

Plus, there’s the expected skill tree that slowly unlocks as you level up. You’ll also be periodically rewarded with cosmetic-only outfits as you complete sets of in-game challenges. There are dozens of clothing items to unlock, and many of them can be further upgraded and enhanced. Naturally, the side quests aren’t as fleshed out as the story-critical ones, but they offer the chance to spend time with some eccentric characters and further add to the game’s incredible sense of adventure.Įven if open-world objectives can get pretty repetitive, your exploration and questing are always extremely well rewarded. Alongside optional activities like thrilling broomstick races and a simple, but fun, mini-game called Summoner’s Court. You’ll stumble upon numerous side quests while exploring the open world. There are quaint little wizarding hamlets to uncover, but the open-world map is stuffed with repetitive side content like bandit camps and puzzle trials that primarily feel like an exercise is checking an item off a long list. The larger open surrounding the castle and village doesn’t always fare quite as well. Spending time in the village of Hogsmeade is similarly enticing as you browse the colorful shops and meet the town’s many kooky inhabitants. Plus, you’re given reason to repeatedly explore as new areas slowly unlock over the course of the game giving you access to even more collectibles and reward chests. The beloved fictional castle has been truly brought to life thanks to fantastic visual design that makes it feel both cozy and sprawling. From gargoyles that suck you up and transport you to hidden treasure rooms to arithmancy puzzles that must be solved using a numerical decoder, around every corner you’ll find something to distract you. Hogwarts itself is the clear star of the show, and the castle is jam-packed with secrets to discover and collectibles to acquire. There is a fast travel system but don’t be surprised if you end up neglecting it in favor of roaming the open world on foot, or you can fly high above the clouds on a broom or Hippogriff. And it’s in this area that the game shines brightest.Įxploring Hogwarts Legacy’s two main locations is nearly always a pure delight.

One of Hogwarts Legacy’s biggest selling points prior to launch was the chance to wander the school corridors and potter around the charming wizarding village of Hogsmeade. Hogwarts Legacy review: Exploration and upgrades You’ll venture into dungeons packing puzzles that demand familiarity with your spellbook, alongside the sternest test of your combat prowess with large-scale enemy encounters and even a few memorable boss battles. The main story quests blend these two aspects of Hogwarts Legacy and present elaborately-detailed locations to explore. And the rewards nearly always make spending the extra time to thoroughly search your surroundings worthwhile. Many of the puzzles are as simple as casting a single spell on an object, but thanks to a well-placed musical jingle upon completion even the most straightforward brain teaser feels satisfying. Although, on the highest difficulty, the cumbersome spell-switcher becomes more of an annoyance.Īs noted, the other key pillar of the game is puzzle solving both in the open world and during missions. While you can just spam the basic attack spell on the easier difficulties, select the hard setting and you’re forced to carefully combine your conjurings for the greatest impact possible. Firing off a stunning spell and watching your enemy crumple is enjoyable even after hundreds of casts - add in spells that imbue elemental effects and things get even more hectic. Combat is an excellent mix of strategic spell-casting and glossy visual effects. Fortunately, both these aspects hold your attention.

Your spells have two primary utilities: combat and puzzle solving.

You will attend class in order to grow your repertoire of spells, but these lessons are presented as critical missions at key points in the story rather than scheduled activities that you can opt to engage with at specific times.
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Although, it should be noted that Hogwarts Legacy is not a high school simulator in the vein of the popular Persona series. Once you’ve settled on a look and a suitably magical name, it’s time to knuckle down and begin studying. (Image credit: Avalanche Software/WB Games)
