Hogwarts Legacyfinally gaveHarry Potterfans the gorgeous open-world RPG they’d been wishing for since they first got a taste of exploring Hogwarts in the originalPhilosopher’s Stonevideo game. Exploring the enormous school interior and doing a spot of shopping in Hogsmeade simply never gets old. The open world, or at least part of it, is what makesHogwarts Legacysuch a compelling RPG in the first place.
Of course, with the sequel now in production and on its way, fans are speculating on what sort of changes it could bring to the formula and world established in the first game. While many may want to see its open world expanded, there’s a good reason why the opposite is true.Avalanche software needs to scale back on its ambitions showcased in the first gamein order to not only deliver a more compelling experience but also ensure thatHogwarts Legacy 2isn’t rushedand ends up feeling like a more hollow game overall.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Ditch The Open World
It Should Be A More Linear Experience
A lot of the time,Hogwarts Legacy’sopen world can feel more like busy work than a genuinely enjoyable place to explore. There are plenty of things to do ormysteries to uncoverinHogwarts Legacy’sworld, but it never quite feels as engaging as exploring the castle or Hogsmeade. That’s largely because, outside a few aspects, it never feels particularly magical or unique, merely being a beautiful rendition of the Scottish Highlands. It is gorgeous to look at but often arduous to actually explore.
It also adopts a lot of gameplay philosophies that were popular in the 2010s but have since gone out of fashion thanks to the likes ofBreath of the WildandElden Ringrevolutionizing open-world design. The incessant map markers, basic quests, and mindless activities such as theawful Merlin Trialsdetract from what is an otherwise magical RPG. Of course, one could easily ignore a lot of these aspects, butmuch ofHogwarts Legacy’smain story takes place in the open world, forcing the player to visit these areas anyway.
As perhaps bizarre as it may sound,Hogwarts Legacy 2needs to ditch this open-world model almost entirely, while introducing a slew of much-needed features and mechanics.
As perhaps bizarre as it may sound,Hogwarts Legacy 2needs to ditch this open-world model almost entirely, while introducing a slew ofmuch-needed features and mechanics. The vastness of the open world can make the overall experience feel bloated while not actually adding much value. It takes players away from the more remarkable areas while offering little in return. A handful of hamlets outside of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, and the Forbidden Forest would have been fine, but there are far too many of them scattered around the countless goblin camps.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Needs To Add More Unique Locations
Players Should Get To Explore Famous Locations From The Wizarding World
Ditching the open-world design would actually significantly benefitHogwarts Legacy 2beyond simply removing the bloat and tightening the overall experience.It could allow for more instanced areas to be added, thus helping to flesh out the wizarding world and all of its more interesting locations. There are plenty of great locations that could help expand uponHogwarts Legacy 2’ssetting, including Azkaban, Diagon Alley, and even the Ministry of Magic.
Hogwarts Legacy 2shrinking its open world to simply the school, Hogsmeade, and the nearby surrounding areas and then adding a handful of handcrafted story locations would not only make it a tighter, more narratively-focused experience but would also allow the talented developers at Avalanche Software to show off theirHarry Potterknowledge and expand upon the enticing lore. There is a lot thatHogwarts Legacy 2should borrowfrom other games, but chief among them is a more nuanced open world genuinely filled with captivating things to do, such as inStar Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Has One Clear Wizarding World Era To Focus On, & It Has Nothing To Do With HBO’s Harry Potter Series
The recent news of Hogwarts Legacy 2 being linked to HBO’s Harry Potter series has been confusing for some, given how rich the Wizarding World is.
This would be far more accomplishable if the scale ofHogwarts Legacy 2was stripped back rather than expanded uponlike a lot of sequels traditionally do. It seems counterintuitive, but it would makeHogwarts Legacya farbetter role-playing experience, as the developer could spend more time fleshing out the more intricate and important locations rather than attempting to create unique content across a much larger area.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Be A Celebration Of The Wizarding World
It Shouldn’t Just Be Lots Of Empty Countryside
WhileHogwarts Legacyis a great game, it can at times lack the immersion that a wizarding RPG promises. In hindsight, it feels likeHogwarts Legacyshould never have been a truly open world, at least not in the traditional sense. While it is incredible that players can wander the hallowed halls of Hogwarts before seamlessly leaving and heading into the jovial streets of Hogsmeade,the rest of the lavish hollow countryside doesn’t quite fit into the fantasy that fans have fallen in love with.
WhatHogwarts Legacy 2needs to be more than anything is a celebration of the wonderful world that inspired so many people to fall deeply in love with theHarry Potterseries in the first place.
Frankly, the expanded area south of the castle often feels completely unnecessary and exists purely to facilitate the dull side activities that, were they removed, would not be missed.Hogwarts Legacy 2doesn’t need to worry itself with needless side content, as what makes aHarry Pottergame so special is thefeeling of being a student. The firstHogwarts Legacygame sacrificed that in favor of more open-world activities, when, in reality, including famous locations from the books and films and putting a greater emphasis on the life of a student would have been a much more faithful experience.
WhatHogwarts Legacy 2needs to be more than anything is a celebration of the wonderful world that inspired so many people to fall deeply in love with theHarry Potterseriesin the first place. What it absolutely doesn’t need to be is yet another open world packed with meaningless content. Including fun minigames from the franchise - such as Wizards Chess or Gobstones - or allowing players to visit iconic locations without it being a tiny missiontied to a specific houseis absolutely a step in the right direction.
The Last Thing Hogwarts Legacy 2 Needs Is Harry Potter
Hogwarts Legacy 2 is going to be tied into the upcoming Harry Potter HBO series, but this decision is an odd one that could hamper the sequel.
Hogwarts Legacy 2can accomplish all of this and more by scaling back the parts that don’t matter, and frankly, the admittedly beautiful Scottish Highlands fall into that category. The only part of the game that genuinely benefits from the open world is the creature collection aspect, which, while fun, never felt as truly fleshed out as it could have been. Of course, this could still be included, even on a smaller map. Ultimately,Hogwarts Legacy 2will likely follow in its predecessor’s footsteps, but it will hopefully do so having learned plenty of open-world design lessons in the process.
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Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
