I decided to take a different approach to this game from my brother. He chose to complete the main story a soon as possible, ignoring side quests. I, on the other hand, started playing all the side quests as soon as they popped up, choosing to level up my character in preparation for the main story. Honestly, I was kind of afraid of the main story.

With all the hype surrounding this game since its release on Feb. 10, I would probably rate Hogwarts Legacy a 9 out of 10. It loses a point for not letting me play Quidditch. Right away when you arrive in the Great Hall, Professor Black, the headmaster makes a lame excuse as to why the quidditch season was canceled.

While canceling the quidditch season was unfortunate, I still got the chance to fly around on a broom, with a hint of competition in the side quest Flight Test. During this quest, I raced through hoops on my broom in hopes of achieving a record time. Something about flying at high speeds while the mountainous landscape stretches for miles is truly mesmerizing.

Between the hyper-realistic graphics and the storyline full of action, Hogwarts Legacy creates an experience everyone can enjoy.

Currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world game that makes it possible to explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and other surrounding hamlets. It takes place 100 years before the books and movies, so you do not need to have extended knowledge of the series to enjoy playing. 

Hogwarts Legacy takes 30-35 hours to complete the main storyline and over 100 hours of side quests. Players can have up to four separate avatars available for gameplay, each having their own storyline, allowing for more experiences within the game.

Whether you enjoy tending to all sorts of plants in the greenhouse or battling the monsters that lurk in the Forbidden Forest, you are sure to enjoy Hogwarts Legacy. Along with attending classes to learn various spells, players can partake in other quests that help build friendships in the game. The choose-your-own-adventure aspect allows you to decide whether or not to spend your time playing through all the side quests first or to finish the main story and go back to the side quests later. 

Alongside all of its features, the game’s graphics left me speechless. The way the camera moves around your character in certain scenes makes it feel like you’re watching a movie. I love how the developers managed to create a video game that felt so real. It feels like I am really there, especially while watching all the different spells in action. 

The non-player characters, or NPCs, make the game just as interesting as the storyline itself. As the story progresses, players can meet various NPCs, learn about each one’s backstory, lore and hardships, as well as challenge them to some friendly competition.

I highly recommend Hogwarts Legacy to anyone, it is a truly versatile game and was absolutely worth the money.