Despite being set in the nineteenth century and in the world of a literary saga that is more than twenty years old, Hogwarts Legacy is an extremely modern video game: not only in its sophisticated open-world mechanics, but also in translating the series from which it is based into an interactive form, focusing more on the universe of the work than on its protagonists. Just like a modern video game related to the Marvel universe or that of Star Wars almost never directly traces the films, in Hogwarts Legacy we won’t find ourselves controlling Harry Potter or competing for the Triwizard Tournament against Cedric Diggory. However, we will be at Hogwarts, the famous school of magic in England, and we will first of all be able to do what we have always wanted to do: explore the castle. And even if Hogwarts Legacy it’s far from just that, that alone is enough to satisfy Potterheads.
Hogwarts Legacy it takes place between the school, the nearby village of Hogsmeade and a vast map of the surrounding areas, but does not go to other places dear to the saga such as the Ministry of Magic or Diagon Alley. However, it lacks nothing that we Muggles loved about the Wizarding World: snitches, think tanks, hippogriffs, the Sorting Hat, centaurs and dragons. But also (and above all) that “everyday life” of magic that makes the original work special. You will therefore spend a lot of time in the castle, busy between lessons or secret rooms to be opened by enhancing the Alohomora spell. Hogwarts Legacy, however, is not a magical life simulator: it is a real role-playing game, in which you advance mission by mission by increasing your magical arsenal, with clothes helping to boost your attack and defense. There is a rich and well-told story, involving numerous classmates, professors and residents of Hogsmeade, and a mystery to be solved about ancient magic and a spell gone wrong centuries ago.
Our protagonist, who we will be able to customize in a complete but not too detailed editor, is a particular Hogwarts student: he will be admitted to the courses directly in the fifth year. There’s obviously a reason, but he’ll have little time to master the spells before he’s thrown into the action. The spells, in Hogwarts Legacy, they are used for everything: opening doors, solving puzzles in dungeons, taking care of magical animals and of course fighting. The system of clashes with enemies is entrusted to spells that can be chained to obtain combos, to the Defendo spell to parry, and a somersault to dodge. There are all the incantations made famous by books and movies, from the harmless Wingardium Leviosa to the unforgiving Crucio and Avada Kedavra. Once learned, since they are unlocked during the adventure, they can be combined with a button on the controller. Fun, rewarding and spectacular: the combat system of Hogwarts Legacy it is one of its best aspects.
Hogwarts Legacy it is a game full of activities to carry out, and with secondary missions that have nothing to envy to the main ones: you are faced with at least thirty hours of solid gameplay without slowing down, if anything the opposite. In fact, it can happen that you have the impression of having too many things to do all at once. Luckily the level design is masterfully done and it’s very rare to get stuck or have filler moments. To move quickly from one point to another on the map there are the classic teleporters, but it is also possible to ride a broom or a winged animal: this part of the game is also made with extreme care and is functional as well as faithful to what we would expect from a game related to Harry Potter.
A great game then, but where Hogwarts Legacy it goes off the charts it’s in the fan service, as if to say: we’ve waited decades to get into Hogwarts, now we want to see every angle. And so it is: the level of detail of the title is simply indescribable until you touch it with your hand. Every square meter of the castle is a world to explore, and everything is exactly as you would have imagined after reading the books and watching the movies. Avalanche deserves credit for having been able to reproduce the glimpses of the films in an incredible way, adding something of Fantastic Beasts and enriching them with a personality and a level of depth that is completely impossible for a film. Hogwarts Legacy it actually gives the feeling of living in and around Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, making you want to go back there every time you pick up the controller.
Format: PS5 (version tested), Xbox Series X|S, PC publisher: Warner Bros. Games Developer: Avalanche Software Vote: 9/10
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