through the Dark Arts. A morality system is established through the usage of forbidden magic, which also puts Sebastian Sallow (one of the characters) in conflict. In his desperate yet misguided attempt to cure his sister, he sets out to find the Scriptorium by exploring dungeons. There's a visceral sense of trepidation when Sebastian kills his uncle with one of three Unforgivable curses. This moment cements his character development, but surprisingly, there are no severe consequences for it. No consequences for the player. Meanwhile, this moment causes Sebastian to face judgment from Hogwarts, but nothing for us: the player. This undermines the presence of the morality system, as it is not relevant anymore.

Providing players with the choice to use the Unforgivable curses is a bold approach. At certain times, the presence of the spells is appreciated but ultimately ends up acting as a Deus ex machina, especially in boss battles. Bosses with high health bars present a challenge for the players, but as soon as you learn: Crucio, Imperio and Avada Kedavra, the battle loses the stakes and intensity. The enemy encounters become a chore after using the Unforgivable curses.

If you are one of those people who likes to dissect every narrative beat for the story, then it might feel a bit underwhelming. Even then, the world is rich with exciting side missions that will deliver a captivating, enjoyable experience. The game soaks up hours of gameplay with exploration. Every bit of time spent on looting, exploring, and collecting gear is rewarding, especially for upgrading stats. Unlocking new spells also feels integral to your character journey, as the spells give you access to places locked before. One could wander the halls of Hogwarts Castle and still not be tired of it.

Hogwarts Legacy stands true to its niche by crafting a tantalizing open-world experience. To define how truly expansive the map is, surveying each dungeon portrays the wide scope of the magical beast encounters. One could spend hours taking in the grotesque sights of the dungeons. However, assailing magical beasts have a repetitive move set. It is one of many letdowns with the battle encounters. The most common enemies are trolls and spiders. While there are different types of trolls, the move sets are not distinct from other types and are mostly a lack-lustre experience.

For the boss battles, the game seems to incorporate generic action elements with little variety between the boss battle types. However, defeating enemies still feels satisfying because of the diverse spell-casting mechanics. Also, the fast-paced style of combat evokes anticipation thus, forcing the players to keep track of every spell and focus on the controls.

Hogwarts Legacy crafts an unforgettable journey boasting of its massive lore behind the enchanting world. The main story campaign takes up to 22 hours, including a significant portion of side quests. The choice of outfits determines the character's stats based on the perks of the selected gear. Another intriguing part of the game is the presence of companion characters hailing from different Hogwarts houses. These characters have their own quests but suffer from linear quest progression. Fast travelling is also an option for switching areas during exploration.

Despite several shortcomings, Avalanche illustrates their creative ingenious by making this game a love letter to the Harry Potter franchise. Hogwarts Legacy cements itself as the quality standard for future instalments in the Wizarding World. It lays a perfect foundation for different stories to take place on the road ahead. Hogwarts Legacy respects its source material and paves the path for inventive storytelling.

Hogwarts Legacy is now available on PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Seris X/S. It will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One on May 5, 2023. Additionally, the game is set to release for Nintendo Switch on November 14, 2023.