Hogwarts Legacy has at long last revealed gameplay footage at PlayStation's latest State of Play today. Now, much has been portrayed from the Harry Potter-inspired action-RPG, and Avalanche Software's deep-dive on mechanics gives players something they can look forward to.
As an overview of what players can anticipate, Hogwarts Legacy showcased cinematics and gameplay throughout Hogwarts' castle grounds, as well as activities and adventures players can embark upon past the castle's walls. This is the first official gameplay shown for Hogwarts Legacy, and fans have since wondered what spell-casting duels would look like as the game's source of combat. The wait is fortunately over as fans have received their first look at combat with many spells and interesting techniques to consider.
Today's gameplay presentation segues into combat features with an in-depth look at Hogwarts Legacy's intricate spells. In Hogwarts Legacy, enemies will be comprised of "creatures corrupted by a magical force, powerful goblins, and sinister witches and wizards." Hogwarts Legacy's protagonist can be seen up against multiple foes at once who all use "Blasting Curses, Stunning Spells, enchanted weaponry, and more." To withstand these enemies, multiple spells will be at the player's disposal for unique combinations and specific vulnerabilities.
Thankfully, the Shield Charm allows players to "deflect ranged spells and direct weapon strikes." Hogwarts Legacy's spells are fired in rapid succession with flashy animations and specifically colored effects for each as a visual cue. Expelliarmus is seen used to disarm a stone knight and then destructively hurl their sword into them. Accio looks primarily useful in Hogwarts Legacy's environmental puzzles, but is also used in combat to draw enemies close for follow-up attacks. Moreover, Descendo slams midair opponents into the ground while Incendio incinerates opponents.
Red barrel interactable objects in the environment can be magically hurled at enemies that are incapacitated and suspended in midair. Further, Stunning Charms are used for effective counterattacks that players can "follow up with extended spell combinations." What looks like a Priori Incantatem appears in the showcase between the player-character and another wizard, and it is confirmed that players will be able to use the particularly grisly Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra.
Elemental status affinities and incapacitation spells seem like they will be of great use to players depending on the situation and which enemies they face. Spell-based combat and duels are only a piece of the overall gameplay encompassed in Hogwarts Legacy, as the extended gameplay showcase demonstrates. As a late-entry fifth year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it will be exciting to see what other spells and combat are part of the player's arsenal when Hogwarts Legacy launches this holiday.
Hogwarts Legacy is currently scheduled to release in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.