Summary
It’s been over a year since Avalanche Software’sHogwarts Legacytook the fantasy RPG world by storm with its intricate depiction of theHarry Potterfranchise, and there’s a common sentiment thatHogwarts Legacyis one of the bestHarry Pottervideo games ever made. That isn’t to say the title is without its shortcomings, however. DespiteHogwarts Legacy’s eye-popping sales numbers, there are a few issues a potential sequel would be remiss not to address, ranging from a need for more dynamic combat techniques to more involved storytelling. Some mods solve a handful of these problems, such as A New Beginning’s graphical overhaul, and Avalanche Software needs to take a page out of the mod’s book in a sequel.
It’s become typical for mods to close the gap between AAA games and fan-desired features over the years. FromThe Sims 4toSkyrimandFallout, the gaming community has banded together to tweak various mechanisms to tick off gamer wishlists, and the phenomenon has extended toHogwarts Legacyin recent months. A few of these have gone a long way to amplifyingHogwarts Legacy’s experience, such as being forced to sneak around the castle at night. Among these, the “A New Beginning” Nexus mod is near the top in terms of impact through its reshaping ofHogwarts Legacy’s visuals, and it highlights a problem the developer has to account for in a sequel.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Needs to Paint its Scene in a Better Light
Hogwarts Legacy’s Visuals Didn’t Live Up to Expectations
Much ofHogwarts Legacy’s pomp and fanfare lay in its status as the most impressive attempt from a studio to get traditionalHarry Potterelements right, from the wizarding school itself to casting spells andtaking trips around Hogsmeade. The novelty of the experience won Avalanche Software its fair share of plaudits, but it was clear some parts could use an upheaval if a sequel ever came along.
Graphics weren’t necessarily the first item on the list of needed improvements, but mods have highlighted how the title shortchanged itself in this area. WhileHogwarts Legacyfeatured a bevy of unique settingsand magical creatures, the overall shades seemed to gray and dampen what should have been a revolutionary burst of color akin to the movies and canon material. A New Beginning has turned that grayed-out experience around for the franchise, applying a simple yet visually captivating reshade to giveHogwarts Legacymore life and visual depth.
A New Beginning is a Lesson for Avalanche Software
Intricate details like the sky gradually giving way from a light blue to a warming orange and the deep green glow of forests in the mod outstripped the base game’s offerings. Through these seemingly minute details,Hogwarts Legacy’s open worldis transformed from a semi-dull adventure to an eye-catching wonder where every piece of the puzzle suddenly becomes aesthetically pleasing. The mod’s ability to turn the entire graphical landscape of an AAA title around calls for new graphical heights in the sequel, and puts pressure on Avalanche Software to further the franchise’s prospects.
A game based on the wizarding world is destined to be heavily reliant on its graphics, from theForbidden Forestto overlays of the landscape seen when riding a magical broom. A game ofHogwarts Legacy’s stature can’t afford to be outstripped by the efforts of a fan-made mod. A New Beginning may have givenHogwarts Legacya much-needed new lease of life, but the sequel shouldn’t need a similar effort from third-party sources to unleash its design potential.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you’re able to take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
