Hogwarts Legacy Review - by a mixed-race woman with Jewish roots.
So I've been playing about 12h total I guess, I'm level 13 now and Ravenclaw.
Graphics: I was surprised to find my laptop doesn't do too well if I don't put the graphics at low quality, but that's all right. I didn't buy my laptop for gaming, and actually even in low settings I am so amazed by how astonishing everything looks. Also it looks so artistic, like paintings? It's just so beautiful!
Open world: It's massive. MASSIVE. But the map tools are fantastic, so you really don't get lost and if you did, there are thousand ways to find your way.
Similarity to books/films: So they've taken A LOT of creative freedoms, which is great, because it provides another option, if you catch my drift. There are areas of the castle that look like an absolute palace, compared to the official Potter videogames that were less stunning, and areas wild and green and gorgeous, and some areas of the castle are in a different place than you'd expect, same with Hogsmeade, but like I said, the map tool is just fantastic so it's fine.
Story being anti-semitic? So, careful with the spoiler, but the TRA people spent I don't know how long saying the game was some anti-Semitic horrible thing because Rowling is apparently anti-Semitic (so these jerks say) and the main plot is wizards-vs-goblins-who-apparently-repressent-jews. OK let me debunk this for you. One, the plot is there's an evil allegiance between some wizards and some goblins, and so then there's a good allegiance between the other wizards and the other goblins. You'll find a ton of goblins who need your help and a very scarce minority of bad goblins (and I'm currently stuck on one of these missions btw). But the majority of goblins are villagers and innocent gents like that. And goblins are not Jews. I've read about a good bunch of Jews who are not finding any issues with this videogame, and personally, between me and the Jewish community I'm in, of those of us playing, no one, so far, has felt even slightly offended by anything. And we know Rowling to be allied with several Jewish friends of hers, to have stood for Jews multiple times, and that in Potter, Voldemort repressented Hitler and Hermione and other "mudbloods", the Jews. That's the only repressentation of Jews I care about by this author, and I believe it led millions of children back then to better understanding anti-Semitism and what happened with Nazism.
LGBT-friendliness: It's as friendly as it could possibly be. You get trans characters, I've already found a lesbian marriage as well, and when you create your character you can choose which loos they use (which I find a bit absurd because you don't have a need to go to the loo at all), and you can wear any hairstyle regardless of your sex. Facial hair, for what I've seen, is not available (you're supposed to be 15, so it makes sense) and clothes, because it's 19th century, are quite different sometimes depending on sex. But you've got a massive variety of clothes, so you can probably find something that suits you either way. Personally, I've loved all of the clothing options I've found.
Canon: So far I've only recognised some surnames from the books. Everything else is not from the books and their own invention. Quite imaginative!
Difficulty levels: So you can choose between, if I remember correctly, Very easy, easy, normal, and difficult (or something like that). I'll probably end up lowering my difficulty level because I'm so rusty with videogames!
Quidditch: It's been cancelled by the headmaster, but you can still fly broomsticks around the massive open world and other animals.
Animal interaction: you'll love it.
Character mobility: You can swim, jump, walk, dodge, run, swim faster, dive, climb up things... Pretty much everything you'd normally do.
Castle secrets: So, so many. I'm making a massive use of Revelio left and right, quite entertaining!
Spells and combat: So you get many duelling opportunities, and duelling has never (and I've played every Potter videogame to date) been so realistic and fun. It's incredibly wild, savage, you really have to improve your coordination and make sure to get familiar with your console or keyboard. You get many spells, keep unlocking more as you go, and the visual effects are jaw-dropping.
Glitches: To everyone complaining about glitches, you just really need a decent place to game in. I'm doing it in PC and it's not a gaming PC, but also it's not your average PC, and it does quite well with graphics left as recommended by my graphics card. I had a couple minor glitches that disappeared shortly after on their own.
What you missed from the films: WE HAVE PEEVES!!! And keep your eye out because he's a little devil. You also have access to classes, your own place to brew potions in your spare time, same for planting things, and so on.
Relationships and interaction: There's no romance, but there's so much interaction. There's friendship, you can choose to have people duelling in your side with you, and as you walk around you'll constantly hear voices of people around you, and there will always be stuff going on. I went to the Quidditch pitch and found a group of players from my house complaining about the headmaster, then losing a quaffle, and then going to fetch it. And it wasn't on loop, it was very natural. Then around the castle the ghosts will say things, students... Lots going on! lots of life!
Accesibility: All voices are both on subtitles and in your ears, you can change language as well, and brightness and things like that. They do warn people who might suffer seizures from epilepsia.
Shopping: So you'll find money all over, and then you can buy clothes, haircuts, lots of things. And when you buy clothes it has this super cool option where you can choose one item because it gives you more defence or attack points, but give it the appearance of any other you got that you might like more. Magic!
Multi-racial representation / sexism: So far very good. My house partner is Asian I think, but I've quite befriended Gryffindor's girl, who's from Tanzania I think? Well, she went to the African school and mentions a fictitious town she lived in with her Mum. The only white character is the Slytherin boy I believe (can't remember who was in Hufflepuff). And as for random students / teachers, you really get massive diversity. It's like walking around London for me. Also, about as many important males as females, which is great.
About that trans character! So Sirona is named after the Celtic goddess of healing and I find the name quite fitting. She manages the Three Broomsticks (can't remember if they give it another name in the videogame though), and is this heroic warrior who helps you massively through a tricky moment and basically saves your arse.
Anyway, if there's any specific question about the game you've got, I'm here!
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