Despite it being delayed once again,Hogwarts Legacyis one of the most anticipated games of 2023. As the first open world game set in the Wizarding World,Harry Potterfans have been anxiously awaiting its release since it was first announced. IfHogwarts Legacyis able to deliver on its premise, Avalance Software could have a hit on its hands. However, one important detail critical to the magical experience has yet to be revealed.
TheHarry Potterseries is littered with magical items that have captured fans’ imaginations. From flying broomsticks to magic wands, almost every object in the Wizarding World seemingly has some sort of magical benefit for witches and wizards. While most enchanted items were important narrative devices, there are several that caused more harm than good to the story as a whole. IfHogwarts Legacywants to avoid the faults of its predecessor, it should carefully consider what items it includes in the game.
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Time Turners
In any fantasy or sci-fi story, time travel presents an interesting conundrum. With time travel on the table, any hero or villain could travel back and ensure that their desired outcome takes place.Time turners inHarry Potterwere made famous inThe Prisoner of Azkabanwhen Hermione used one to help her take a few extra classes. After Harry Potter used the time turner to travel back and rescue Sirius Black and Buckbeak, the Ministry of Magic confiscated Hermione’s. The rest of the time turners owned by the Ministry were destroyed in the battle at the Department of Mysteries inOrder of the Phoenix, a detail added after the book was published to eliminate questions of their whereabouts in the remainder of theHarry Potterseries. Although, a time turner did controversially make a reappearance in the playHarry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Time travel was already attempted and failed in theHarry Potteruniverse, and it seems unlikely to return inHogwarts Legacy. Linear storytelling is difficult enough in video games, exploring multiple timelines would only make the game overly complicated. With fans already concerned over the game’s quality due toHogwarts Legacy’s delay, Avalanche shouldn’t muddy the waters any more than it already has.
Horcruxes
Horcruxes are some of the darkest magic in theHarry Potteruniverse. Making a Horcrux requires the user to murder another being and split their soul in two, placing the other part into an item, animal, or person. These objects can then be used to resurrect the creator once they have died. Famously, Voldemort created seven of them as a failsafe before his first death.
While being incredibly powerful, the evil nature of Horcruxes would seemingly put them out of reach forHogwarts Legacy’s protagonist. The game’s villain could pursue their creation, but that would be a boring retread of Voldemort’s story inHarry Potter.Hogwarts Legacywould be better off pursuingnew stories in the Wizarding World.
The Resurrection Stone
As one of the three legendary Deathly Hallows, the Resurrection Stone is one of the most powerful objects in the Wizarding World. By flipping the stone three times, the stone’s holder could resurrect anyone they desire, with an important caveat. Anyone brought back by the Resurrection Stone wasn’t quite human. They were closer to theghosts that roamed Hogwartsthan actual people. As Harry Potter learns inDeathly Hallows, bringing loved ones back in this form isn’t as great as it seems.
The unnamedprotagonist inHogwarts Legacywouldn’t want to bring anyone back in this capacity, greatly diminishing the Resurrection Stone’s significance. Additionally, the stone was famously turned into a family heirloom of the Gaunts, ancestors of Voldemort, and is canonically in Marvolo Gaunt’s possession at the time ofHogwarts Legacy. Bringing it into the game opens a can of worms that Avalanche would be better off leaving alone.
Hogwarts Legacylaunches on February 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch version also in development.
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