Olly Dyche reviews Hogwarts Legacy…
For years, fans have been clammering for a video game set in the Wizarding World that can recapture the magic of the movies and books, as well as making players authentically feel like a wizard or witch. Sure, we have seen many Harry Potter video games over the past two decades, with the brilliant LEGO Harry Potter games being far and away the best, allowing us to play through the movies in adorable LEGO fashion with a ginormous roster of witches and wizards at our very disposal. Now, here comes Hogwarts Legacy, promising to be the most magical and immersive Harry Potter experience to date.
It’s quite astonishing how we have never had a big budget Harry Potter game of this calibre before, considering the huge Harry Potter fanbase, and how successful both the books and the movies are. Currently however, the Harry Potter franchise is in a huge slump, what with the Fantastic Beasts movies failing to win over fans and critics, as well as J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender identity, causing the Harry Potter franchise and more so the Hogwarts Legacy video game to become the subject of a boycott.
Its totally understandable why many won’t pick up the game due to this context, however those who worked on the video game put a tremendous amount of effort in making Hogwarts Legacy a deeply diverse Harry Potter video game, which even more importantly introduces players to the first transgender character in the Harry Potter universe. Therefore, it seems abundantly clear that Hogwarts Legacy does not reflect the views of the franchise’s creator. So, with all the rigmarole out the way, how exactly does Hogwarts Legacy live up to the hype? Well, Hogwarts Legacy is simply fantastic, giving fans the Harry Potter experience they have always dreamed about.
Set in the 1800s, players will embark on a journey that allows them to be the wizard and witch they have always wanted to be (yes, you can be a dark wizard if you so wish. Hogwarts Legacy oozes with nostalgia and of course, magic, as players explore the gigantic 19th century Wizarding World full of iconic locations and deadly beasts. On their journey, players will get to explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and an expansive surrounding world full of hidden secrets and collectibles that Harry Potter fans will absolutely love.
Beginning as a fifth year student, players are allowed to fully customize their character however they choose. The customization is deep and inclusive, opting players to instead choose between a witch or a wizard as opposed to the genders previously holding these titles. A step in the right direction.
Whilst you can create a character based on yourself or whomever you can imagine, don’t go into the game expecting to create a lizard person or some sort of clown like the Saints Row video games. As hilarious as that may be to some, Hogwarts Legacy allows you to create whomever you want, with some realistic constraints.
That said, its when you start unlocking gear and loot, is where players’ imagination can run wild. Finding loot is very rewarding, allowing players to find cosmetic items that enhances one’s health, and damage. Not all of the cosmetics may vibe with players and although the items may increase a players power, some may be hesitant to equip this gear piece as they don’t want to change their character’s look.
However, Hogwarts Legacy allows players to change the appearance of any loot they have acquired. For example, if a player adored wearing a certain cape, but collected a coat that they don’t like the look of, which enhances the players power level, the player can go into the menu hover over the coat (after its equipped) and change the look of the coat to the cape, that they previously wore.
The gameplay is incredibly intricate and fun, with controls that don’t much differ from your typical single player games. Yet, it’s the wand combat which of course sets Hogwarts Legacy apart from the rest. Harry Potter fans have waited too long for some truly immersive and magical wand combat, and Hogwarts Legacy more than delivers.
Swishing your wand around shooting basic casts will never not be fun, especially when in combat against students, dark wizards, goblins or any of the beasts the Forbidden Forest throws at you. But the real fun comes when learning more spells and applying them in combat. Pulling an opponent towards you with Accio, before sending them ablaze with Incendio is simply delightful, making you feel like the most powerful wizard in the entire Wizarding World. Just wait until you learn Avada Kedavra.
Hogwarts brims with life, as players are forced to live their life as a student, attending classes, as well as breaking a few rules now and again. Attending Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, Potion classes and Herbology classes adds to the authenticity of making you feel like a real Hogwarts student. The students also offer much more to the game, as they present new side quests, like riddles and even a Hogwarts fight club, which is a joy to beat up some bratty students.
The game is beautiful to look at, full of incredibly rich detail. The stone walls of Hogwarts, the terrifying trees of the Forbidden Forest and the feathers on the Hippogriffs feel real and intricately designed to make the world and visuals come to life. Some players may come across some glitches but none are necessarily game breaking.
Storywise, Hogwarts Legacy is equally brilliant, and enhances on the lore of the Wizarding World to profound effects. Yet, it’s in the exploration of Hogwarts and its surrounding areas that the most fun can be had. Solving puzzles, learning new spells, dueling bad guys and exploring caves are a lot of fun and the rewards are plentiful.
The only real critique to the game however is its lack of a morality system. Hogwarts Legacy gives players the freedom to be the wizard or witch they so desire, which means allowing players to go down the path of a dark wizard. However, there are no consequences or repercussions for either, and committing an act of villainy will not impact the player’s experience if they did in fact want to be a good wizard.
Some may not be bothered by this, but the game would have felt much deeper if a player’s choices had more of an impact on the story. The game even gives you options of dialogue in a conversation, but unlike Until Dawn for example, these choices don’t matter so you can swiftly skip through every line of dialogue if you so wish. Even learning the Unforgivable Curses and applying them in combat won’t have any consequences.
All in all, Hogwarts Legacy is the game Harry Potter fans have dreamed of and more. Offering a rich, vibrant world, full of deadly enemies of which you can gleefully blast away with your vast selection of spells. The customization is deep and rewarding, allowing a player to go as detailed as they want, to create the wizard or witch they have always wanted to be.
A visually stunning video game, Hogwarts Legacy only comes with one real critique, which is the game’s lack of a morality system, which would have made for a far more immersive experience. That said the game still entrances players into a wholly authentic and magical Harry Potter experience.
Pros
+ Rich open world
+ Gorgeous visuals
+ Immersive gameplay
+ Magical wand combat
+ Intricate customization
+ Diversifies the Wizard World
Cons
– Lack of a morality system
Rating: 9/10
Reviewed on PS5 (also available on X Box Series S/X and PC)
Olly Dyche
Review copy provided by Warner Bros.
