Hogwarts Legacy has been out for years now, but some people have still not given in to the hype. Is the game still worth buying now that the hype has died down and discounts are becoming more frequent?
Hogwarts Legacy is a video game that was officially launched on February 10, 2023. There has been a huge amount of hype surrounding the game ever since, as it promises a completely new experience for Harry Potter fans. For the first time, a mainstream Harry Potter game allows you to experience your own story and not that of Harry Potter, Hermione, and the other protagonists of the films. I have reviewed the game to check whether or not it actually delivers. So if you’re thinking about buying it right now, you know what you’re getting.
First Impressions of Hogwarts Legacy
A Tremendous Start
The game lets you create your own character at the beginning, which you can customize to your liking. On a positive note, the character is not mute, but has a voice that you can also change. Some games suffer from a spoken protagonist, but Hogwarts Legacy manages to seamlessly integrate the protagonist into the story, which is possible thanks to spoken dialogue.
Right from the start, the game feels more like a movie. Hogwarts Legacy uses this first cinematic sequence to lead you into the story, which it does successfully. However, as soon as you get past the beginning of the game, the cinematic elements diminish, and the focus shifts to the gameplay. The game’s start is so immersive that even I, not a big Harry Potter fan, was drawn into the story right away.
The Game’s Vision
Hogwarts Legacy manages to make you feel like you’re really stepping into the magical world of Harry Potter. The castle itself is full of loving details; there is something to see, hear, and explore around every corner. The game stays true to fans’ vision by elegantly combining established elements from the book and the movie with new ones. As you play, you’ll come across lots of new things, but you’ll also encounter stuff you already know. That’s nice because it curates a feeling of nostalgia that many fans associate with the Harry Potter franchise.
Graphics and Game Design
Both the graphics and the game design of Hogwarts Legacy are convincing. The game looks excellent, both in cutscenes and during gameplay. I was particularly impressed by how fluid the spells’ animations are and how well they match their respective effects. The game also makes an excellent impression in other respects, without compromising performance. I played with ultra settings and did not notice any frame drops or stuttering. Gamers with weaker hardware may experience slight performance problems, but I was unable to spot any.
Gameplay and Story
The Story of Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy takes you back in time: you explore a magical world in the 1800s. A lot of time will pass before the events surrounding Harry Potter take place, but the game’s story benefits from this. It has the opportunity to create something completely new, without any connection to the already known story. It succeeds, and the story of Hogwarts Legacy is not only completely new but exciting, and allows you to immerse yourself in its magical world.
The game manages to involve your character, and therefore you, in the story and gives you the feeling that you never know too much or too little. The decision to start your character’s story as a fifth year also plays an important role here. This makes it easier for players to relate to their character as a newcomer to Hogwarts. It also eliminates the huge age gap between the character and the player that may otherwise hinder immersion.
Nevertheless, it is advisable to be familiar with the world of Harry Potter. Although the game tries to explain as much as possible, some of the charm is lost if you have never come into contact with Harry Potter before.
Gameplay and Difficulty
Right at the start, you are allowed to customize the difficulty of the game. If you are not a big fan of video games and would rather concentrate fully on the story, this is possible. We tested the game at the recommended difficulty, which aims for a balance between difficulty and story. The game doesn’t actually feel that challenging, but battles are still interesting and require practice.
The gameplay experience is polished overall, especially the use of spells, and the interface feels intuitive. I was a little skeptical at first because the field guide seemed confusing and difficult to use at first glance. However, a quick look reveals it is a fairly standard interface that differs only in design. The use of spells is well thought out, with the most essential spells being available to you at all times.
Conclusion on Hogwarts Legacy
Overall, I can recommend Hogwarts Legacy. Even for players who are not big fans of the Harry Potter franchise, there is a lot to be gained from playing the game. It starts off quite linear, but offers plenty of opportunities to make your own decisions as you progress. The gameplay is interestingly designed, there are no technical problems that affect the game, and there are very few downsides. So if you are interested in magic, an exciting story, and phenomenal cutscenes, Hogwarts Legacy can offer what you are looking for.
Hogwarts Legacy is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game remains at a regular price of $60, but discounts are frequent.
Pros
- Exciting story
- Interesting gameplay
- Impressive world design
Cons
- Prior knowledge is recommended
