Highlights
Criticism has been directed towards certain aspects of the Hogwarts Legacy video game for deviating from the original source material. However, the Ghost of Our Love quest truly embodies the essence of the Harry Potter universe by offering diverse starting points tailored for each Hogwarts house.
The quest challenges players to solve a puzzle and grants them valuable rewards. The initial location of the quest varies depending on the player's house affiliation - Gryffindor begins in Hogsmeade, Slytherin starts in the Squid Cave, Ravenclaw begins in the Owlery, and Hufflepuff starts in the vault beneath Upper Hogsfield.
Taking players into the foreboding Forbidden Forest, the quest evokes a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of the adventures in Harry Potter. While Hogwarts Legacy may have overlooked the significance of the Hogwarts houses in the overarching storyline, the Ghost of Our Love quest exemplifies how future games can faithfully depict the world of Harry Potter.
Video game adaptations of popular media often struggle to accurately depict and capture the essence of what fans expect from the silver screen. Harry Potter-themed titles are no exception to this. While Hogwarts Legacy received praise for its impressive features and gameplay, there were certain aspects that didn't resonate well with some fans. These fans felt that the game didn't give enough importance to the houses, which are a significant part of the Harry Potter universe. However, Avalanche Software, the developer of Hogwarts Legacy, managed to create a few quests that beautifully captured the essence of the Harry Potter franchise, almost like love letters to the original media.
Even years after the conclusion of the main Harry Potter storyline, the franchise still holds a strong presence in the fantasy gaming market. This is evident from the recent resurgence of Hogwarts Mystery and the record-breaking sales of Hogwarts Legacy on Steam. While some quests in Hogwarts Legacy may have deviated from the typical Harry Potter exploration experience, and the puzzle mechanics may not have suited every player, the Ghost of Our Love mission perfectly combines all the elements that made the franchise beloved in the first place.
Ghost of Our Love's Starting Points Have Something Different for Each House
In Hogwarts Legacy, exploring Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest is crucial in the battle against Ranrok and his minions. Along the way, discovering treasure chests becomes essential for upgrading gear, collecting coins, and accomplishing quests. While some missions in Hogwarts Legacy have faced criticism for lacking unique elements for each Hogwarts house, there is one quest, called "Ghost of Our Love," that provides a truly immersive Harry Potter experience. This mission, like many others, requires players to solve a quick puzzle and offers valuable loot as a reward. However, the starting location of the quest differs depending on the player's affiliation.
For Gryffindor players, the quest commences in the cozy town of Hogsmeade, whereas Slytherin residents begin their journey in the Squid Cave beneath the Hogwarts Castle. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students, on the other hand, start in the Owlery and the vault beneath Upper Hogsfield, respectively. To aid players in their quest, they are provided with a map to decipher. The map includes illustrations of trees, ruins, floating candles, a wand, and a bridge. At first glance, these images may not offer much guidance. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the wand's image resembles that of the Lumos spell, which holds the key to solving the puzzle in the "Ghost of Our Love" mission.
In the vicinity of Hogwarts, numerous bridges can be found, but the one of significance to the quest is located near the Forbidden Forest Floo Flame, just north of the School of Wizardry and Witchcraft grounds. Under the cover of night, players will utilize Lumos to traverse the bridge, resulting in the appearance of three floating candles. Following the guiding light of these candles will lead gamers deeper into the foreboding Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts Legacy, passing by the depicted ruins on the map, until they reach a chest enveloped in an even greater number of floating candles. Unlocking the chest marks the completion of the Ghost of Our Love quest, rewarding players with appearance gear and experience points.
Embarking on this journey into the feared Forbidden Forest evokes memories of Harry Potter's own adventures in the books and movies. While the quest itself may not present any imminent dangers, an unsettling feeling permeates the air, effectively capturing the ominous essence of the forest. Additionally, the inclusion of various starting points for each Hogwarts house adds a delightful touch, allowing gamers to explore new areas in subsequent playthroughs in order to fulfill the mission. While Hogwarts Legacy missed the mark in fully integrating the renowned Hogwarts houses into its storyline, the multifaceted nature of the Ghost of Our Love quest serves as a exemplar for future games in terms of accurately portraying the world of Harry Potter.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Switch version will release on November 14.