One of the most highly anticipated games of 2023 is Hogwarts Legacy. With the release on the horizon, gamers will soon get to attend magical classes, tame magical creatures, partake in broomstick races, and uncover magical mysteries. Harry Potter fans have been waiting a long time for a game that will let them fully immerse themselves in the life of a Hogwarts student, and it seems Hogwarts Legacy will provide precisely that. Players can choose what kind of student they want to be, even if they want to be a Dark Wizard. Though this is an interesting feature, it could come with some unintended downsides.
Giving players the freedom to indulge in their dark side expands the scope of the game, and it also gives it plenty of replay value. However, without the appropriate checks and balances, things can quickly devolve into chaos. Furthermore, when forbidden Dark Magic such as the Unforgivable Curses can be used freely, they might lose their weightiness.
Players Will Have The Freedom to Play Hogwarts Legacy How They Please
Within the Harry Potter universe, there are three Unforgivable Curses, with the most terrifying perhaps being the killing curse. Hogwarts Legacy trailers have revealed that players will be able to use Unforgivable Curses, though it hasn't been clear how the game would react to the terrible crime. With the highly anticipated game only weeks away from release, it has been revealed that there won't be a morality system that punishes players for using the Unforgivable Curses. As the lead designer Kelly Murphy explained, "if you want to be evil, be evil." The game isn't going to judge you for it.
This is a beneficial choice, as it allows players true freedom regarding role-playing. While many players will want to go the heroic direction, Dark Magic forms a significant part of the Wizarding World, and there will some players who want to explore this path. Hogwarts Legacy will let gamers play as Dark Wizards if they please, which might be appealing to players who plan to enter Slytherin house. It is a very deliberate path, however, as it has also been revealed that the Unforgivable Curses are not taught in school and that players will have to seek them out.
Too Much Freedom in Hogwarts Legacy Could Be a Bad Thing
The Unforgivable Curses are forbidden for a reason. When they are used frivolously, they can cause great carnage. If players access and use these curses, it gives them a big leg up over their rule-abiding peers. This could easily result in players becoming overpowered, and the Unforgivable Curses may also lose their gravitas when they can be freely used by a mere fifth-year student. Though having the ability to play as a Dark Wizard is welcome, not putting some perimeters around Dark Magic could trigger a host of problems.
Fortunately, it does seem that the game will make some effort to reign in the power of Dark Magic. Although players won't be punished by a morality system, according to the narrative director and advanced game writer on Hogwarts Legacy, Moira Squier, the world does react to the use of Unforgivable Curses. Hence, gamers can expect some consequences for using Dark Magic, even if it does not come in the form of a judgmental moral system. For example, as Murphy explains, "characters will react visually and audibly to seeing the player cast an Unforgivable."
Hogwarts Legacy has had to endure heaps of controversy, including calls for a boycott. Nevertheless, judging by pre-order numbers, Hogwarts Legacy may be one of the bestselling games of 2023. For Harry Potter fans hoping for an authentic Wizarding World experience, this could be the game they have been waiting for.
Hogwarts Legacy launches February 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, with PS4 and Xbox One versions coming April 4, and a Switch port releasing July 25.