Hogwarts Legacyhas been a mammoth success for Warner Bros. and Avalanche Software, and will inevitably inform how both of these entities conduct business moving forward. Indeed, as 2023’s best-selling game,Hogwarts Legacyis sure to define the gaming sector of Warner Bros. for the foreseeable future, as it’s arguably the media conglomerate’s greatest success in the interactive space.
At least, it’s the greatest financial success that Warner Bros. has seen in gaming; whether it’s the biggest creative success is far more debatable.Hogwarts Legacy, for all its strengths (of which there are many, make no mistake), is somewhat bland and uninspired in many areas, from its narrative to its progression systems and world design. Stripping back the ever-iconicHarry Potterfacade revealsHogwarts Legacyto be disappointingly formulaic and risk-averse, shying away from anything that could resemble a creative leap. This conservative design philosophy extends to the game’s enemy variety: there are preciousfew unique enemies to fight inHogwarts Legacy, leaving many to hope that the sequel will take steps to broaden its enemy roster, even if that means simply building upon the foundations of its predecessor.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Could Address the Spider in the Room
Spiders Are Over-Represented in Hogwarts Legacy
Wading throughHogwarts Legacy’s enemy-infested zones, particularly caverns and other dense, dark outdoor areas, players will inevitably be faced with an abundance of oversized spiders, also known as acromantulas. Some will be larger than others, some will spew webs, and some will leap through the air viciously, but they are all arachnids with only a minor injection of fantasy elements. Aside from humans and goblins, these are the creatures thatHogwarts Legacyplayers will battle the most.
This is rather disappointing. After all,Hogwarts Legacyis based upon theHarry PotterIP, a property that features a wide variety of distinct and intimidating fantasy creatures, from vampires to basilisks to werewolves, but acromantulas are what take up hours of players' time in combat. It doesn’t help that spiders are already something of a cliché in fantasy games, often included as fodder or filler enemies that players need to cut their teeth on before moving on to grander, more complex threats. Only inHogwarts Legacy, these creatures never give way to something greater, nor do they develop into more significant, interesting opponents themselves.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Hone in Spider Intelligence
One of the mostfrustrating aspects ofHogwarts Legacy’s treatment of acromantulasis the squandering of their most unique trait: intelligence. According to the source material, acromantulas are far more advanced than most would assume at first, as they are known to have complex social structures and traditions, including marriage and human-like child-parent relationships. Aragog, the most prominent acromantula in theHarry Potterseries, can even speak English, and has a friendship with Hagrid.
It’s a shame thatHogwarts Legacywould include such complex creatures without even gesturing toward their high-level reasoning and emotional intelligence. The combination of ruthless, bloodthirsty violence (which includes a hunger for human flesh) and more sophisticated logic and cognitive skills is fascinating, and could make acromantulas far more menacing andcomplex inHogwarts Legacy 2. Perhaps the sequel could include an acromantula antagonist, one that attempts to thwart the player-character through intelligent schemes and tricks in addition to raw power. Or maybe these enemies could exhibit their intelligence by being stealthy during combat encounters, disappearing into cracks in caves or scurrying away into the shadows, striking when the player is disoriented. It’s the capacity for this sort of critical thinking that sets acromantulas apart from the giant spiders ofWorld of Warcraft,Skyrim, and the like, soHogwarts Legacy2should capitalize on it.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
