Hogwarts Legacy's Sequel: Unveiling the Ultimate Game-Changer

Highlights

The loot system in Hogwarts Legacy has received criticism for emphasizing quantity over quality, with gear pieces lacking uniqueness and meaningful gameplay modifications.

The sequel to Hogwarts Legacy should enhance the gear system, providing a more diverse and curated selection of gear options. Additionally, gear pieces should have significant gameplay effects and benefits to enhance the overall experience.

On the other hand, the sequel has the option to completely eliminate the loot system and introduce alternative methods for players to personalize their gameplay. This could include offering cosmetic options that are more immersive and in line with the game's universe.

When it comes to the next installment of the Hogwarts Legacy franchise, developer Avalanche has a strong starting point. The Harry Potter RPG released in 2023 showcased impressive technical achievements and game design that resonated with audiences. Nonetheless, the game isn't flawless, and as players contemplate potential changes in the sequel, it's worth considering how Avalanche could modify or even eliminate a key aspect of the game.

Hogwarts Legacy was marketed as an RPG and largely lives up to that designation. Players have the freedom to create their own character, select their Hogwarts house, and make impactful decisions, particularly during conversations with non-player characters. However, there are areas where the game's RPG systems could be refined, and one frequent criticism revolves around its handling of loot. As Avalanche assesses the strengths and weaknesses of Hogwarts Legacy, the loot system presents an opportunity for improvement or removal.

The Sequel to Hogwarts Legacy Needs to Rework the Loot System

Despite the exclusion of many highly requested features, Hogwarts Legacy did incorporate one common aspect of RPGs - a loot system. However, this loot system seems to prioritize quantity over quality, resembling a looter-shooter style. A crucial issue arises with the devaluation of most gear in Hogwarts Legacy. The majority of gear lacks uniqueness in both appearance and gameplay modifications, often sharing similarities with other pieces. Although a gear upgrade system is present, it fails to add significant value or interest to the loot. Furthermore, the random nature of looting from chests frequently transforms the process into a tedious endeavor with little gratification.

The gear system in the sequel to Hogwarts Legacy should be improved by greatly reducing the amount of loot and offering a smaller but more diverse selection. This means eliminating replicated gear, which is too common in the game. Additionally, gear pieces should provide significant gameplay alterations and benefits rather than just minor stat increases. For example, certain items could grant access to new spells or modify existing abilities, making the gear more impactful and enhancing the overall interest of the game.

Alternatively, the sequel could explore the possibility of removing loot entirely. While looting gear is often seen as a necessity in modern RPGs, there is no reason why a game couldn't function without it. Instead, the next Hogwarts Legacy game could provide alternative ways for players to customize their gameplay experience that are not dependent on equipped gear.

When it comes to cosmetics in Hogwarts Legacy, a possible improvement could be to incorporate outfits that are more aligned with the game's world. This would involve removing gear items like the Sanguine Mask or Spider Slayer Armor, as these would not typically be worn by an average Hogwarts student. By doing this, apparel can focus solely on being cosmetic and easily obtainable, eliminating the need to assign value to each gear piece, which is a challenging task. Hogwarts Legacy is currently available for various platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and will also be released for the Switch on November 14th.