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After much anticipation, the long-awaited game of 2023, Hogwarts Legacy, has finally been released! This role-playing game, set in the magical realm of Harry Potter, offers players an open-world experience in which they can become pupils at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along the way, Hogwarts students will fight dark forces, complete quests, customize their characters, and explore both familiar and unknown parts of the magical world.
In the game, players explore famous locations such as Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, learn spells, prepare potions, and care for magical beasts. To become a witch or wizard, players must first join a house, form relationships, and master skills. There is also a mysterious hidden story to uncover, as well as battles against trolls, Dark Wizards, and goblins.
Hogwarts Legacy and Harry Potter - What are the similarities?
Warner Bros. Games' Portkey Games is a gaming label specializing in creating mobile and video games within the Wizarding World universe, where players take on the role of the main protagonist in their own exciting adventure, drawing inspiration from Harry Potter original stories.
The game takes place in the Wizarding World during the 1800s. Therefore, it is set before the time of the Harry Potter stories, so players will not encounter any of the series' main characters, such as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
Despite not being direct adaptations of the books or films, Portkey Games is firmly rooted in the enchanted world of the Wizarding World. The game developers honor J.K. Rowling's original vision while also venturing into uncharted territory and inventing new ways for fans to immerse themselves in the world of magic. Although J.K. Rowling did not participate in the game's development, her incomparable body of work serves as the cornerstone for all Wizarding World projects. Her team collaborated closely with the developers to ensure the game delivered the magical experiences fans anticipated.
How to Play Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is a single-player action RPG in which players take on the role of a Hogwarts student. The four Hogwarts Legacy Houses to choose from are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Each house has its own unique qualities, including its emblem and colors. The main and side quest to complete differ depending on which house the player selects.
For example, each house has its own exclusive quest:
Spell-based combat is critical to the player's success in Hogwarts Legacy and will play a central role throughout the game. Players will need to master dueling and spell-casting to survive the more dangerous and darker aspects of the game. There are numerous spells available to players, but most of them are only accessible by completing main missions. Players must progress through the game's story to unlock and master a wide variety of spells.
What story and adventures can we expect?
In Hogwarts Legacy, two interconnected storylines run parallel to each other. The first storyline focuses on the player's personal development, while he explores the secrets of his ancestors, who were part of a powerful magical bloodline. Working with Professor Fig, a wizard who teaches Magic Theory at Hogwarts, the player embarks on quests to find out more about this ancient lineage.
The second, more crucial storyline revolves around a goblin rebellion. A faction of vicious human wizards supports the goblins, but their motives remain unclear until the end of the story. Goblins will make up a significant portion of the game's enemies, and much of the open-world exploration will consist of eliminating goblin hideouts.
Hogwarts Legacy does not feature Quidditch gameplay, but players can use broom flight to traverse the wizarding world and participate in broom race challenges. The game also features an exploration of new and familiar locations surrounding Hogwarts Castle. Although the game does not include a morality system, players will encounter various quests and storylines that will impact the character they choose to become.
Graphics and Soundtrack
The game appears to be visually impressive, with attention paid to small details that bring the wizarding world to life. The visual graphics of Hogwarts Castle, classes, dungeons, and magical creatures are mesmerizing.
In late 2022, Hogwarts Legacy released a trailer called "Making the Music," showcasing the game's music creation process. The soundtrack strikes a perfect balance between new themes that evoke nostalgia for Potter fans and fit seamlessly into the gameplay loop. The game's music is likely to enhance the immersive experience of exploring the wizarding world, helping players feel fully immersed in the game's magical environment.
Release dates and where you can play it
Hogwarts Legacy is already breaking sales records on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series. The game was developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Games under the Portkey Games label on February 10, 2023, for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
On April 4, the game will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One versions, while the Nintendo Switch version will be released on July 25.
Bottomline
The game looks and feels like previous Harry Potter game series, complete with familiar locations and spells. Players can choose from characters and customize them with a variety of clothing and accessories. The spell-based combat style is relatively simple, although there are enough spells and abilities to make battles interesting. The game also includes a variety of side activities, including dueling clubs, potion-making, and exploration. Even the most mundane activities feel magical, thanks to the beautiful graphics and sound design. The main plot of the game revolves around the player character's journey to become a powerful wizard and their efforts to prevent a dark force from destroying the wizarding world.
Overall, Hogwarts Legacy is an enjoyable and faithful experience for Harry Potter fans. The graphics, sound design, and story combine to create a magical and captivating adventure.