One of the most anticipated games of the upcoming year is Hogwarts Legacy, and in many respects, it appears to be the game that we both need and need.
As 2022 comes to a close, celebrations of the top moments of the year include The Game Awards and even our own internal best of year pieces. However, it’s also necessary to look ahead to the following year and consider what thrilling games are in store for us there. One such game is the forthcoming Hogwarts Legacy from Avalanche Software, which fans of the genre appear to have been waiting so long for. There are therefore many expectations for this game, as is only normal.
We are certain that the game will live up to all expectations and provide a top-notch experience based on what we know about it and how it is developing. But more than that, we have a strong suspicion that Hogwarts Legacy might end up being one of the biggest box office successes of 2023, and there are several reasons for that to be the case.
When consoles were in their fifth and sixth generations, action adventure games were all the rage. The popularity of games based on this IP started to decline as the movies that inspired them came to an end, yet some are still warmly remembered to this day while others fell short in some way. After quite a few years, Hogwarts Heritage is still carrying on the legacy, and that fact alone has drawn the interest of hundreds of millions of fans worldwide to learn more about what’s in store.
Hogwarts Legacy has some really interesting gameplay concepts and ideas that should make for a spectacular experience, so Avalanche Software isn’t solely counting on the success of action-adventure games for it to be a big hit. But let’s talk about the tale for a moment before getting into the specifics. The plot in some action-adventure games that came before was rather confined and predictable since they were tie-in releases for movies, which has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Additionally, Hogwarts Legacy is an original narrative that is unrelated to the plot of any current or prospective film or television programme. As a result, it offers the designers a lot of leeway to manoeuvre and create something that truly speaks to the style of gameplay that Avalanche is aiming for in the finished product.
Hogwarts Legacy will put players in the role of a fifth-year student at this wizarding school as they go out on a more extensive quest to learn the various secrets of an old magic power. This is exactly what the developer is doing. As you can see, this is a fairly straightforward framework that enables the story to be fairly open-ended and encourages players to explore every nook and cranny of the magnificent palace known as Hogwarts as they delve further and further into the numerous conspiracies and other hidden secrets of this region. For an open-world game like this one, it’s a fantastic concept, and hopefully it will be used to great use.
The gameplay of Hogwarts Legacy appears to be exactly what one would anticipate from a game about attending the most famous institution for wizardry. Before beginning the story, you will have the ability to utilise a character generator to design your player to your tastes. You will also have the chance to choose the preferred House of your choosing. Naturally, these decisions will undoubtedly have some impact on how the initial phases of your game unfold before you give your character new spells and skills.
On that subject, we should also point you that, in contrast to earlier games based on this franchise, Hogwarts Legacy will lean more toward RPG aspects. Therefore, it follows that one of the most crucial aspects of the experience will be growth. As you progress through the narrative, you’ll discover new spells that should increase the number of weapons in your toolbox and, consequently, the variety of battle possibilities. The most intriguing aspect of it all is how your academic development at Hogwarts will influence how your character develops. For example, if you befriend a particular NPC or take classes in a particular field, you will unlock unique spells and abilities that will aid you in challenging combat situations. It’s also important to note that various players will approach warfare in different ways. For example, you may utilise all of your might to stop an adversary in its tracks or you might use more inventive strategies, such disillusionment charms, to eliminate them covertly.
As an open-world game, Hogwarts Legacy shows that Avalanche Software is at the top of their game when it comes to creating intriguing virtual worlds. If the side quests maintain the same level of quality in writing and content as the main path, Hogwarts Legacy could definitely end up being a great game to really sink your teeth into. The school of Hogwarts will be brimming with interesting side activities and quests to pursue that will make you stronger.
But in order for an open world to flourish, it must be excellent in both form and function. And luckily, Hogwarts Legacy pays incredible attention to detail in order to cover the latter. The finished output reflects the Avalanche Software artists’ profound affection for the original source material. The game’s creators have already released a clip that depicts a typical hot summer day at several locations on the game area. The lighting and draw distance are two obvious strengths of this visual style. Finally, it’s all capped off with excellent support for the DualSense controller and 3D Audio features of the PS5 — and those who opt to play Hogwarts Legacy on this system will undoubtedly have a blast — as well as the bonus of a system-exclusive quest in the shape of The Haunted Hogsmeade Shop.
Hogwarts Legacy should, in theory, be a fantastic game because of all these elements working together, so how is it one of the year’s biggest hits? As of right now, February 2023 is jam-packed with high-profile releases including Horizon: Call of the Mountain, Atomic Heart, and Like A Dragon: Ishin, among others. Its release date may have had a significant role in this. However, it will strengthen the game’s case for being a blockbuster hit if it treats the fans fairly and offers a memorable journey. Therefore, we may assume that the game will be marketed to a bigger audience that includes both gamers and non-gamers, which might propel Hogwarts Legacy’s sales numbers to new heights. If Hogwarts Legacy can live up to its promises, like we witnessed with Stray last year, it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest successes moving ahead.