Playing Hogwarts Legacy serves as a reminder of how captivating Harry Potter’s imaginary world is. The first chapter of Philosopher’s Stone, known as Sorcerer’s Stone in the US that my mother gave me in 1998 completely engrossed me in its fantastical world. I became addicted for life.
Or so I believed. My emotional attachment waned after the main book series concluded, and there were no more planned movie adaptations. I decided it was time to move on after the bloated spinoffs and author J.K. Rowling’s divisive remarks on transgender people took the last of the franchise’s fun out.
As soon as I began playing Hogwarts Legacy, which launches on Friday for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC (early access begins on Tuesday; more platforms will receive it in the future), all of that baggage disappeared. Avalanche Software’s open-world action role-playing game is intended to allow us to fulfill our fantasies of registering as freshmen at the renowned School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
After spending 10 hours with the PS5 version, it captures the magic of the original novels, with an intriguing original story, engagingly varied gameplay, and a beautifully detailed world to explore.
Back to basics fundamentals
The game circumvents Harry’s story’s narrative constraints by going back to the 1890s in the chronology. You embark on a brief opening journey after establishing your character before arriving at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Even though you are a first-year student, you enroll as a fifth year to start your magical career a little later. This is due to how strange it would feel to send an 11-year-old first-year to battle evil wizards, learn difficult spells, and explore dangerous caverns.
The customization choices are a delight and a crucial part of realizing your wizarding world fantasy. The gender and appearance of your character are up to you. Next, you’ll choose and customize your wand (the one you start the game with is a loaner) and your broom.
In addition, immediately after enrolling at the school, you will be asked questions to determine which Hogwarts house you will be placed in (Slytherin FTW). You can request a change if the decision isn’t to your liking.
The common room, your outfit, and a few incidental lines are about the only things that change in the home you wind up in. Although some teachers bring up house points in class, you won’t be playing for them.
The primary plot, which centers on your connection to enigmatic ancient magic and a villainous dark wizard working with the passionate leader of a goblin rebellion, occasionally interrupts your schooling. Victor Rookwood and Ranrok are the awesome names of these villains, respectively. It’s a compelling story that beautifully adds to the history of this realm, especially when it references earlier occurrences. But with all the other distractions in the game, it occasionally gets lost in the background.
living in a world of wizards
Harry Potter inspires Hogwarts Legacy in all its details, but the environment and its inhabitants stand out the most. Every teacher, pupil, and setting feels different and authentic, and there are enough nods to well-known characters like Weasley and Black to reassure fans.
Speaking with them and learning about their history is fascinating because each character is wonderfully written, expertly voiced (Simon Pegg portrays the disagreeable headmaster), and visually distinct. (However, it is annoying that you can’t pause during cutscenes.) This character development is weaved into both the main plot and the side tasks, which range from delving into one of the castle’s mysteries to snatching up ingredients for potions to blindly entering a dangerous cave.
These offer opportunities to learn more about the quest-givers and the world, making them feel even more worthwhile. They are varied, entertaining, and interesting in gaming, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Teenage mischief also has a vintage Harry Potter vibe, like sneaking into the library at midnight using an invisibility charm.
Although the voice acting in your personalized avatar is often good, there are times when it falls flat, as if you should be more courteous or reserved. But that’s better than listening to a realistic teenager. The character representations are believable, although occasionally, the eyes move erratically and feel unsettling.
Additionally, the environment is lavishly created, especially in the gorgeously gothic Hogwarts with its stirring paintings, witty gargoyles, and engaging student conversation. Every square inch screams to be explored, and there are tonnes of Easter eggs and souvenirs. You’ll hear a pleasant nudge of the John Williams theme when you pick up particular items. Hogsmeade, a smaller village adjacent, is nonetheless brimming with entertaining distractions.
Despite having Elder Scrolls vibes, the remainder of the world’s colorful hamlets, plains, and rolling hills can seem a touch dull in comparison.
As you sprint across the world, the game’s technical constraints are occasionally visible; on occasion, objects will load at the border of your screen, and doors will look to be stuck as the area beyond loads. Although it never felt game-breaking, it could momentarily interfere with your immersion.
Secrets of the magical arts
Through the early hours of Hogwarts Legacy, the complex nature of your wizarding gradually comes into focus. The most fundamental dueling techniques and spells are what your character starts with, yet the way you flick off spells with your wand gives fighting a distinctive, fluid flow.
With the aid of a magical shield, you deflect smaller blows and block larger ones. With a sorcery look, the fighting is comparable to that in the Spider-Man and Batman: Arkham games. It’s satisfying to the extent that you’ll yearn for magical combat.
When you go to Hogwarts, you’ll enroll in classes like Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Herbology, where you’ll acquire new spells and talents. Importantly, the flow of quests allows you to become accustomed to each new skill before introducing another; you’ll take a class and then apply what you’ve learned in a few plot missions or side quests.
Instead of using every weapon in your toolbox as the game suggests, please get familiar with a few fundamental combos and rely on them to win every fight. Before the skill trees are unlocked, you’ll have played for a while, but by that point, you should have a good idea of your favorite fighting style. You gain experience points for everything you accomplish, so leveling up happens steadily.
There is also a steady stream of new equipment that will improve your attack and Defense and alter your character’s appearance. To avoid seeming ludicrous just because an item has higher stats, you can also apply the appearance of any prior outfit to new ones.
Unfortunately, inventory restrictions provide unnecessary friction when exploring; you may come upon new equipment yet need help to use it. While exploring the castle, it isn’t very pleasant to quickly travel to Hogsmeade to sell extra items. At least some side quests allow you to expand your inventory.
An exuberant school reunion
Fortunately, Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t cling too tightly to its academic milieu; you won’t need to follow a strict schedule. Instead of going to class out of obligation, you go to advance the story and add new gameplay aspects.
When you complete your first flying lesson and obtain your broom, the world suddenly becomes accessible. Soaring above it all has a learning curve, but it is thrilling and emphasizes the size of the playing field.
With Hogwarts Legacy, you can explore a gorgeously imagined environment, get to know an intriguing cast, and start your wizarding career. It has the same enchantment as the first book’s introductory chapter. Fans of Harry Potter have been waiting decades for this game.
