Hogwarts Legacy guarantees us the chance to return to the Wizarding World and discover the long-lasting college throughout a beforehand unseen interval of Harry Potter historical past. Set within the late 1800s, the upcoming open-world motion RPG lets us step into the sneakers of a fifth-year scholar, mysteriously gifted with the flexibility of harnessing historical magic.
From catching up on courses and brushing each nook and cranny within the college grounds, to investigating a goblin rise up brewing on the horizon, Hogwarts Legacy guarantees a harmful time period forward. Whereas we anticipate finding many extra secrets and techniques tucked away in Hogwarts’ historic halls when the sport launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Collection X/S on February 10, listed here are 9 magical particulars we noticed throughout our first hands-on session with the sport.
Hogwarts’ Headmaster Canceled Quidditch
Quidditch, the brutal but extremely in style broomstick-based sport, isn’t playable in Hogwarts Legacy. Nevertheless, it’s doable to fly round Hogwarts’ acquainted Quidditch pitch. Whereas wandering across the fortress, we overheard some Ravenclaw college students discussing how Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black determined to ban the game from campus. So, it appears to be like as if we now have a proof of why we received’t be batting off Bludgers in our spare time.
This additionally provides us an thought of what we will anticipate from Hogwarts’ headmaster. We’re already conscious of Professor Black’s fame because the least in style head instructor from the Harry Potter books, and the scholars have definitely seen how little curiosity he takes in his job.
Whereas Quidditch is off the playing cards, gamers can mount their brooms to fly round Hogwarts and its surrounding space. Alternatively, you too can take to the skies on mounts together with Hippogriffs and Thestrals.
We overheard some Ravenclaw college students discussing how Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black determined to ban the game from campus.
What Are the Goblins Up To?
Hogwarts Legacy’s story revolves round the specter of a mounting goblin rise up, allegedly led by a goblin referred to as Ranrok. The goblins we’ve encountered to this point are known as ‘Loyalist Warriors’ and so they’re preventing alongside a faction of wizards who observe darkish magic, despite the fact that a number of the goblins aren’t too eager on the thought of teaming up with wizards.
Ranrok is alleged to be working with Victor Rookwood, a wizard who seems to be searching for us particularly. Whereas chatting to certainly one of our companions about some poachers who’ve been searching creatures within the space, we realized that Rookwood has ordered for us to be captured. The group can also be producing goblin steel, one thing we’ll be actively investigating throughout the story.
The Centaurs Are Sad About Poachers
We’ve met our justifiable share of magical creatures and races through the years, and we’ll see a lot of them in Hogwarts Legacy, too. Centaurs reside within the forest and, as we already know, they’re not the most important followers of wizardkind. They’re understandably irritated concerning the variety of people venturing into their territory, which appears to be occurring extra incessantly of late.
Dragons Are Being Pressured to Battle
Dragons are big, majestic creatures that we’re used to seeing round Hogwarts, each as eggs smuggled in by pleasant gamekeepers and as fully-grown foes in Triwizard tournaments. Nevertheless, the dragons we noticed in our hands-on look to be a part of a secret dragon preventing ring referred to as Horntail Corridor. We will see this can be a massive operation because the preventing ring is buzzing with spectators, and we had the possibility to assist free a captive dragon.
The dragons we noticed in our hands-on look to be a part of a secret dragon preventing ring referred to as Horntail Corridor.
One thing’s Unsuitable With the Wildlife
Magical creatures resembling Dugbogs will be noticed out within the wild. Whereas these beasts are recognized to assault different animals, and sometimes even people, a fellow scholar referred to as Poppy stated that she had seen them behaving extra violently. The truth is, different beasts have been appearing extra aggressively than common, too. It’s nonetheless a thriller as to what’s inflicting this precisely, however Poppy gave us a touch that there might be one thing within the water.
Peeves is Nonetheless a Pest
Hogwarts has performed host to numerous ghosts for hundreds of years, and we will anticipate to come across acquainted faces resembling Almost Headless Nick. Nevertheless, Hogwarts Legacy additionally options pesky poltergeist Peeves, a personality that featured within the Harry Potter books and video video games however by no means made it into the flicks. Peeves is a mischievous character that thrives on inflicting hassle, and we noticed him bothering a poor Hufflepuff scholar.
Alohomora is a Lockpicking Minigame
Followers will bear in mind Harry Potter characters incessantly uttering the phrase “Alohomora” to unlock doorways, home windows, and extra. This helpful attraction has been reimagined as a lockpicking minigame that requires you to show two cogs slowly till the gears are completely aligned, demonstrated by vibrant sparks. We noticed this as soon as throughout our session however think about it’ll function extra closely throughout the total journey.
College students Have All of the Gossip
Hogwarts is a busy place, bustling with college students from every of the 4 homes, so if you wish to sustain with all of the gossip we advocate pausing to eavesdrop on what a few of your classmates are speaking about.
We overheard what a number of the lecturers had been as much as, watched a scholar get in hassle for venturing into an space that was off-limits, and heard that there was some form of altercation with a troll earlier within the recreation.
It appears to be like as if there ought to be a lot of extra lore to take in simply by being nosey. Talking of which, wandering Hogwarts’ halls and exploring locations the place good college students shouldn’t go will open up varied aspect quests you can embark upon round your obligatory courses and the principle story.
Hogwarts is Teeming with Life and Secrets and techniques
That is the Wizarding World in any case, so anticipate to see inanimate objects spring to life round you as you tour the fortress and its grounds. It’s frequent to see books and parchment flapping round above your head within the corridors and watering cans pottering away within the Herbology greenhouses. Whereas taking in Hogwarts’ spectacular structure you’ll discover some issues you’ll be able to work together with, and with the numerous work and different furnishings adorning every passage, there are certain to be a lot extra secrets and techniques ready to be found.
Emma Matthews is IGN’s Junior Syndication Editor.