Hogwarts Legacy guarantees us the chance to return to the Wizarding World and discover the enduring 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 footwear of a fifth-year pupil, mysteriously gifted with the power of harnessing historic magic.
From catching up on courses and brushing each nook and cranny within the college grounds, to investigating a goblin rebel brewing on the horizon, Hogwarts Legacy guarantees a harmful time period forward. Whereas we look forward to finding many extra secrets and techniques tucked away in Hogwarts’ historic halls when the sport launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Sequence 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 common broomstick-based sport, is just not playable in Hogwarts Legacy. Nonetheless, it’s potential to fly round Hogwarts’ acquainted Quidditch pitch. Whereas wandering across the fort, we overheard some Ravenclaw college students discussing how Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black determined to ban the game from campus. So, it seems to be as if now we 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 common head instructor from the Harry Potter books, and the scholars have actually 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 can too 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 rebel, allegedly led by a goblin known as Ranrok. The goblins we’ve encountered to date are known as ‘Loyalist Warriors’ and so they’re combating alongside a faction of wizards who follow darkish magic, although among the goblins aren’t too eager on the concept of teaming up with wizards.
Ranrok is claimed to be working with Victor Rookwood, a wizard who seems to be searching for us particularly. Whereas chatting to considered one of our companions about some poachers who’ve been searching creatures within the space, we discovered that Rookwood has ordered for us to be captured. The group can be producing goblin steel, one thing we’ll be actively investigating throughout the story.
The Centaurs Are Sad About Poachers
We’ve met our fair proportion of magical creatures and races through the years, and we’ll see numerous them in Hogwarts Legacy, too. Centaurs reside within the forest and, as we already know, they’re not the largest followers of wizardkind. They’re understandably irritated in regards to the variety of people venturing into their territory, which appears to be occurring extra continuously of late.
Dragons Are Being Compelled to Battle
Dragons are enormous, 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. Nonetheless, the dragons we noticed in our hands-on look to be a part of a secret dragon combating ring known as Horntail Corridor. We are able to see it is a large operation because the combating 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 combating ring known as Horntail Corridor.
One thing’s Flawed With the Wildlife
Magical creatures equivalent to Dugbogs might be noticed out within the wild. Whereas these beasts are recognized to assault different animals, and infrequently even people, a fellow pupil known as Poppy stated that she had seen them behaving extra violently. In reality, different beasts have been appearing extra aggressively than normal, too. It’s nonetheless a thriller as to what’s inflicting this precisely, however Poppy gave us a touch that there could possibly be one thing within the water.
Peeves is Nonetheless a Pest
Hogwarts has performed host to varied ghosts for hundreds of years, and we will anticipate to come across acquainted faces equivalent to Almost Headless Nick. Nonetheless, 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 pupil.
Alohomora is a Lockpicking Minigame
Followers will keep in mind Harry Potter characters continuously uttering the phrase “Alohomora” to unlock doorways, home windows, and extra. This useful allure 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 pay attention to what a few of your classmates are speaking about.
We overheard what among the lecturers had been as much as, watched a pupil get in hassle for venturing into an space that was off-limits, and heard that there was some type of altercation with a troll earlier within the sport.
It seems to be as if there must be a lot of further 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 that you may 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 fort and its grounds. It’s widespread 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.