Hogwarts Legacy seems to be a controversial game if you look at social media. True Harry Potter fans are used to dealing with controversy. They are also used to waiting for books, the movies, waiting in queues in the Harry Potter theme park, and just waiting a lot in general. And yes… same goes for video games. Hogwarts Legacy took its sweet time, but now we can look at what everybody is talking about online. Plus, the game will be available for the Nintendo Switch. Finally, the Hogwarts letter has arrived and those who wish to do so can now attend Hogwarts in the late 1800s! Let’s dive into the game and we will tell you why we liked it.
The story
The story begins with you having received your Hogwarts letter at the age of 15. This is exceptional since you developed your magical talents late compared to the other young witches and wizards. Over the summer you have been tutored by professor Fig, who teaches Magical Theory at Hogwarts (and is related to the same Mrs. Fig who is Harry Potter’s squib (wizard-born muggle) and cat-loving neighbor). You are ready to get into a carriage and fly off to Hogwarts. However, something sinister happens and you discover a great mystery. Are you part of something bigger than just having magical skills and joining the wizarding world? That is what you are going to find out when you attend your fifth year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Let’s dive into Hogwarts Legacy to see what we liked about the game.
The game
The game shows an amazing open world with maybe not the best, but still beautiful graphics and atmosphere on PlayStation 5. You can walk through the great halls of Hogwarts or go outsides and simply enjoy the spectacular views because those are truly breathtaking. The beauty of this game compared to the previous Harry Potter games is that you can adjust your character to your liking. Also, you can choose how to respond to people and have the freedom to follow the storyline, or just explore. Besides Hogwarts, you can explore Hogsmeade, the forbidden forest, and later on other parts of the wizarding world, which makes this a great game to experience the entire wizarding world.
But there is no fun without some learning…
Of course, you are still a student at our favorite magic school. This means you have to attend classes so that you can perform more and stronger magic spells and complete more quests and wins duels against dark wizards and creatures. You learn spells like Levioso, Reparo, Expelliarmus, Accio, and Incendio and you learn how to make potions and take care of magical plants and magical creatures. And, don’t worry. Even though you started your Hogwarts experience at the age of 15 you still get the experience of being sorted into your Hogwarts house and getting your wand from Ollivander!
Quests, quests, and more quests!
On the castle grounds, you will find a lot of different quests. Including the lessons, there are 52 quests in total! You have the main quests (which include the storyline quests). Then you have general side quests, friendship quests, companion quests, beast quests, and last but not least the class assignment quests. Based on your choice of house you will also get an extra quest for either Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. The quests include fetching items for students, protecting magical beasts in danger, and of course, dueling. So start helping your fellow students, explore and solve the puzzles to finish them all!
And if that isn’t enough, finding secrets is one of the most fun parts. One of those is finding the Hogwarts Kitchen, where a bunch of house elves is preparing all the magical banquets. Curious to cook some of those foods yourself? Check out the Harry Potter vegan cookbook!
Rewards
You will find a chest all over this magical world. Some are in secret chambers, some guarded by monstrous Acromantulas and other chests that are just hiding in plain sight. In the chests, you will find various rewards like galleons, gear, or potions. With the galleons, you can buy different things at your favorite shops in Hogsmeade (for example potions or gear). There is a downside, however: you don’t have a lot of room to keep your gear. You only have 20 slots (which you can expand to 40 after completing the Merlin trials). So you have to sell a lot of your gear to be able to retrieve new and more powerful ones.
This also means that you have to sell clothing you like (for example your school robes or your scarf with your house emblem). Luckily for outfits, every look you find unlocks the skin, so you can apply it to whatever robe you’re wearing. Keep rocking those house robes forever!
Extras!
There are fun little gimmicks included in this game that were not in the movies. For example, the famous vanishing stairstep where Nevil and Harry fell through in HP GOF or our favorite poltergeist: Peeves! Also, you can pet all the cats that walk around Hogwarts. How cute is that? Although according to a magical newspaper you can buy, some of those might be transformed, wizards….. Ew!
Review
Hogwarts Legacy was definitely worth the wait. You will not regret your purchase when you walk around in this beautiful world and participate in the many quests this game offers. The story is interesting enough and keeps you wondering what will happen next. As a Harry Potter fan, you will get the Hogwarts experience and see a lot of things from the books and the movies which makes your magical heart beat faster. But even for not Harry Potter fans the game is excellent and I promise you, you will enjoy playing this game for a good amount of time! Sadly though, Nintendo Switch players will have to wait a bit longer till they can step into this adventure.
