Why Hogwarts Legacy's Storytelling Triumphs Without a Morality System

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Hogwarts Legacy's story had moments that raised questions of morality, but they were mostly kept separate and inconsequential. Unlike Bioware and Bethesda RPGs, the game didn't let players dictate their characters' moral boundaries. This decision helped maintain the story's flow and provided a cohesive gameplay experience.

Before its launch, not many predicted the success of Hogwarts Legacy. However, the game's high-quality trailers and gameplay reveals, along with its association with one of the world's most popular IPs, generated high expectations. Despite this, the game exceeded even the most optimistic projections in terms of critical reception and profitability. While Avalanche Software and Warner Brothers had no initial plans for a large-scale DLC, it wouldn't be surprising if plans changed in the future.

Hogwarts Legacy Does a Fine Job at Blurring the Line Between Right and Wrong

The plot of Hogwarts Legacy delved into some dark themes, centering around a goblin uprising that highlighted issues of discrimination and classism. While Ranrok's revolution may have seemed like a fight for justice, it ultimately boiled down to a struggle for power, leaving the player character with a difficult choice: claim the power for themselves or seal it away forever. Alongside the main storyline, the game also explored the melancholic character arcs of Sebastian Sallow, Ominis Gaunt, and the dangers of succumbing to the darkness in order to save a loved one.

The option to choose between a good or bad ending was a welcome addition to Hogwarts Legacy, providing a satisfying conclusion for players regardless of their preference. However, implementing a full morality system with player choice influencing the narrative would have detracted from the game's tight, well-paced storytelling. The hero's journey presented in the game was reminiscent of the Harry Potter books, and altering the story and gameplay to allow for more player agency would have been a risky move. In the end, Avalanche Software struck a good balance between player choice and a compelling storyline.

A Morality System in Hogwarts Legacy Would Weaken its Total Package

The option to learn the three Unforgivable Curses in Hogwarts Legacy adds an interesting layer to the gameplay. However, players can choose to skip these lessons with little impact on the overall story. While it would have been impressive for the game to alter the narrative based on these decisions, it would have required a complete overhaul of the entire game. Opting out of learning the Unforgivable Curses simply limits gameplay options, which is a small example of what would happen with a morality system in the game.

Some suggest that a morality system could balance content for good and evil playthroughs. However, it's challenging to create a storyline that reacts differently to a character's morality without crafting an entirely new narrative. Also, the game does not lend itself well to playing as an evil character. The experience of being introduced to the wizarding world at Hogwarts is one of whimsy and boundless possibilities, making it difficult to reconcile a character's sudden turn towards evil. While some dialogue in the game hints at the possibility of a morality system, it ultimately isn't necessary for Hogwarts Legacy to be a strong title.

Hogwarts Legacy is currently available on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. It will be released on the Nintendo Switch on November 14, 2023.