PlayStation’s latest State of Play finally graced audiences with an outstanding look at the upcoming Harry Potter RPG Hogwarts Legacy from Portkey Games. It was a fantastic little event that dived into the aesthetics, mechanics, and narrative elements that players will experience when they pick up Hogwarts Legacy. There is a lot to go through, so we thought a brief round up would help contextualize some of the reveals dropped during the gameplay.
in Hogwarts Legacy you can “become the student you’ve always wanted to be as you experience life at Hogwarts and embark on a journey through the wizarding world. Discover magical beasts, craft potions, and master spell casting as you uncover the mystery of Ancient Magic.”
For many Harry Potter fans, this is the game we’ve been desperately dreaming of. So, what can we expect during our time at Hogwarts?
Well, let’s get this part out of the way. While some of this game will be heavily influenced by the films, we’re actually going to be exploring a very different Hogwarts. We’re travelling back to the 1890s. Obviously, that means that many of the characters that we know and love will be absent in this game. Dumbledore might be the only character who could appear since he was born in 1881. Depending on the specific date of this game, Dumbledore could be a classmate or a rival. Imagine bumping into Dumbledore in the corridors knowing what awaits him in the future.
Customisation
Like with most RPGs, customisation plays a big role in Hogwarts Legacy. As the player, you need to create the ideal student. The gameplay revealed just how precise you can be when you start your adventure at Hogwarts. You can change your haircolour, style, skin colour, and can even add unique facial features like scars (will there be a lightning bolt?). Once you’ve created your wizarding avatar, you will then have the option to choose your Hogwarts house. Yes, that’s right. Unlike the true sorting hat you actually have the opporunity to choose. While we don’t expect this decision to impact the gamplay, your choice will change the overall look as you’ll be hanging out in your designated dorms donning your house colours with pride.
Hufflepuff, forever and always.
On top of that, fans will also be able to enter the Room of Requirements. This unique room only appears to someone who actually needs it. Based on its function, it looks as though this room will be needed quite a lot. Think of it as a crafting hub. Here, you’ll be able to craft potions, grow plants and raise animals. What’s more, the Room of Requirements will actually be a customizable space allowing players to set up different stations. To that degree, it’s a working progress that will grow and grow as you play.
Story
Hogwarts Legacy isn’t just about spending a year at Hogwarts learning spells and attending classes. Although, that is a core element in this game. In its essence, Legacy is a student experience. However, we all know that nothing is ever that simple at Hogwarts. According to the studio:
“You have received a late acceptance to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and soon discover that you are no ordinary student: you possess an unusual ability to perceive and master Ancient Magic. Only you can decide if you will protect this secret for the good of all, or yield to the temptation of more sinister magic.”
Once again, there appears to be an element of choice. While we’re certain that most players will choose to use their powers for good, the fact that we have the option to take a darker route is incredibly exciting… And tempting. Don’t judge us, evil wizards are cool.
The State of Play chose to focus on another storyline that seems to be in the foreground of this game. You’ll meet Professor Fig who will help you in your quest to figure out the mystery behind your abilities. While that happens, you’ll have to deal with a Goblin rebellion which is being helmed by a Goblin called Ranrock. Of course, there will be many different stories and quests to discover as you make your way through the year.
As a student though, it’s still important to attend class if you want to reign as the top pupil. You’ll be attending classes like Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions. From what we’ve been shown, it looks as thougb these classes will be home to certain minigames and quests that will help level you up and improve your skills in particular areas. Your proficiency in Defense Against the Dark Arts will likely unlock new and dangerous spells for you to unleash on the various enemies that await you outside of Hogwart’s walls.
You won’t be facing these challenges alone either. Get ready to meet your new friends:
Natsai Onia (Gryffindor)- “a brave adventurer driven by the justice she seeks.”
Poppy Sweeting (Hufflepuff)- “a kind heart and loves magical beasts.”
Sebastian Sallow (Slytherin)- “unafraid of detention or breaking the rules.”
Locations
As expected, players won’t be forced to remain in Hogwarts. Although, we’re expecting a lot of our time to spent wondering the great halls and getting lost. Avalanche has confirmed that this is an open world game, meaning that there will be plenty of exploring to do. Just like the films, we’ll be spending the year at Hogwarts which means the seasons will of course change. This should add new elements to the game, and we can’t wait to see how the environment changes.
You can’t have Hogwarts without a trip to Hogsmeade. Just remember your permission form. The village of Hogsmeade will acts as shopping centre where players can buy new gear, outfits (yes!) and supplies. Players will also be required to visit as part of the story.
The lengthy reveal also confirmed that the Forbidden Forest will have a prominent presence in Hogwarts Legacy. Players will be able to venture into the darkness to fight scary beasts and battle mysterious dark wizards.
Combat
This is the part we are most excited about. The Wizarding World would be nothing without the incredible array of spells and enchantments. Thankfully, it looks as though Hogwarts Legacy will lets players experiment with both sides of the same coin. The lighter side of magic, as well as the dark arts. We all heard “Avada Kedavra”, right?
There are stunning spells, spells that can pull enemies towards you, elemental spells, and so many more at your disposal. It will just depend on how you intend on using them. Our favouite bit of this entire gameplay was seeing how stylish the fighting appears. It’s not just flicking your wand. There’s a rhythm to it. With so many options, each encounter will feel different and unique as you experiment with each spell.
As you can see, we’ve barely scraped the surface. There is so much waiting for us at Hogwarts. So much that we haven’t seen, and so much that is being purposely hidden. Unfortunately, some waiting will be required before we receive our very own acceptance letter. No exact date has been given, but Hogwarts Legacy will be launching during the Holiday season of 2022- Probably November or December.
Originally, the game was planned for 2021 but was pushed back so the developers could spend more time refining and tweaking it. Portkey Games released a statement back in January saying “”Creating the best possible experience for all of the Wizarding World and gaming fans is paramount to us so we are giving the game the time it needs.”
You can check out the full gameplay reveal below:
Are you excited for Hogwarts Legacy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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