The outdoor environs are filled with beasts to tame, dungeons to tackle, and chances to hop on your broom to zip across the countryside.Ī wealth of unique systems and mechanics govern the game’s advancement, leading to a mix of exploration, puzzle, and combat gameplay and a satisfying progression of leveling and upgrades.

That dynamic extends beyond the labyrinthine corridors of the castle to the large open world beyond its grounds. Secret doors and discoveries are everywhere, as are plentiful relationships with the young students and eccentric faculty. It’s not hard to understand why characters in the books were always getting into trouble outside class it’s nearly impossible not to get distracted from your path to education by a side quest, collectible chase, or other activity.

If the overarching narrative sometimes feels a little flimsy as a result, it’s buoyed by uniformly excellent dialogue and voice acting that carries the action forward, as well as a standout musical score.įrom the armor suits that come to attention as you pass to books that fly around like birds waiting to be snatched from the air, Hogwarts is a delightful environment to explore. The storytelling sometimes serves as an excuse to hit big beats players expect, like a triumphant ride on a hippogriff or an amusing excursion through the castle while shapeshifted into a humorous character. Circumstances rapidly develop that challenge you to balance your matriculation with a grand extra-curricular adventure involving dark wizards, dangerous goblins, and an ancient form of lost magic. Adopting the role of a witch or wizard of your creation, players arrive at Hogwarts as a new student joining the fifth-year class.

Hogwarts Legacy is a remarkable adventure into the wizarding world of Harry Potter, offering a clever mix of gameplay styles and experiences that keep things fresh for dozens of hours while always maintaining the magical touches that captivate fans.īy setting the game in the 1800s, the developer is able to borrow story elements and locations from later in the timeline, but otherwise tell a new story free of canon constraints. Avalanche Software navigates those challenges with a deft eye and an evident appreciation for the source books and films. It’s a big reason licensed games frequently miss the mark, sometimes failing to find the tone and nuance that made the original version shine. Capturing the essence of an established fiction is tricky business, especially when translating into a new medium.

Wired review hogwarts legacy