Hogwarts Legacy is Gold 🏅
I used to be an avid gamer back in the day, but ever since having two young children, gaming has become a pastime of limited hours 😅 It has been quite the challenge for me, a big sacrifice, a fine balancing act...
I have had the chance to practice this act while trying Hogwarts Legacy for the first time. I don't wanna hear any of that "TERF" crap here, I could not give less of a shit, sorry -- I love Harry Potter 💗
The movies have been with me since I was 6, I have read The Goblet of Fire and onward, and what's more, I have immense respect for J.K. Rowling's feats and beliefs.
(So I will take the opportunity to give the developing team a "screw you" for adamantly going against the original creator's said beliefs -- yeah, I see you, bartender character Sirona Ryan 🙄)
I have not played a video game since The Order of the Phoenix on the PlayStation 2, so needless to say, I was very excited for a more current game! 😃
And may I just say -- I am not disappointed thus far! 😄 I have absolutely fallen in love with this game; there isn't a single thing that I don't enjoy!
(I mean, not entirely true... I have to play on my Switch so the graphics have definitely been lacking...)
So this is my character, and may I just say that I find the resemblance uncanny 😂 Especially considering that the photo of me is from circa. 2016, during my graduating year of high school.
I've only played for about 10 hours and completed 20% of the game, so I'm really enjoying this gradual, relaxed pace... (Keeping in mind, a lot of playtime has been dedicated to exploring and looking for collectibles 😅). I expect it will probably take me 60 hours in total to finish 👍
The voice acting is great, tons of unique characters, and Thomas Brown's voice sounds like smooth jazz~ 🤤
The world is huge!! 😱 Like, again, I know it's been awhile since the days of PS3, but are all current games this expansive?! Obviously there is exploring Hogwarts itself, but then there are the grounds surrounding the school! The Forbidden Forest, the lake, Hogsmeade...
(Any unsourced images have come from gameplay on my Switch)
I just finished exploring Hogsmeade, where there are a variety of shops, including potions, spells, clothing attire, and of course, wands! (I ended up making mine with Phoenix Feather)
(Source: https://giphy.com/gifs/WBGames-harry-potter-wb-games-hogwarts-legacy-Tp2ikAVETWSxHfuxq1)
Speaking of which! I was sorted into the House of Slytherin, for which I take no quarrel. Slytherin has such a terrible reputation, and I actually feel like the house suits me quite wonderfully~ 😏
(Source: https://gifdb.com/gif/hogwarts-legacy-sorting-hat-qooh59oym51kb5q5.html)
The Defense Against the Dark Arts staircase has become one of my favorite spots to wander around; the vibe is impeccable 👌 I love admiring the architecture, the stained glass windows, whilst listening to classical music play in the background... Watching the paintings is always entertaining! 😄
Also, first impressions (I don't give a fuck if she's a Weasley), I find Professor Weasley to be very noisy? 🙄 And I find it extremely unbecoming, it's literally made me take the path of, "mind your own business, bitch" 😂
The fighting sequences are really fun as well. I would like to try a harder difficulty, but I don't have my defense timing right just yet... I love being able to "juggle" multiple enemies at the same time, there are different targeting options to lock on, an array of different spells, etc.
I must say, I am completely enthralled with this game 😍 I haven't binged a game like this in years! There is an abundance of things to do -- I can't find enough time to do it all!!
There is the map of Hogwarts, the map of the surrounding area, and then there is a world beyond that, even 😵 I have been exploring the highlands and hamlets surrounding the school. Again, it is absolutely mind boggling just how big this game is...
The classes are fun and interactive, and they actually bothered to include every single one: Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Herbology, Potions, and of course, Flying!
Tons of things to keep your eyes peeled for, like collectibles, ingredients, gear, side quests, and enemies.
The main story is wonderful as well, I think the idea of an evil goblin is great. I don't know if it gets explained further in, but I don't understand why we have started Hogwarts as a fifth-year student. How does a witch simply miss her Letter of Acceptance at age 11?