Hogwarts Legacy is finally out and as players explore the hallways of the wizarding school, they are discovering just how many secrets are hidden. Almost every object can be interacted with, and tinkering with random items pays off, as it can lead to unexpected outcomes. Despite Hogwarts Legacy's massive scope, it places a huge emphasis on convenience, allowing players to adjust their experience to their liking. Most importantly, side-quests can be completed at any point, even during the post-game. This is something that more open-world games should embrace, as it allows players to engage with as much content as possible.
The content that players have access to is slightly affected by which they are sorted. Regardless, all houses reach the same narrative conclusion, though completionists will want a playthrough from the perspective of each of the four houses. Fortunately, thanks to the enchanting soundtrack, wandering Hogwarts seldom gets old.
Hogwarts Legacy Does Not Lock Players Out of Content
Players arrive at Hogwarts as fifth-year students, which means they have a bit of catching up to do. The task is made easier by the fact that there are friends and helpful professors around to help players get acquainted with the castle. Despite the support system, it is quite easy to miss a lot of what Hogwarts castle has to offer, which is why the Wizard's Field Guide comes in handy often. It can point players in the right direction if they get lost, and it keeps track of useful collectibles, including the stunning portraits around the castle.
Although players receive a lot of help when it comes to navigating the castle, it is still easy to miss some of its secrets or to not have conversations with the right students to trigger a side quest. Hogwarts Legacy doesn't punish players for this, however. Regardless of where players are in their playthrough, players can always access any side content they might have skipped over. This is good news for players who might not be so good at exploring and may accidentally miss content. It also benefits players who may be distracted by Hogwarts Legacy's gripping main story and struggle to pull themselves away for long enough to complete side quests.
Hogwarts Legacy's focus on convenience is something that should be emulated by other massive open-world games which often leave gamers in a position where they may miss out on completing side quests if they progress too far into the main story. This is especially true in Red Dead Redemption 2 where it is frustratingly easy to miss out on content, making a 100% completion of RDR 2 in a single playthrough difficult unless one adequately plans for it. It is understandable why this occurs, as some of the side quests are tied to specific plot points, though it is arguably a worse game design than Hogwarts Legacy's.
Hogwarts Legacy Is Dedicated to Convenience
With its slew of settings, players can fine-tune their Hogwarts Legacy experience. For players who wish to increase how immersive the game is, there is the option to turn off the HUD and quest notifications. While this might result in gamers getting lost more often, it also leaves players with a clean screen devoid of any distractions. Several accessibility options allow a wide range of gamers to enjoy the experience. This includes colorblind modes and an audio visualizer that visually displays key sound effects.
Hogwarts Legacy provides an interesting take on the open-world genre, delivering environments that feel massive and interesting. The magical castle alone provides enough for players to do whether it involves dueling, taming magical creatures, attending magical classes, or solving mysteries. Players can also venture beyond the walls of Hogwarts and visit locations like Hogsmeade and Azkaban prison, doing so in a truly convenient manner.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.