Hogwarts Legacy Review & Analysis
Hogwarts Legacy: Review, Analysis, & Is It Worth Buying?
After nearly 30 hours of gameplay, and completing the main story missions, I still have not even graced the surface of Hogwarts Legacy. The latest entry into the Wizarding World concept has been widely regarded as one of the best games we have seen in a while, and for good reason. Between quality graphics, phenomenal atmospherics, and memorable characters who each have their own characteristics, this game has been a remarkable play so far. In this article, I will be discussing and grading the major components of the game, on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 in this system would be a horrible aspect that ruins the game wholly, while 10 is an aspect that is better than in many if not all games I have played. With that said, let us first address the concerns regarding the J.K. Rowling name and comments:
Writer’s Note About Hogwarts Legacy
Something that has been discussed regarding Hogwarts Legacy is J.K. Rowling, her comments towards those of the transgender community, and her personal beliefs. Many fans and gamers alike have decided to boycott this game and have chosen to forego it, due to her ties to this concept. With that said, I believe that everyone deserves equal rights in life, regardless of their identity, and that Rowling was incorrect in her statements.
This review will not directly reflect her, as she did not have a large part in this game’s development if any at all. Rather, we will look at the game as an individual entity, and grade it based on what has been played. It is not our job to sway you whether or not this is an ethical game to play, that is your decision, and we respect your decision regardless. We appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read this review, and if you feel uncomfortable with the Wizarding World as a whole, we understand as well.
Graphics & Open World
Grade: 9/10
One of the most amazing portions of Hogwarts Legacy is the open world and graphical clarity. Starting first with graphics, you are able to customize your settings on your PC to optimize the clarity to be pretty amazing. As someone who played this game on the PlayStation 5, even there with a good monitor, the game looked absolutely stunning. The reason this is not a 10/10 would be that these are not the best graphics we have ever seen, and they do not make or break the game, but with that said, they definitely are rather impressive. From the forbidden forest’s dark and brooding trees to the warm and cozy interior of Hogwarts, the developers at Avalanche went above and beyond with the graphics.
In terms of the open world, Hogwarts Legacy does not let up in terms of quality. The open world in this game is one of the larger ones out there as of right now. While not absolutely enormous or anything, it does cover a pretty substantial region. The world includes Hogwarts, Hogsmeade (the set of shops near Hogwarts), the forbidden forest, the feldcroft region, and then an additional 12+ regions scattered around the world. In fact, there is a video made by content creator ESO which is over an hour and a half in length, in which they traverse the whole map and different regions. This just shows the true and utter vastness of the world Avalanche has developed, rather than just Hogwarts and a few valleys.
Story & Side Quests
Grade: 8/10
Beginning with the main story itself, which takes roughly 30 or so hours to complete if you stick just to the main quests. The story itself is one of very good quality, but not necessarily great. There are points during the story where it can get a little dry or repetitive, where you enter a dungeon, clear it, then walk out and complete the quest. However, this is not often enough to ruin the story itself, which has enough variety to keep you on your toes. The story also takes you through the large majority of this huge map at one point or another, which is nice for those who are more a structured story type of person like myself, rather than an explorer. Both will enjoy what the game has to offer in content though, as not just the main story is extensive.
If you are looking to complete Hogwarts Legacy 100%, it will take anywhere from 60-70 hours. The number being thrown around most for full completion is about 63 1/2 hours. This is because of what the game calls “Merlin Trials”, which are small statues placed throughout the open world, 95 of them to be exact. These are like miniature puzzles and require you to use certain spells, do parkour, or other puzzle mechanics to complete them.
On top of that, there are locations to clear of enemies, field guide pages to collect, beasts to tame, and demi guise statues to collect. This does not even include the vast array of side quests to complete, of which there are 58 on PlayStation and 57 on Xbox (PS has the haunted Hogsmeade exclusive). Overall, there is an absolute ton of things to do in this game, and it has plenty for every type of gamer.
Replayability
Grade: 8/10
While this game is not necessarily one you are going to want to 100% multiple times, it does have the content to play multiple times. The reason for this is there is exclusive quests for each Hogwarts house, and obviously different house common rooms to see. While it does not offer the replayability of a game such as Minecraft obviously, it has some level of difference for each playthrough to where you could play it multiple times.
Gameplay & Mechanics
Grade: 10/10
Giving out a 10/10 grade is not something I take lightly, nor something I just give without context. This game offers a wide variety of spells to choose from first off when in combat. There are 20 individual spells to choose from in combat grouped into types. These groups include essential, utility, control, force, damage, transfiguration, and unforgivable curses. The most intriguing of which is unforgivable curses, which you can either choose to use or choose to not utilize.
The fun of the combat is how you use the spells. Setting up specific combos to keep enemies off the ground or away from you and then dealing damage is fun no matter how many times you do it. Fighting some of the harder enemies, such as trolls, can be extremely difficult throughout the game and make for a fun challenge to overcome. You can also get a movement upgrade which allows you to dash quickly in and out of combat range and adds a whole other level to combat. It is truly enjoyable to just get home, hop into this game, and run around for a while fighting things and clearing bases.
Atmospherics & Audio
Grade: 10/10
The other point that Hogwarts Legacy really nailed was its atmospherics. From the dark and brooding forbidden forest to the live and homey Hogsmeade, to the warm and cozy Hogwarts in winter, Avalanche does an amazing job of making you really FEEL like you’re in this world. This is something hard to really put into words, but rather something you experience as you play. It does the same thing the books do, in that it makes you want to cozy up with a warm blanket and some hot cocoa, and just chill out. This is something I rarely experience in modern gaming, as well as in modern media as a whole, with games more leaning on multiplayer aspects.
Hogwarts Legacy on the other hand, unashamedly, went fully solo and wanted to focus on making players feel the game. They did a staggeringly positive job at doing this type of concept and completing it through and through. The audio helps with this, as it helps really set the scene. From the music going from haunting and dark, to lively and high tempo, to slow and melodic, it truly is astounding. Even the Harry Potter theme song playing partially when you find field guides or finish quests is a great touch. This is probably the most impressive part of the game as a whole as it truly immerses you in the world and makes you feel like you are there, which is exactly what the books aimed for.
Overall Grade & Should You Buy it?
Overall Grade: 45/50 (90%)
This grade reflects how amazing this entry is as a whole, as this is one of the best games I have had the privilege of playing in recent memory. It is one of the first games I have played that made me really feel like I was a part of it, rather than the outside looking in. Considering how long it has been since a Wizarding World game has released (practically PlayStation 1 era), Avalanche really hit the nail on the head with this game.
In regards to whether or not you as a consumer should buy it, I think the general answer is yes. This game is a joy to play, and a rare diamond in the kind-of slog gaming has been in with recent years. It is one of the first next-generation games that really exceeds expectations and has lived up to what “next-gen” really is, advanced gaming. This entry gives you exceptional value for your dollar, and will 100% give you at least 40 hours of gameplay even if you are not going for the 100%. The addictiveness of running around and fulfilling Merlin trials or finding hidden doors is extremely satisfying. It pulls away from repetition and makes more of an enjoyable journey out of its story. So, with that, I do recommend purchasing it if you are on the fence about it right now.
