Summary
This year’sHogwarts Legacyproved to be a massive success, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. While players have criticizedHogwarts Legacyfor small oversights, tonal problems, and shallow RPG systems, fundamental issues about the game’s identity as both a “Hogwarts simulator” and an open-world game may be the most significant.
Avalanche Software took a massive leap upwards withHogwarts Legacy, with the project overshadowing all the company’s other works in terms of ambition, polish, and budget. In many ways, Avalanche stuck the landing, offering a pleasant, worthwhile experience for fans of bothHarry Potterand the open-world RPG genre. That said, the game suffers from a lack of identity and consistency, and much of this can be attributed to the awkward balancing act it performs while trying to capture the magic of its source material, while being an expansive, AAA RPG. If Avalanche wants to improve futuregames in theHogwarts Legacyseries, it would do well to address this balancing act.
The Next Hogwarts Legacy Needs to Blend Its Disparate Parts
Hogwarts Legacy’s Student-Explorer Problem
Hogwarts Legacy’s world consists of two parts: the contained, dense halls of Hogwarts itself, and the rolling hills, forests, and cliffs of the Scottish Highlands. In theory, giving players access to both of these areas sounds great, as it seemingly offers the experience of Hogwarts student life and that of a swashbuckling, magical adventurer. In practice, however, this combo could have been pulled off a bit better.
The sense ofimmersion inHogwarts Legacyis harmed by this dichotomy, as it’s hard to reconcile the student side of the experience with the adventurer side. When it comes to the open-world, exploration can be difficult to engage with, since the player-character doesn’t have much of an in-universe reason to visit many of the areas they do. Conversely, the in-game classes feel very tacked-on and perfunctory, only existing to teach the player a new spell or introduce them to a new mechanic. In several cases, the player will only visit these classes once, which is a shame. Since a major draw ofHogwarts Legacyis the fulfillment of the Hogwarts student fantasy, this is a significant issue that should be addressed.
Fixing Student and Explorer Life in the Hogwarts Legacy Sequel
There is plenty ofpotential in theHogwarts Legacysequel, but it can only succeed if it builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor, while smoothing some of its rougher edges. When it comes to integrating typical RPG exploration with the “day in the life” elements of Hogwarts, Avalanche should consider making a significant, fundamental change to the structure of the game.
Though the feature seems ubiquitous, most gaming fans would surely agree that an open-world is not a prerequisite for a good game. In many cases, forcing the open-world framework onto a game can actually harm the final product.Hogwarts Legacyis, arguably, an example of this. Though the open-world is beautifully designed, it simply isn’t the main attraction of the game, which is evidenced by the fact that the Switch port ofHogwarts Legacyisn’t even open-world, yet it is still managing to be a hit with players. IfHogwarts Legacy’s sequel were to take a more linear, dense approach to its world, while giving players interesting narrative reasons to explore areas outside Hogwarts (with some areas being locked to specific quests, perhaps), it would greatly help immersion and minimize filler content.
Ultimately, when looking for reasons whyHogwarts Legacystruggles to balance its school and exploration elements, the open-world formula is the most likely culprit. A more curated, finely-tuned approach would arguably be a much better fit for the game’s sequel, as it would allow Avalanche to design a more affecting experience, while highlighting and strengthening what makesHogwarts Legacyunique.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
