Hogwarts Legacy is set to release on February 10, but the review code provided allows the review ban to be lifted earlier today. After only a few days with the game, I’m not ready to make a final judgment. But the about 18 hours I’ve been playing are helping to create a clear picture.
At the time, my most striking impression was that the developers captured what was different and memorable about this novel. Set decades before Harry Potter stories unfolded in books and movies, the game has the ability to tell its own story with its own refreshing characters – even if there are a handful they are as familiar as Weasley and Black. in the mixture. For gamers who are familiar with the book or movie, it will be interesting to explore the massive castle and surrounding countryside, which is filled with secrets, side quests, unique characters and magical discoveries. .
Visually, the game is a fun game that captures the weird and wonderful elements that helped make the franchise so popular in the first place, while also finding a way to make every minute of the game’s life more enjoyable. The game comes out with a magical bit of tweaking, reminding the player that this is a fantasy game. world. However, I did run into many technical glitches, including frequent pops up when moving quickly through an environment and some weird glitches in action and combat.
The developers clearly aim for this to be a definitive game in the Wizarding World. They gave players a lot of options, from broom riding to fighting spiders to classes with eccentric and gritty professors. Even after more than a dozen hours, I still feel the guiding elements appear quite often. However, in a game about being a student in school, the story around those tutorials feels natural, and learning mechanics, spells, operations, or intros New characters are divided into long chains to explore and complete exciting quests.
Combat is fun, mainly because of the spells you cast and the animations that go with them. Enemies rarely impress with their nuanced attacks, and so far, there are too few enemy types I’ve encountered. But I love firing fire and ice spells, learning enemy weaknesses, breaking color-coded shields with specific attacks, and simply feeling like I’m in the middle. A magic match full of action.
Exploration, meanwhile, is incredibly fun. Running around the castle, I’m constantly distracted from my quests to chase a flying key or solve a hidden puzzle – and that’s the thing to do if the goal is to match your vibe. inspirational stories. In recent hours, I’ve picked up a broom and flew outside the castle, which is both fun and a rewarding navigation experience. Thankfully, the game also includes plenty of quick-travel spots, making it relatively easy to navigate around the vast map.
Upgrading and leveling happens through completing world quests and challenges, and that’s a lot of fun. The best part is that the talents can sometimes dramatically change your approach to stealth, combat, or exploration. But the device development process is also interesting, thanks to a clever system that allows players to separate the functional development from the cosmetic tweaks. I find a lot of gear in the world as I explore – sometimes a bit too much, especially since it doesn’t always improve my personality and is only sold at the nearest store. But it’s a minor issue and each new piece adds a new cosmetic tweak to my collection, which I love so much.
Hogwarts Legacy is shaping up to be a fascinating game, but I still have some questions. While the dialogue and voice acting have been excellent so far, the story is struggling a bit with pacing and finding a groove. And I’m eager to have all my magical options available as I explore and battle, to see how complicated things turn out in the end.
In addition to the critical review of Hogwarts Legacy, many potential players following the game have learned of a larger conversation surrounding its release. Publicly announced adaptations from Harry Potter author JK Rowling in recent years have led to a broader discussion of support for a game rooted in her work. That ongoing conversation includes some who have called for a boycott of the product. Like all of our reviews, Game Informer’s Hogwarts Legacy review will judge the game itself rather than any concerns or arguments surrounding it, which won’t affect the score. our number. In this case, however, our review will also include a separate note to alert potential buyers to the broader conversation surrounding the game so that each reader can make an informed decision. Buy wisely.
We will have more to share about the Hogwarts Heritage in the coming days. Look for the game that will release to the public on February 10th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, with early access for those who purchase the premium version on February 7th. The game will launch on PS4 and Xbox One on April 4, with a further launch on Switch scheduled for July 25.
