It's emergent moments like this that help make Hogwarts Legacy's open world fresh and exciting. Just to increase the intensity of the situation, I buzzed the troll's face with my broomstick and took to the skies. As soon as I got to the edge of the cliff, I summoned my broom and took flight, managing to dodge yet another boulder. I sprinted away from him as he hailed boulders down at me like mortar fire, but there was a cliff ahead and I was running out of room. I considered fighting him, but he had a giant club and the strength to hurl giant pieces of the Earth at me, so I opted to back down. As I got near it, a boulder was hurled at me and a troll emerged from the darkness. At one point, I was exploring the map and saw a cave that I wanted to explore. For example, the Forbidden Forest feels as creepy and deadly as one would hope with giant venomous spiders dangling from trees, centaurs stalking your every move, and spooky caves to get lost in. Hogwarts Legacy encompasses far more than just the school and the town of Hogsmeade, creating a sense of authenticity for this world we've really only seen a small fraction of in the films. With the exception of your mentor, Professor Fig, there's no one in Hogwarts Legacy to really care about or invest in, which makes the story feel all the more hollow. Ron, Hermoine, Voldemort, Dumbledore, Snape, Sirius Black, Dobby, the Malfoys, Hagrid, and even short-lived characters like Cedric Diggory all give the story flavor and depth. If this wasn't in the Potter universe, this may be slightly easier to forgive, but when I think of Harry Potter, I think of all of the people who enrich that story. On top of just, Hogwarts Legacy features a cast of characters that are forgettable.

Just as you start to learn something interesting in the story, Hogwarts Legacy directs you to go back to your studies or do something that feels like its only purpose is to introduce you to a new mechanic or side character as opposed to progressing the narrative. It feels like it meanders too much, never giving itself the chance to gain or sustain momentum for any substantial drama. The story of Hogwarts Legacy is easily its weakest link. If you're looking for a story that can rival that of Harry Potter's epic saga, you may be disappointed.

Hogwarts legacy deluxe edition review