Hogwarts Legacy Review-in-Progress: 8 hours of gameplay gets you hooked, but maybe the best part's yet to come
Potterheads are definitely in for a treat, cannot say the same for everybody else, but Avalanche Software has tried very hard to disregard J.K Rowling. Here's more on our first impression of Hogwarts Legacy.
Ten days into the launch of Hogwarts Legacy, India Today Gaming had the opportunity of playing the game. After putting in about 8 hours of gameplay, here’s my first impression of the game. If we keep all the controversy around J.K Rowling aside, and try to think of the game as a standalone installment, I can safely agree with the others when they say that it has the potential of being a strong GOTY contender this year.
As for the mass dispersal from J.K Rowling's franchise, the makers of Hogwarts Legacy have assured too many times that the mastermind of Wizarding World has nothing to do with the story of Hogwarts Legacy. But come on, it is the world itself where Hogwarts Legacy is based, that is her creation. The damage control that Avalanche Software has done in the game is starkly on the face, but at the same time, you just cannot ignore the fanservice either.
Inclusivity and Diversity in Hogwarts Legacy
Avalanche Software has gone big with inclusivity and diversity. They’ve included characters from across the world, from different ethnicities, races and color. Natsai Onai, one of the main characters that you will get to encounter in the game, comes from Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. Her mother in fact is the Divination teacher of Hogwarts. We even get to learn quite a bit about Uagadou, the Ugandan school of magic, where she spent her initial years as a student.
Amit Thakkar is another character in the game, as the name suggests, of Indian origin, with whom you get to play a side quest. The Astronomy teacher Professor Satyavati Shah, is another Indian name that we come across in the game. However, the most bothersome feature about them would be their irritatingly fake Indian accents, unfortunately. And that is something that I could point out being an Indian myself. I will not be able to say the same for the Quidditch teacher from Japan, Professor Chiyo Kogawa, or the Care of Magical Beasts teacher, Professor Bai Howin. While diversity in representation is a plus, accurate representation should also have been taken care of, and not just with their back stories. Otherwise, it is just for the sake of making the point.
As for the elephant in the room, the representation of the LGBTQ+ in the game, we have a couple of side characters that you will significantly interact with throughout the game, from the community. One of the most prominent ones would be The Three Broomsticks caretaker Sirona Ryan. Nora Treadwell appears as a propagator of a major sidequest, The Trials of Merlin. You also get to play a sidequest with her wife Priya Treadwell.
Hogwarts Legacy- exploring open world, gameplay, combat & more
Moving on to the good part, and my earlier statement, of Hogwarts Legacy having the potential of being a strong GOTY contender this year. An open world game based on the wizarding world of Harry Potter is a dream come true for ‘wizards’ and ‘witch’ fans of the franchise across the world. And from what I’ve played till now, the open world elements are the best part of the game. The map as I've seen it, is huge, and no it isn't just limited to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. There are places that we've never even heard of before.
The game itself starts on a high note, with action-packed cutscenes, introduction of the main lore of the game, and more, preparing you for what is to come. Eventually, you are introduced to the combat mechanism in the first 40 minutes of the game itself. Clearly, there is a grand mystery to be unearthed, one prime antagonist to be defeated, and multiple mini-game-like puzzles along the way.
Sorting Hat shenanigans
The entry into Hogwarts and walking through the doors, into the Great Hall for the Sorting Hat ceremony, is a brilliant tickle to nostalgia of all the Potterheads out there. And here’s where you might just be waiting for another let down. The Sorting Hat ceremony isn't as elaborate as you’d expect it to be. You’re asked only two very predictable questions, that will lead you to the House of your choice, if you are well versed with the lore. Even if you aren’t, Hogwarts Legacy lets you actively change the House that you have been assigned.
While some of us might like to be sorted into a house for real, this might just be a disappointment. For that, you can link your Pottermore accounts to the game, and continue with your houses, wands, etc. At the same time, this is an indication that maybe the Sorting Hat ceremony isn’t going to be that important of a factor in the nature of the gameplay or story that you might follow. There probably are more important events, as compared to which the Sorting Hat or your House is so much as insignificant. But that is for us to see as the game progresses further.
Classes and spells for combat
The first 8 hours or so, continues to be more of a buildup, for the rest of the game. I already have attended a few classes like that of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions, and have added new spells to my set. As the character starts as a student of the Fifth year, it also means that the OWLs are approaching. Every class has been introduced in a way, that it may have some real life application, and therefore in the game as well. Again, something that I might receive more clarity on as the game progresses.
Regardless, at this point, Hogwarts Legacy is definitely a game that I would like to play further, just to explore what more and new the creators have in store for us. As for the Potterheads, I’m sure you have more reasons to want to play the game, if not for anything else, the sheer fanservice, and the fact that you finally get to walk around in Hogwarts. Till then, stay tuned for the full review which is currently in progress.