A great draw of Hogwarts Legacy—perhaps the biggest—is living within the castle walls as a student. There are probably only a handful of Harry Potter fans out there who haven’t dreamed about getting their Hogwarts letter one day and being whisked off to a magical life. For the most part, this is what they get in Hogwarts Legacy. There are naturally several aspects that fall short, a key one being the most obvious: the overall student life itself.
Customization is also a contributing, underdeveloped aspect; it’s limited to redecorating the Room of Requirement and changing one’s appearance. Being able to create an avatar and having a secret room to oneself is naturally great, but there should be more to student life in Hogwarts Legacy 2. The dorms and common room, for starters, are where a lot happens. Players would likely feel more at home if they’re able to customize their dorms in Hogwarts Legacy 2, if not the common room as well.
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The Room of Requirement was among Hogwarts Legacy’s most satisfying inclusions, but the sequel could take it up a notch with one overhaul.
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Giving players the choice to customize their dorms in Hogwarts Legacy 2 would go a long way in enabling them to experience the complete student life. A big part of living in a castle for three-quarters of the year is having a space that’s entirely personal, where there are no limits to self-expression. To this end, making the furniture and the color theme fully customizable seems natural. After all, conjuring and transfiguring materials and textures to refashion a space shouldn’t be limited to the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts Legacy 2.
Avalanche Software could also target customization by tying it in with the loot and quest system. As fans may remember, the loot in Hogwarts Legacy is pretty decent, but it’s nothing to write home about. The game could expand on this by rewarding them with tchotchkes of varied styles, depending on the quest or NPC they interact with. So, a player could choose to display various items in their dorms, whether it’s something like a fuzzy plushy collection, a Chocolate Frog Card tower, a Hungarian Horntail miniature, or even a set of rudimentary class projects that they’re working on.
If Hogwarts Legacy 2‘s social system is fleshed out even more, the state of the protagonist’s sleeping area, the items they have, and the general comings and goings could lead to interesting dialogue exchange; a morality system of sorts that impacts their bonds with certain characters would be inspired as well. After all, it would be boring, unnatural even, if the six-to-seven people living together don’t have any actual roommate actions.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Can Unlock Social Potential Through Player Decisions
If there’s one piece of content that many players remember being disappointed about, outside the castle walls, it’s the Haunted Hogsmeade shop quest in Hogwarts Legacy. While the dialogues make it seem like they will get to run their own shop, that’s not the case. They can’t select the items that are sold, what the decor is like, or even the prices set; all they can do is buy and sell for a slightly higher profit. Ultimately, the entire thing falls short of what is seemingly promised at the start. The quest itself, however, is a particularly good one.
If players gain more control over Hogsmeade in Hogwarts Legacy 2, or another village for that matter, it would not only turn things around but make them even better. They could choose which shops go where, what the design and key business actions are, and perhaps even a couple of people that get hired. This will be more believable if it’s not instant; rather, everything takes time, and requires a certain chunk of monetary and quest investment from players. This may help players feel more engaged in the experience, considering they actually get a worthwhile say and stand to profit, whether by way of money or story.
Going from nothing to control over a group of shops or a village itself may feel like a big leap, but there’s always room to explain things. Given how the first game ended, Hogwarts Legacy 2‘s story may jump forward a few years. If the player is pureblood or a halfblood, this could be a way to have them learn and expand the family business, build connections with shopkeepers and landowners, and even garner support for future actions. If the protagonist is a muggleborn, the process could be more gradual and challenging. It could help them learn more about how the magical businesses work, earn money for clothing and items, and even network for supportive actions over the campaign. While it’s impossible to say what Hogwarts Legacy 2‘s story and gameplay could look like, giving players more freedom may be the best foot forward.
- Released
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February 10, 2023
- ESRB
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T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol