Highlights
Hogwarts Legacy's success and potential for a franchise indicates that future games have a lot to live up to but also room for improvement.
The field guide within Hogwarts Legacy serves as a valuable resource for advancing in the game and enriches the story by enabling players to acquire knowledge and record their discoveries.
The lore of the Harry Potter universe plays a crucial role in Hogwarts Legacy, as it strengthens the overall gaming experience and provides players with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beloved locations featured in the books and movies.
The impressive success and positive reception of Hogwarts Legacy upon its release suggest that a sequel is likely. This potential implies that developer Avalanche Software may have a successful and enduring franchise in their hands. However, any future games will have high expectations to meet and a need for significant improvements. The first game suffered from performance issues and a somewhat lackluster story, although it was set in a world that is perfectly suited for the RPG genre.
Despite a multitude of outstanding games in this exceptional year for gaming, Hogwarts Legacy will undoubtedly be remembered as time goes on. One of the main reasons for this is because it offers the finest adaptation of the wizarding world in video game form to date. Given the fans' long-standing desire for such an immersive experience, some of the game's flaws can be overlooked. The lore has been adequately documented in the game's field guide and should continue to be a key aspect in any future installments, building upon the established formula of the first game.
Hogwarts Legacy's Field Guide is Practical, and Fuels Progress
The field guide in Hogwarts Legacy serves multiple purposes, seamlessly blending into the narrative and aiding the player's progression. As a new student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the player character has a significant amount to catch up on. Thus, the inclusion of a concise tool that allows them to learn and document their discoveries while exploring the enchanting open world is a clever choice. While not a unique game mechanic, many RPGs incorporate similar compendiums to achieve the same goal.
In the event of a Hogwarts Legacy sequel featuring the same protagonist, reintroducing the field guide would be a logical decision. Acting as their reliable companion, the field guide provides the protagonist with valuable insights and information. If the sequel were to offer additional destinations and adversaries to conquer, the field guide would serve as a valuable resource for documenting these new additions. This would not only provide players with more context about the setting, world, and characters but also create a sense of achievement through exploration and stumbling upon new areas and points of interest.
Lore is Essential at Hogwarts
Hogwarts Legacy relies heavily on the Harry Potter lore to make it stand out as an action RPG. Exploring the library's restricted section and attending herbology classes allow players to fully appreciate the familiar locations from the books and movies at their own pace.
The field guide holds the key to unlocking Hogwarts Legacy's true ending. While it does pose some challenges, incorporating collectibles into the story is a smart idea that should be further developed rather than abandoned. The game truly shines when it prioritizes the rich world of Harry Potter, catering to fans and simultaneously maintaining a sense of history and originality to attract new players. The field guide is crucial for progression and serves as a strong justification for Avalanche Software's outstanding world-building. Removing it in the sequel could be a costly mistake.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch release scheduled for November 14, 2023.