Drum roll please! Alright, in this blog I'm gonna sound like a hypocrite and a fraud, so I guess it's just your typical MRags blog. Also, feel free to vote in our community poll at the end - Let's rock!
Hogwarts Legacy Should Win Game of the Year
Hogwarts Legacy is easily one of my favorite games of all time. In an era where most games flop, feel incomplete or lack overall content, Hogwarts Legacy delivered an absolute masterpiece. I'm more impressed at how Avalanche Software managed to surpass virtually everyone's expectations of the game. The bar was set so high for the first Harry Potter video game since the PS2 version (which is an iconic game in its own right).
The graphics, gameplay, storyline and animations were all top notch. Even something as simple as flying around Hogwarts on a hippogriff felt so incredibly smooth.
There's really only 2-3 negatives you can have against the game:
No Quidditch
No multiplayer
No morality meter
Quidditch
I wanted Quidditch as badly as the next guy and I was hoping we'd get it as DLC or a future update. However, that all went out the door when WB Games announced a stand-alone Quidditch game. Let's talk about why this is actually a positive!
Quidditch would've been a great feature IF it was done properly. But we can all agree that even with a maxed our broom, the flying mechanics in HL were good but not insanely smooth. It could've made for some really frustrating moments if you're trying to win some points for your house.
The stand-alone game will give them time to focus every aspect of quidditch from the flying, all the way down to the competitive leaderboard, seasons etc. It would've been cool to initially experience quidditch in HL, but it also could've drawn away from the core aspect of the game and story.
Every part of Hogwarts Legacy feels complete - so it's nice we don't have a half completed quidditch. I'd rather pony up $60/$70 for a complete quidditch experience.
No Multiplayer
This goes hand and hand with quidditch. In order for you to have a good quidditch experience, most people would've wanted multiplayer to play with/against friends. In the same sentiment as above - I really wonder how they would've incorporated multiplayer into HL.
I'm honestly not sure how it would've worked and maybe would've created more of a negative experience than anything. It's not like we have insanely customizable wizards with different stats - once you hit level 40, there's really not much separating 2 wizards. A dueling wands matchmaker/tournament could've been really fun but I'm not completely sold on it.
No morality meter
This to me is my favorite topic to talk about because there's absolutely no penalty for using unforgivable spells. The second I learned Avada Kedavra, I became basically the most evil wizard of all time...because there's no repercussions!!!
Alright maybe not right away...but you get my point. A morality meter would've really made you pick and choose when to use the dark arts so you couldn't CRUCIO fools every chance you get.
There were leaks saying a morality meter was in development and then ultimately scrapped. Would've been a really cool feature, but in the end, it's not game changing.
Regardless of the 3 possible negatives, Hogwarts Legacy delivered such a surreal gaming experience. We got to explore all the corridors of Hogwarts with lifelike graphics. They had hidden secret rooms and treasures, along with different experiences of common rooms pending on your house. I mean these were simply dreams that all of us had when we were kids watching the movies.
The story was extremely captivating and it even featured one of my favorite gaming intros of all time...right after loading up the game it was just BOOM and you were fully immersed in this crazy storyline.
Why not Diablo IV or Tears of the Kingdom?
Now here's where the hypocrisy and fraudulent behavior comes into play...I haven't played Diablo IV and I haven't played Tears of the Kingdom (new Zelda game). But I use this litmus test - during the few and rare times I touch grass and socialize with the outside world, everyone and I mean EVERYONE talks about Hogwarts Legacy. People who haven't played video games for years were suddenly trying to find ways to buy an Xbox Series S/X or PS5. It transcended the lines between gamers/non-gamers and virtually everyone wanted to at least try the game.
I've never been a Diablo guy and I'm sure Tears of the Kingdom is electric (has a Zelda game ever been bad?). So I don't even need to try either games to know Hogwarts Legacy had much bugger ripples than either Diablo of TOTK.
In closing, Hogwarts Legacy was so successful because even with expectations at all-time highs, they still delivered on their main goal: create a fully immerse Harry Potter-based video game. I can't remember the last time a single-player game captivated me in this way...Outside of Elden Ring I probably have to go all the way back to Fallout 3, Fable II or Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. It's easily been that long.
Even for an outright gaming nerd like myself, I still managed close to 30-35 hours of gameplay until the main storyline was complete. That's an awesome amount of content considering I wasn't taking my time with this game.
Drop your thoughts on this poll below on who should win Game of the Year!
Who Should Win Game of the Year?
Hogwarts Legacy
Diablo IV
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
OTHER
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