The Hidden Menace of Hogwarts Legacy: Unleashing the Power of Dark Arts

Highlights

Hogwarts Legacy excels at delving into the intricate lore of the Harry Potter Wizarding World, meticulously unraveling hidden intricacies and unraveling the depths of character motivations.

Nevertheless, the game undermines the gravity of the Dark Arts, a banned realm of magic that is depicted as abhorrent in both the literary and cinematic adaptations.

Using Dark Arts spells in the game can give a sense of empowerment, but the lack of consequences undermines the immersive atmosphere that Hogwarts Legacy aims to create.

Despite being relatively new to popular culture, the Harry Potter Wizarding World has intricate lore that spans across various aspects. From hidden details about famous locations to the motivations of characters and the detailed explanations of every spell, the Wizarding World is extensive and complex. While Hogwarts Legacy cannot cover everything, it does a commendable job of exploring and highlighting the most significant aspects.

Hogwarts Legacy Uses The Dark Arts A Little Too Flippantly

Despite the vast universe to explore, Hogwarts Legacy falls short in certain aspects. One notable issue is the portrayal of the Dark Arts, which deviates substantially from the books and movies. The gravity and wickedness of these acts, repeatedly emphasized in the original content, is significantly diminished throughout Hogwarts Legacy. While the initial experience may be captivating, this alteration ultimately hinders the game's overall storytelling.

The Dark Arts in Hogwarts Legacy receive an impressive introduction. As the protagonist befriends Sebastian Sallow, the game gradually explores this forbidden magic, rare in the Wizarding World and stigmatized by society. Although Sebastian acknowledges the grave consequences of employing the Dark Arts, he remains hopeful that they may hold the key to curing his sister. His quest takes him deep into the dungeons of Hogwarts Castle, in search of Salazar Slytherin's hidden Scriptorium.

The introduction to the Harry Potter Dark Arts is almost flawless. Even those unfamiliar with the Harry Potter series will immediately realize the seriousness of this quest. This is evident in the initial Dark Arts mission, where the player and Sebastian navigate through a chilling catacomb and face the dilemma of whether to use the Cruciatus curse on Sebastian or let him use it on them. The atmosphere in this moment conveys the gravity of the Dark Arts effectively.

However, things become somewhat trivial afterwards. In the next Sebastian mission, the player learns Imperio, but there are no repercussions for using it. While Sebastian's uncle disapproves of his use on a goblin, the player receives no punishment for their actions. This lack of consequence continues in the final Sebastian mission. Here, Sebastian kills his uncle with Avada Kedavra and nonchalantly teaches the player the spell. While Sebastian faces severe consequences from the Ministry and Hogwarts, the player can now freely use Avada Kedavra and the other Dark Arts spells without any repercussions.

Despite providing players with a satisfying power boost during the later stages of the game, the ability to utilize all three Unforgivable Curses in combat ultimately undermines the immersive atmosphere carefully established throughout Hogwarts Legacy. Considering the significance of these spells and their inherent moral implications, the absence of any consequences for using them undermines the narrative coherence. As a result, Hogwarts Legacy loses some of its intended immersive fan experience and feels more akin to a sandbox video game. Hogwarts Legacy can be played on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and a Switch release is scheduled for November 14, 2023.