Summary
Despite everything thatHogwarts Legacygets right, there are a number of clear areas of improvement that its sequel needs to address. Assuming that the nextHogwarts Legacyis a direct sequeland not set in some other part of the Wizarding World, Warner Bros. would be wise to punch up its portrayal of its Gryffindor characters, making them truer to the source material and more interesting in their own right.
A common criticism ofHogwarts Legacyis that, while it’s mostly consistent in terms of polish and design, it can feel a bit too safe at times. For example, in-game decisions don’t matter as much as they maybe should, considering the game’s position as an ostensibly choice-based RPG. This lack of meaningful and varied choice can be observed in everything from the way the hero interacts with NPCs to theinfamous implementation of the Unforgivable Curses. This can also apply to how the game approaches Hogwarts houses, with characters from each house not feeling quite so distinct in terms of personality, values, or behavior, not to mention the fact that the player’s chosen house has such a small impact on the experience of the game. Gryffindor, the quintessentialHarry Potterhouse, serves as a good case study when examining this issue.
Gryffindor Should See Some Improvement in Hogwarts Legacy 2
Gryffindor Characters Feel Too Similar To Key Figures From Other Houses
To the game’s credit,Hogwarts Legacy’s Gryffindor NPCs are mostly faithful to the source material, with prominent Gryffindors like Natsai Onai embodying the house traits of bravery and chivalry, as evidenced by moments like her hippogriff-stealing quest. However, this portrayal can be somewhat undermined when looking at the NPCs of other houses, such as Poppy Sweeting and Sebastian Sallow, who often exhibit similar traits as the Gryffindor characters.
This phenomenon is evident in many ofHogwarts Legacy’s companion missions. With the exception of Amit Thakkar, most of the protagonist’s closest friends in the game feel very Gryffindor-esque, taking major risks and often being brash, selfless, and heroic. This isn’t to say that non-Gryffindor characters can never exhibit this sort of behavior, but it can make it feel like the Gryffindor personality is actually more like a typical “hero personality,” rising to the surface solely to facilitate exciting missions. A sequel could improve upon this by showing some more flaws that are typical of Gryffindor characters, such as recklessness or stubbornness. This would allow for non-Gryffindor characters to have nuance when it comes to their brave or heroic traits.
Hogwart’s Legacy’s Protagonist’s Relationship with Gryffindor
Although there are some differencesbetween Hogwarts houses inHogwarts Legacy, they are ultimately minor and surface-level. Outside some very brief and inconsequential comments from NPCs, choosing Gryffindor at the start of the game will only truly impact certain cosmetic items, the common room, and access to a single exclusive quest. This may be seen as another area in which the game plays things too safe, offering a barely altered experience through the Gryffindor path.
Though this is certainly easier said than done, the nextHogwarts Legacyshould take steps to make all houses, including Gryffindor, more unique from the player’s perspective. Instead of just a few throwaway comments from NPCs (e.g. “that was pretty good for a Gryffindor”), perhaps NPC relationships could be significantly altered or even locked out entirely due to house prejudice. Instead of just one house-exclusive quest, there could be several, all tied to Gryffindor-specific lore and characters. This would make the nextHogwarts Legacymore replayablewhile elevating its role-playing elements, leading to an experience that is generally more engaging. It would also be more consistent with theHogwarts Legacysource material, which makes Gyrffindor placement out to be a much more impactful life event.
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 may 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.
