Hogwarts Legacy Has Barely Scratched the Surface of Hogsmeade

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After players collect enough Demiguise moons and transform them into Gladwin Moon for a Level 3 Alohomora upgrade, exploring Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogsmeade, and the Scottish Highlands in Hogwarts Legacy becomes an abundance of loot and Field Guide pages. Although the exploration at Hogwarts is more linear with fewer secrets to uncover, no area offers a greater satisfaction in emptying it of its riches within Hogwarts Legacy than the bustling commercial district situated between Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest.

As a gamer, I find myself wandering around the quaint town of Hogsmeade in Hogwarts Legacy. It’s a place filled with fun and commerce, where you can chase after elusive Field Guide pages, discover hidden Disillusionment chests, or buy crafting recipes from unique vendors. Just like Hogwarts, it’s only when I reach Level 3 Alohomora that I truly appreciate the town, as it opens up previously locked areas. Without it, Hogsmeade can feel a bit repetitive with its familiar interactions, but hopefully, a sequel will address this issue and offer more depth to this charming little town.

Hogwarts Legacy’s Hogsmeade Lacks Substance Below the Surface

After taking care of all the spellcrafts, broom enhancements, and Alohomora locks, there isn’t much left to engage in within Hogsmeade. It can be enjoyable to visit Zonko’s, Ollivander’s, Honeydukes, or the Hog’s Head Inn to observe familiar symbols, but since you can only interact with a limited number of objects, it feels somewhat disappointing and turns the place into more of an attraction for admiration rather than a lively, inhabited community.

It’s remarkable how each season in the story of Hogwarts Legacy reflects on the decorations of Hogsmeade, mirroring Hogwarts itself. However, since there isn’t usually much else to engage with or strive for, one might not find a compelling reason to visit unless a new side quest pops up. If Hogsmeade becomes explorable in future installments of Hogwarts Legacy, it would be crucial to offer more ways to interact with its attractions rather than just strolling its cobblestone paths and buying or selling items at shops.

One significant decision that still stands out in Hogwarts Legacy, looking back, was not turning Butterbeer into a consumable item. If Butterbeer were to function like potions such as Wiggenwelds, Thunderbrews, or Maximas, it would seem unusual, unless the developers had assigned some sort of unique status effect to it.

Hogwarts Legacy’s Hogsmeade is Hopefully a Work in Progress

The captivating side quest in Hogwarts Legacy, Haunted Hogsmeade Shop, is where the charm of Hogsmeade really shines, only to leave players feeling a sense of disappointment. In this quest, players find themselves enchanted and imprisoned within a chest, navigating through a series of straightforward environmental puzzles. Simultaneously, Hogwarts Legacy tantalizes players with the prospect of owning their very own Hogsmeade shop, like a tempting carrot on a stick.

Unfortunately, the store they visit functions identically to any other merchant interaction players may encounter elsewhere, making it entirely unnecessary. If a sequel were to allow players to revisit Hogsmeade, it would ideally provide opportunities for them to pick up tasks and earn Knuts, Sickles, and Galleons. Perhaps a job system similar to that found in Persona could be implemented, allowing players to work part-time at establishments like The Three Broomsticks, the Hog’s Head Pub, or any store needing employees. Such a job could serve as a significant source of income, especially if the sequel also adopted Persona’s calendar system.

In simpler terms, introducing the ability for players to work at various locations within the game world (even if it’s just shown in cutscenes followed by payment for their work) would make the game more appealing to play again, as it currently lacks replayability despite offering four different Hogwarts houses to choose from. Additionally, making Hogsmeade a place players want to return to frequently could help bring back its original charm, as looting in the open world is already engaging.

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2025-02-25 00:14