It could be a while before audiences learn more about the sequel toHogwarts Legacy, but it’s almost certainly coming.2023’s Wizarding World RPG smashed sales recordsworldwide, quickly being praised as the bestHarry Pottergame ever made, despite (or perhaps because of) its omission of the titular hero. It would be surprising if Warner Bros. opted to leave money on the table and not release aHogwarts Legacy 2.
But for all its strengths,Hogwarts Legacycertainly has room for improvement. It’s aimed at casual players, which is fine, but this design philosophy results in frustratingly simple, bland gameplay. Combat is perhaps the greatest victim of this streamlining, as it mostly boils down to a spin on theBatman: Arkhamcombat system with some rock-paper-scissors vulnerability systems thrown in for good measure. There’s little strategic depth beyond linking the correct spell type to the corresponding enemy shield and landing the fairly obvious parry timing, and overpowered abilities like Avadakadavra make matters even worse. When developing the next game’s combat sandbox, there are ways that Avalanche could flesh things out, making the overall experience deeper and more gratifying.
Spell-Based Upgrades Could Be an Easy Fix for Hogwarts Legacy’s Combat
Hogwarts Legacy’s Combat Deserves More Depth
For all its shortcomings,Hogwarts Legacy’s combat is at least satisfying. Put plainly, it feels good to hurl spells at an opponent, alternating between various different spell types for wacky and bizarre effects. Indeed, Avalanche Software deserves particular praise for expertly translating the frenetic and graceful combat of theHarry Potterfilms to the interactive medium;Hogwarts Legacyfeatures far and away the best spell-casting system of anyHarry Pottergame.
But looking past the veneer of visual flair and the satisfying sensation of smooth controls,fighting inHogwarts Legacyis disappointingly bland. Playerscanexperiment with different spell combinations, but this is rarely encouraged, as there aren’t significant rewards for such experimentation, nor do combat encounters ever get difficult enough to warrant more outside-the-box thinking. A spellcrafting system of some kind could be a solution to this problem, as it would offer deeper engagement with each spell, allowing players to either buff or augment them in meaningful ways. As a result,Hogwarts Legacy2’s combat could retain its approachable aura while presenting a path for mastery and expression for players that want to follow it.
Spell Upgrades Could Give Hogwarts Legacy 2 Some Much-Needed Build Variety
Hogwarts Legacyalready has a handful of spell upgrades, but these are linked to overall progression and don’t come with any trade-offs. For instance, players can gain an ability that causes a ring of flame to be activated upon casting Incendio, and this is only a positive: there’s no reason to not select this upgrade, and there are no alternate options. This might please players looking for a straightforward power fantasy, but it effectively denies the incorporation of an action-RPG staple: build-crafting.
It’s next to impossible to create, say, an offensive-focused wizard with low defense, inHogwarts Legacy. In a game likeElden Ring, players can invest all their upgrade points into a single stat if they wish, opening the door to risky, inventive, and unique playstyles. This is only possible because of modular, player-controlled progression.Hogwarts Legacy 2probably won’t feature typical statslike strength and dexterity, but it could replace such stats with spells. Players could opt for a control-focused build, for instance, dispatching enemies through unconventional means, or they could choose to only upgrade damage spells, modifying them with elemental bonuses and the like, becoming the ultimate damage-dealing powerhouse at the expense of support-focused abilities.
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.
