As a lifelong Ravenclaw and a Harry Potter aficionado, my excitement for Hogwarts Legacy was through the bloody roof. Seriously, I’ve been waiting for a game like this since the first time I played Chamber of Secrets on my GameCube. But, before we dive into the nitty-gritty of the game, let’s address the giant hippogriff in the room: the J.K. Rowling controversy.
Look, J.K. Rowling has said some things that have upset a lot of people, myself included. Her comments have created a schism in the fandom that’s harder to mend than a broken Horcrux. I get it, and I’m conflicted as hell. But what really pisses me off is the brigade of haters who decided to shame anyone and everyone who dared to play Hogwarts Legacy. For Merlin’s sake, let people enjoy a bit of escapism!
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the game itself. Hogwarts Legacy is a dream come true for any Potterhead. It’s like someone cast “Accio Best Game Ever” and this gem appeared. The good, the bad, and the Avada Kedavra of it all are what we’re diving into today. Grab your wands, Ravenclaws (and the rest of you houses too), and let’s get started.
The Sorting Hat Has Spoken
First things first, I had to make sure my character was sorted into Ravenclaw. Imagine my horror if the game tried to shove me into Slytherin! But thankfully, the Sorting Hat got it right. The character customization is pretty solid. You can make your witch or wizard look like you (or your fantasy version of yourself) and the options are diverse enough to make everyone happy. It’s a little sad, though, that the game doesn’t dig deeper into house-specific storylines. I wanted to feel like a true Ravenclaw, solving riddles and being a know-it-all, but the game kind of glosses over these differences.
The Magic of Exploration
Exploring Hogwarts is everything I dreamed it would be. The castle is breathtakingly detailed, from the Great Hall to the common rooms. As a Ravenclaw, I spent a ridiculous amount of time in our common room, which is perched high in a tower with a view that could make anyone forget about Muggle troubles. The devs did a phenomenal job capturing the magic of the castle and its surroundings. You can almost feel the centuries of history oozing from the walls.
Casting Spells and Taking Names
The spellcasting mechanics are, for the most part, spot on. It feels incredibly satisfying to whip out your wand and cast spells with a few pulls of the triggers. You start with the basics like Lumos and Levioso, and as you progress, you get to learn the big hitters like Avada Kedavra. The combat is fluid, and the combination of spells you can use makes each encounter unique. That being said, the controls can be a bit finicky at times, leading to some frustrating moments where your character decides to do the exact opposite of what you wanted.
The Good: Living the Dream
There’s a lot to love about Hogwarts Legacy. For one, the story is intriguing. Set in the 1800s, you’re not tied to the events of Harry Potter, which gives the game a fresh angle. You’re a late-blooming fifth-year student, which means you’ve got a metric fuckton of catching up to do. There’s a mystery involving ancient magic, dark wizards, and all the Hogwarts shenanigans you’d expect.
The graphics are stunning. Hogwarts and its surroundings are beautifully rendered. I think I spent the first 8 hours just wandering around the castle before I actually did any quests.
You can tell a lot of love and detail went into making the world feel alive. The developers nailed the atmosphere of the Wizarding World, and it’s a joy to just wander around and take it all in.
Side quests are varied and often delightful, filled with magical creatures, hidden treasures, and quirky characters. There’s always something to do, whether it’s brewing potions, attending classes, or exploring forbidden areas of the castle. The ability to fly on a broomstick or ride magical beasts is the cherry on top.
The Bad: Room for Improvement
No game is perfect, and Hogwarts Legacy has its flaws. The voice acting is hit or miss. Some characters sound like they’re reading from a script for the first time, which can pull you out of the immersion. And let’s not even get started on the lip-syncing issues.
The game can also feel a bit grindy at times. Some tasks feel repetitive, and while exploring Hogwarts is a blast, running errands for the sake of padding gameplay can get old quickly.
The morality system is another area where the game falls short. You can learn unforgivable curses, but there’s little consequence to using them. You can straight up cast an Unforgivable Curse in the middle of the great hall, and no one gives a shit.
I really wanted to feel the weight of my choices, but the game doesn’t really punish or reward you for going down a dark path. It’s a missed opportunity that could have added a lot of depth.
The dialogue is a problem I have as well. If you were expecting RPG level dialogue where you have many options to talk to your fellow classmates, guess what? It’s a major disappointment, even worse than Fallout 4. Most dialogue options involve you either being a nice person, or a petty jerk. As much as I love being petty to the jerkass customers I deal with in tech support, sometimes you just want to be a bitch to others. The game, sadly doesn’t deliver on that.
Haters Gonna Hate
Back to the haters for a moment. I’ve seen people get absolutely crucified for daring to enjoy this game. Let’s be real—boycotting the game isn’t going to erase the impact J.K. Rowling has had on the trans community. I support trans rights, and I still love Harry Potter. It’s possible to separate the art from the artist, especially when a massive team of developers, artists, and writers have poured their hearts into creating a game that brings joy to millions.
Playing Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t make you a bad person. It means you’re enjoying a piece of media that’s been a significant part of many of our lives. So, to all the haters: fuck. off. I’m going to keep casting spells and exploring Hogwarts, and I won’t apologize for it.
The Last Word
Hogwarts Legacy isn’t perfect, but it’s a damn good time. It’s a love letter to fans of the Wizarding World, filled with magic, adventure, and nostalgia. The developers have created a game that lets us live out our fantasies of attending Hogwarts, and for that, I’m grateful.
Yes, it has its flaws, and yes, there’s controversy surrounding it. But if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, this game is worth playing. It captures the magic and wonder of the series in a way that no other game has managed to do. So, grab your wand, put on your house colors, and get ready to lose yourself in the world of Hogwarts Legacy.
Ravenclaw forever, bitches.
~ Rita 🖤