Hogwarts Legacy's Unmissable Sequel: Addressing a Game-Changing Flaw

Hogwarts Legacy pleasantly surprised many, a refreshing addition to a franchise that has had a rocky history in the gaming world due to film tie-ins. Avalanche successfully captured the magic and created an open-world RPG that, while not at the top of its genre, impressed with its quality and made a positive first impression. With overwhelming commercial success and generally positive reviews, a sequel is almost inevitable.

The possibilities for the sequel are numerous. The inclusion of players crafting their own wizard who begins their journey at Hogwarts during their fifth year opens the door for graduation and further adventures in the wider world, battling enemies along the way. However, a potential challenge for Hogwarts Legacy's follow-up lies in its ability to introduce fresh and varied enemies, as the first game thoroughly utilized a wide array of adversaries to populate its rich setting.

Enemies are Abundant in Hogwarts Legacy

While the majority of time spent outside of school involves battles against rogue wizards and spiders, the diversity of enemies adds depth to the story and atmosphere. Certain foes bring a unique and enjoyable response to conflict, keeping each encounter exciting despite some repetitive aspects of the combat system. Squaring off against Ranrok's forces provides a satisfying resistance against overwhelming evil, while fending off spiders in the Forbidden Forest feels like a service to enhance the livability of nearby hamlets and Hogwarts itself.

This variety stands out as one of the game's greatest assets, although a flaw is that all types of enemies can be found throughout the entire map. A sequel should address this issue and give each area a distinct identity. Furthermore, the follow-up must find a way to maintain the freshness of familiar adversaries, while incorporating new ones that align with the Harry Potter lore yet remain unexplored.

Hogwarts Legacy Has Exhausted Its Enemy Options

Repeating the same battles against familiar enemies in the next installment of Hogwarts Legacy could make it feel stagnant instead of innovative. While it may be tempting to stick to the tried-and-true combat using wands, magic, potions, and plants, adding new enemy attacks and abilities could add excitement to the gameplay experience. However, from a narrative and visual standpoint, it may be too repetitive to once again face goblins, Ashwinders, spiders, and dugbogs. This issue would be less concerning if the sequel's setting were different, but considering the importance of the Highlands in the formula, it would make sense for these enemies to make a comeback.

Dementors are a logical choice for the successor to Hogwarts Legacy, as they are a significant enemy that could realistically be included from the films. The Vivarium feature allows players to collect and nurture friendly magical beasts, adding another layer of progression to the game. However, this poses a challenge for a potential sequel, as the developer must address the lack of significant enemy types to improve upon the impressive first installment. Hogwarts Legacy is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch release set for November 14, 2023.