According to narrative director Moira Squier, Hogwarts Legacy will feature more than 100 sidequests that are not just meant to provide a break from the main campaign, but also affect it. Players will have the opportunity to shape their experience through the way they approach these sideline activities.
Squier stated that the main storyline of the game is intricate and captivating, featuring a diverse cast of characters and perspectives. However, by incorporating choice moments throughout the game, players are able to create their own unique version of the epic story.
Squier explains that the over 100 sidequests in the game also provide opportunities for players to shape the main campaign through their experiences. The player’s interactions in sidequests will affect their interactions with characters in the main storyline and vice versa, and the order in which they complete these quests will also have an impact on their story and game. All elements of the game are interconnected.
The studio’s statements about Hogwarts Legacy being open to player choices and the impact of sidequests on the main campaign are rather generic and not particularly informative. However, it is noteworthy that the game allows players to use darker magic and make choices that align with an “evil” path without significant consequences. This freedom to express oneself in this way is unique and interesting.
Providing players with the option to play as a Dark Witch or Wizard was crucial for us,” said lead designer Kelly Murphy. “This is the epitome of role-playing: giving players the freedom to make evil choices. And it is important to note that this feature is included without any judgment from the game creators. If a player wants to embrace evil, they should be able to do so.
This includes even the use of the Unforgivable Curses, which are a group of spells that are considered extremely dark and prohibited in the Harry Potter novels, using them would result in a lifetime imprisonment in Azkaban prison. However, in Hogwarts Legacy, the consequences for using these spells seem to be less severe.
According to Murphy, “Characters will respond with visual and audio cues when they see the player casting an Unforgivable Curse, but the game won’t have a morality system that punishes the player for using them, as it would be too judgmental on the game creator’s part. However, if the player continues to engage in these actions, the game world will reflect this through NPC reactions.”
Considering that the Harry Potter novels present a clear-cut narrative of good versus evil, it seems fitting that using these specific curses by children would be met with consequences. These spells are intended for mind control, torture, and murder. They are named “Unforgivable” for a reason, indicating that the use of them is considered morally wrong.
Many games offer players the choice to adopt an evil path, however, these choices often come with in-game consequences. Poor actions lead to negative outcomes. This does not seem to be the case in Hogwarts Legacy, despite the backlash against the author JK Rowling’s transphobia, the game remains highly sought after on Steam.
Hogwarts Legacy is set to launch on February 10.