Disclaimer: I don’t think I’m the target audience for this game
Picked this game up (on sale) for my partner who is a low-key potter head. Been playing for the past couple of weeks together and it’s been…interesting (still fun though).
First Impression: 1. The player controls and game mechanics make this game near unplayable. From the start to about midgame, the way a character moves or how you navigate menus/controls just drives you absolutely nuts. 2. The actual “Hogwarts” classes fucking suck, there’s no comparison on how badly they failed at these. 3. The game is mercilessly plagued by bugs (some annoying, others game breaking).
This was all before actually looking into the game online. I heard when it was originally being developed, but kinda lost sight of it once it actually came out. I couldn’t believe when I saw it was “Game of the Year” for so many outlets and awards. I will admit the depth of the spell system and work that went into it is pretty neat. If that was their main goal then they squashed it.
After spending so much time on it and seeing it through a fan’s eyes and reading about it, I’m just confused on if this is a great game or something that fell short (and hopefully then improved upon for the sequel). Puzzles: I have a few that haven’t been solved yet, sometimes I think a puzzle is extremely deep then I find something that gives you the answer with no thought (or the voice overs tell you what to do before you have a chance to look at it). I’m trying not to spoil any Easter eggs or hard puzzles but part of me is worried I’m looking at this deeper than I’m supposed to be and all of this just actually sucks. I did COD Zombie EE’s and that shit gets deep, I’m holding out hope and continuing to try and do more on my own.
A huge caveat: I purchased this through the switch store, and it should have absolutely not had a switch release! Load times are extremely painful, graphics are completely shit, and I suspect all the bugs and crashes I’ve gotten are from trying to play it on a switch. PC play and mods probably make this a completely different game.
Everything else on it is pretty standard and/or substandard. Shitty “Open-world!!” that’s a failed perspective (enemies basically in the backyards of the town, way too clustered), they litter the map with repeats or useless shit (who else tried the skipping stones or various “Interactive Items” for hours till giving up on all of them?). Gear and equipment is shit and the upgrade/trait system is pretty “primary school level” thought process. Capacity for everything is abysmal especially for a “magic” world and improving the limited capacity is pretty “fetch quest” level of enjoyment.
Context: Just basically in the late game now trying to 100% everything before doing the last two main quests since the interest in completing it after might not be there.
TL;DR, semi-decent buy on sale especially if you’re into the potter lore. Subpar rpg/adventure game: If you’re casual, wait for a sequel where it will probably have all the systems improved.
I think it’s a bit unfair to base it off the Switch version. Even though the developers really tried (walling off vistas for better framerate, reducing the amount of objects in rooms, etc) the loading times are virtually nonexistent on PS5 and obviously it looks and plays a lot better.
Doesn’t apply to the puzzles and possibly the controls though, although Switch is missing an analog trigger so that might be another reason it’s being obtuse.
All in all, when I saw the comparison video and how long loading times were even when going in and out a single building, I knew that it was gonna be a rough time. Playable, sure, but the best experience is on PC/PS5
I will preface this by saying I’m a PC gamer who also has a Switch. Wife and I were gifted this game on the Switch and I knew going in it would be a subpar experience compared to the PC. That said, my wife was really into it and watching her okay made me want to pick it up also.
No it isn’t very deep and doesn’t bring any new mechanics to the table we haven’t seen already but the presentation, even on the limited horse power of the switch was nice. It was fun to explore the castle and build up your character. The game is easy to 100% though it can be a bit tedious to track down everything. If you like the potter-verse, I think it’s a pretty good game. Watch a video, grab it on sale, didn’t expect to have your mind blown.
I look forward to a sequel assuming they can improve on some of the repetition.
My girl almost never plays games. I bought her the ps5 with Hogwarts Legacy. She did like the atmosphere and such, but the story felt very rushed towards the end, the ending was unsatisfying, the world started off cool but got a choreful minefield afterwards.
yeah I think I played about 10 hours. the initial stage around hogwarts proper was interesting and fun, but once the quests went out into the open world it got a lot more tedious.
@Cataphract I mostly agree with your assessment. If’s a fun game. It’s not great, it’s just fine though. I played it, had fun with it, I think they did an amazing job with the castle and the setting then put and extremely mediocre RPG into it. They could have done so much more. I didn’t feel like I wasted my time, but I also didn’t feel like it was a great game at all. It’s worth it, on sale for $20-40 max I’d say. If you’re a huge potter fan it’s a must play, if you’re not, eh it’s fine. Like Assassin’s creed. It’s fine.
However, _how did they ever say no DLC_? I will never understand this. They made a money printer for potter fans, the world is empty with barely anything to do in it. They could be cranking out DLC every quarter for this and I know people would be buying it. I thought these companies liked money, how the hell did they decide not to do that?
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J. K. Rowling is a fascist.
I liked it and thought it was fun. Funny that dark arts has no real downside though.
I think it’s a bit unfair to base it off the Switch version. Even though the developers really tried (walling off vistas for better framerate, reducing the amount of objects in rooms, etc) the loading times are virtually nonexistent on PS5 and obviously it looks and plays a lot better.
Doesn’t apply to the puzzles and possibly the controls though, although Switch is missing an analog trigger so that might be another reason it’s being obtuse.
All in all, when I saw the comparison video and how long loading times were even when going in and out a single building, I knew that it was gonna be a rough time. Playable, sure, but the best experience is on PC/PS5
I will preface this by saying I’m a PC gamer who also has a Switch. Wife and I were gifted this game on the Switch and I knew going in it would be a subpar experience compared to the PC. That said, my wife was really into it and watching her okay made me want to pick it up also.
No it isn’t very deep and doesn’t bring any new mechanics to the table we haven’t seen already but the presentation, even on the limited horse power of the switch was nice. It was fun to explore the castle and build up your character. The game is easy to 100% though it can be a bit tedious to track down everything. If you like the potter-verse, I think it’s a pretty good game. Watch a video, grab it on sale, didn’t expect to have your mind blown.
I look forward to a sequel assuming they can improve on some of the repetition.
Pretty sure all the hype was by potter-heads. I don’t know anyone who enjoyed playing the game who wasn’t also a die-hard fan of Harry Potter.
My girl almost never plays games. I bought her the ps5 with Hogwarts Legacy. She did like the atmosphere and such, but the story felt very rushed towards the end, the ending was unsatisfying, the world started off cool but got a choreful minefield afterwards.
I only played the tutorial.
yeah I think I played about 10 hours. the initial stage around hogwarts proper was interesting and fun, but once the quests went out into the open world it got a lot more tedious.
thanks for the review!
@Cataphract I mostly agree with your assessment. If’s a fun game. It’s not great, it’s just fine though. I played it, had fun with it, I think they did an amazing job with the castle and the setting then put and extremely mediocre RPG into it. They could have done so much more. I didn’t feel like I wasted my time, but I also didn’t feel like it was a great game at all. It’s worth it, on sale for $20-40 max I’d say. If you’re a huge potter fan it’s a must play, if you’re not, eh it’s fine. Like Assassin’s creed. It’s fine.
However, _how did they ever say no DLC_? I will never understand this. They made a money printer for potter fans, the world is empty with barely anything to do in it. They could be cranking out DLC every quarter for this and I know people would be buying it. I thought these companies liked money, how the hell did they decide not to do that?