The only way I can truly define Hogwarts Legacy is, it's the most lovingly, creatively and beautifully crafted lifeless franchise product I'll probably ever see.
-
When Portkey games and Avalanche software (not to be mistaken for Avalanche Studios of Just Cause fame) set out to develop this game, their mission was to make the ultimate Harry Potter, self-insert fantasy game. I can safely say that they succeeded in every facet for better and also for worse. Reason being that for every wonderfully creative solution and rewarding mechanic there is an equally "half-assed" part to tilt the scale back towards mediocrity. I put half-assed between quotation mark, because in truth, having a mechanic scientifically engineered to evoke a certain part of the Wizarding World fantasy, but not making it deep enough to hijack the experience is anything but half-assed.
-
Hogwarts Legacy is purpose built to be enjoyed casually. Booting it up from time to time to muck about in the open world until your magical animals that you are currently breeding (yes you can do that) clear their cooldown time, all while you are blasting dark poacher wizard camps, unlocking new cosmetic options or generally just enjoying the absolutely breathtaking Scottish Highlands (this game not having a photo mode is a crime against humanity). It is a damn good time with much to do ... too much to do.
Despite the developers best creative efforts, the open-world stuff quickly become tedious, especially since they went WAAY overboard with the collectibles and their way of collecting. Needless to say, this Platinum will remain uncollected even after 70 hours.
-
When Portkey games and Avalanche software (not to be mistaken for Avalanche Studios of Just Cause fame) set out to develop this game, their mission was to make the ultimate Harry Potter, self-insert fantasy game. I can safely say that they succeeded in every facet for better and also for worse. Reason being that for every wonderfully creative solution and rewarding mechanic there is an equally "half-assed" part to tilt the scale back towards mediocrity. I put half-assed between quotation mark, because in truth, having a mechanic scientifically engineered to evoke a certain part of the Wizarding World fantasy, but not making it deep enough to hijack the experience is anything but half-assed.
-
Hogwarts Legacy is purpose built to be enjoyed casually. Booting it up from time to time to muck about in the open world until your magical animals that you are currently breeding (yes you can do that) clear their cooldown time, all while you are blasting dark poacher wizard camps, unlocking new cosmetic options or generally just enjoying the absolutely breathtaking Scottish Highlands (this game not having a photo mode is a crime against humanity). It is a damn good time with much to do ... too much to do.
Despite the developers best creative efforts, the open-world stuff quickly become tedious, especially since they went WAAY overboard with the collectibles and their way of collecting. Needless to say, this Platinum will remain uncollected even after 70 hours.