Summary
The title of a game likeHogwarts Legacywas layered in its implications, but one element was always certain: it would revolve in and around the school of witchcraft and wizardry. That much was clear, and fans ofHarry Potterand its extrapolated lore had a handful of expectations brought to it. The IP itself will always be marred now with controversy due to theHarry Potterauthor’s gross remarks, butHogwarts Legacyexcelled as an action-RPGfor fans who still played and enjoyed it for one reason or another.
Based on its success, it would be absurd not to presume that aHogwarts Legacysequel will follow. It could continue the narrative ofHogwartsLegacy’s Ancient Magic-wielding protagonist, for example, or it could allow for an entirely new experience and let fans customize another protagonist in a separate adventure. Regardless, with its title tentatively remaining the same before adding a number or a subtitle, it’ll likely keep players at Hogwarts. Still, that doesn’t mean at least some time shouldn’t be spent elsewhere.
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Hogwarts’ Magic Unsurprisingly Comes from the School Year Itself
Not much aboutHarry Potteris extraordinarily popular besides the ongoing events at Hogwarts and its surrounding environs, which is whyHogwarts Legacywas right to capitalize on the castle, Hogsmeade, and the Scottish Highlands’ woods in its open world. It’s not that events and locations beyond Hogwarts don’t have the capacity to be interesting, but they are far less prolific and fans who grew up alongside newHarry Potternovels or movie installments will have nostalgia for each new school year that Harry and his Gryffindor companions attended together.
So much happens in and around those castle walls, dormitories, and classrooms that it has become an integral part of the IP, and rightfully so.Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themmade the only choice it could in trying to cleave away from that iconography to try to recreate that magic in an entirely new setting, and while questionable writing and storytelling practices may be to blame for the franchise’s lackluster output, it’s also telling of how seminal Hogwarts is to the success of the IP.
However, whilereturning to Hogwarts may be inevitable in a possible sequel, it would also do well to explore locales away from the school that could have an equally profound effect on immersing players as magical students. One such locale would be the protagonist student’s childhood home, where they could be headed back to each summer anyhow.
Hogwarts Legacy Should Explore a Magical Student’s Time in the Muggle World
The school year is fascinating for everything that can happen to students while attending classes, engaging in extracurricular activities, or enjoying holiday festivities. But there are still a couple of outlets crucial to any Hogwarts student’s life thatHogwarts Legacyhas yet to touch upon—going to Diagon Alley to retrieve school supplies and visiting home between each school year or semester.
This was obviously a rather unpleasant period of time for Harry to endure seeing as how tumultuous his relationship with his aunt, uncle, and cousin was. However, it would be incredibly exciting to see what a new Hogwarts student protagonist’s home life was like, especially if they wereMuggle-bornand their relationship with their parents or guardians was amicable.
This would give players a rare opportunity to explore a Muggle town and perhaps even partake in non-magical events or interact with other Muggles. If so, part of the game could see players take on side quests or a main quest where they would either attempt to not use magic or succumb to using magic and risk facing repercussions when they arrive at Hogwarts again in the following school year, making for a unique and potentially consequential opening sequence inaHogwarts Legacysequel.
Hogwarts Legacyis out now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch version releasing on November 14.
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