Summary
The world ofHarry Potterhas been ripe for a nonlinear, open-ended RPG for years, and while the film tie-in games were a half-step into the wizarding world in the game space,Hogwarts Legacyis the biggest indicator that the IP has a lot of potential on the medium. It’s an excellent glimpse into a wonderful and magical setting, and the gameplay structures in place ensure it feels as good to play as it does to ogle at, meaningHarry Potterfansfinally had something of quality to stand by.
Hogwarts Legacyis an impressive feat, but now that the game has received critical acclaim and strong sales in a 2023 year that is packed with worthwhile experiences, the challenge for developer Avalanche is finding a way to successfully follow it up with something equally refreshing. Spells are very important inHogwarts Legacy, but while there are a lot to choose from, the same slate of abilities in the sequel would run the risk of it not raising the bar enough, and so the developer may have to be more ambitious.
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Spells are Essential in Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacyhas players assume the role of a fifth-year student at the iconic school. A lot of the time will be spent attending classes, liaising with other students and collecting one of the manyfield guide pages littered around Hogwarts, but there are times when a spell will need to be cast. This could be for both combat or exploration purposes, as Confringo, Stupefy, and Incendio can be used to take down enemies, but Alohomora, Lumos, and Revelio are essential to keep the exploration feeling worthwhile.
Hogwarts Legacyallows players to learn the three unforgivable curses, Crucio, Avada Kedavra, and Imperio, if they follow Sebastian Sallow’s quest line.
Magic is at the heart ofHogwarts Legacy, it’s not just a means to add some flavor to the setting and world. The experience relies on spells to keep the gameplay fresh and the progression loop rewarding, so while the mechanics are solid in the first game, the sequel has to either improve the existing ones or bring on new charms to make the follow-up feel truly justified. The way combat unfolds is something that never seems to get boring, and deploying the same (or very similar) system but with new magical abilities would likely be welcomed by fans.
Avalanche Could Go in New Directions in Hogwarts Legacy’s Sequel
Newspells not featured inHogwarts Legacylike Obscuro (conjure a blindfold over people’s eyes to block their view), Serpensortia (summoning a snake), and Sectumsempra (lacerates the target and causes blood loss) could shake up the gameplay by implementing new mechanics that can help players dispatch bad guys, or have more agency over the terrain. Not only this but bringing familiar abilities to the game could further serve to make it align with the source material and make it all the more immersive as a result.
Hogwarts Legacyincludes a total of 34 spells, all of which are categorized as damage, control, transfiguration, force, and unforgivable, to make them easier to prioritize.
ThePotterlicense is packed with spells that could benefitHogwarts Legacy, but there’s no rule against Avalanche even going so far as to create their own.Severus Snape showed this to be possible in The Half-Blood Princeand with a historical setting,Hogwarts Legacy 2(or whatever it may be called) could show how some of the spells came to be, creating a solid link to Harry’s journey and the part of the franchise most are familiar with. Whatever it decides to do, spells have to be revised inHogwarts Legacy’s much-anticipated sequel.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
