Prior to the deciding that I'm going to beat all these games in a row, Prisoner of Azkaban for the PS2 was my favorite Harry Potter video game. It continues to be one of my favorites, but, unfortunately, the format of the first three 6th gen games has its limitations.
The game succeeds primarily as a companion piece. Its aesthetics and soundtrack are excellent, which opens up a whole new approach to the world of Harry Potter. It is the most vivid and unique visual depiction of Hogwarts that isn't based on the movies. There's a fantastic balance of unnerving and weird with the amazing and vibrant, and it manages to fit the more oppressive atmosphere of Prisoner of Azkaban with a very stylized artstyle. The spell challenges are just mind-boggling, there's an underground infestation of creatures which settle near locations where plenty of blood has been spilled (yes, that's the in-game description of the Red Cap enemies) merely few steps outside the Potions classroom, but there's also the wonderful grand staircase, the grounds with different possible weather effects, and Buckbeak flying segments.
Unfortunately the gameplay remains largely the same as its predecessors. While the new spells are cool, and there are few puzzles in the dungeons themselves alongside a few fun bosses, the overworld is largely devoid of any fun secrets, it's all laid out in the open from the very beginning, and only becomes interactable once you obtain the necessary spell or item. The pacing, even that of exploration, is snappy and never overstays its welcome as much as the previous parts, but by following said games this closely it could only ever be fun as a companion piece. There is a necessary level of interest required from the player in order to make them feel like trudging through mediocre gameplay is worth it.
To me, it is. I really enjoyed seeing this reimagining, all the added content, casting spells in real time, but it would be difficult to recommend for someone outside of an already diminishing circle of interest. I've seen and played enough 6th Gen titles to tell that, despite being a genuinely pretty title with a strong aesthetic, there's many games that had it beat in that regard even back when it released.
With that in mind, however, I believe it is once again worth reminding that companion pieces are not any less worthwhile than these experiences. The aforementioned investment required to get into the mood for playing this game isn't difficult to obtain, as the universe is still a strong one, and perhaps Hogwarts Legacy can reignite it for many players out there. The same game may also increase the standards too high for these titles to be worth coming back to, however. Only time will tell.
The game succeeds primarily as a companion piece. Its aesthetics and soundtrack are excellent, which opens up a whole new approach to the world of Harry Potter. It is the most vivid and unique visual depiction of Hogwarts that isn't based on the movies. There's a fantastic balance of unnerving and weird with the amazing and vibrant, and it manages to fit the more oppressive atmosphere of Prisoner of Azkaban with a very stylized artstyle. The spell challenges are just mind-boggling, there's an underground infestation of creatures which settle near locations where plenty of blood has been spilled (yes, that's the in-game description of the Red Cap enemies) merely few steps outside the Potions classroom, but there's also the wonderful grand staircase, the grounds with different possible weather effects, and Buckbeak flying segments.
Unfortunately the gameplay remains largely the same as its predecessors. While the new spells are cool, and there are few puzzles in the dungeons themselves alongside a few fun bosses, the overworld is largely devoid of any fun secrets, it's all laid out in the open from the very beginning, and only becomes interactable once you obtain the necessary spell or item. The pacing, even that of exploration, is snappy and never overstays its welcome as much as the previous parts, but by following said games this closely it could only ever be fun as a companion piece. There is a necessary level of interest required from the player in order to make them feel like trudging through mediocre gameplay is worth it.
To me, it is. I really enjoyed seeing this reimagining, all the added content, casting spells in real time, but it would be difficult to recommend for someone outside of an already diminishing circle of interest. I've seen and played enough 6th Gen titles to tell that, despite being a genuinely pretty title with a strong aesthetic, there's many games that had it beat in that regard even back when it released.
With that in mind, however, I believe it is once again worth reminding that companion pieces are not any less worthwhile than these experiences. The aforementioned investment required to get into the mood for playing this game isn't difficult to obtain, as the universe is still a strong one, and perhaps Hogwarts Legacy can reignite it for many players out there. The same game may also increase the standards too high for these titles to be worth coming back to, however. Only time will tell.