If and when it releases in the Holiday 2022 window, it is currently very promising, Hogwarts Legacy has a lot to do. The Harry Potter License is loved by so many, and fans salivate at the opportunity to start their own journey into the wizarding world through an AAA video game. Avalanche Software’s latest title allows fans to create their own student to walk through the halls of the famed castle, and Hogwarts’ iconic grounds could quickly become one of the most beloved environments in gaming if the project delivers on its promises.
The students who live within the school Hogwarts Legacy can be just as important as the institution itself. Hogwarts is home to students from all over the world, as well as professors from various disciplines, from Herbology to Defense Against the Dark Arts. It has been shown in trailers that players will interact with an eclectic group of personalities, and in games such as Hogwarts Legacy It’s not uncommon to be able to pick a character for romance, courting them with cheap dialogue, resulting in bonus scenes where the player and the chosen NPC enter into a relationship. Hogwarts Legacy however, should avoid the temptation to include the feature as it may exhibit some narrative and tonal inconsistencies.
Romance in Harry Potter has always been weak
While the Harry Potter franchise is known for complex characters, immense world building and stunning wizardry, one thing the movies never excelled at was the way they handled romance. The reluctant, but loving relationship between Molly and Arthur Weasley is familiar to many and the source of some comedic moments, but the romantic endeavors between students have always felt haphazard and inconsistent. Hogwarts Legacy could easily fall into the same trap, especially since there are only a handful of games that have a valuable romance function and have executed it effectively.
Harry’s half-hearted interest in Ginny, the dim-witted Ron Weasley’s unlikely relationship with bookworm and star pupil Hermione Granger, and Marcel Langbottom’s sudden admission that he likes Luna Leeflang all felt like convenience in making sure all of the beloved characters had a happy ending when the franchise ended. Closed. commissioned by Hogwarts Legacy to break the cycle would have to take that much time for romantic options to feel worked out, and that probably isn’t desirable for fans who want an immersive world, compelling story, and fun gameplay.
Characters should be more than romantic options
Like Vega and Ashley in Mass effect or Haley in Stardew Valley, there are so many characters who feel like they only exist in a game to be romanticized. It’s so important, especially in a world so loved as Harry Potter, to develop characters with distinct personalities, as they make the experience feel more like a collective effort than a solo quest. Harry always had Ron and Hermione, and players want friendly faces with multifaceted personalities rather than a list of attributes that can be selected to trigger romantic cutscenes.
Unless the game focuses on romantic options, which: Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t seem to be, it’s a slippery slope that can make some of the characters feel pointless. If the player decides to pick someone else, then that character won’t have an interesting personality to fall back on. There are so many other RPGs with a whole bunch of romantic options, and Hogwarts Legacy just doesn’t need it, especially since it’s the first entry in a (hopeful) franchise.
Romance options in an RPG, when implemented with grace, can be an effective way to gain new information about a character and end a plot thread that has been present throughout the story. Shepard finding love with Liara T’Soni of the Asari makes for some great storytelling moments and gives the former a reason to want to survive the events of the trilogy. In Hogwarts Legacy, there are just too many expectations from players, and it would be impossible for Avalanche Studios to meet all these expectations. Romance would be welcome, but Harry PotterThe history of the game and the need for other components of the game to be perfect means it should be the first feature on the cutting floor.
Hogwarts Legacy launches Holiday 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
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