The narrative arc of Hogwarts Legacy has drawn attention for its brevity, particularly when taking into account the game’s vast scope. Although dedicated players can invest numerous hours in exploration and side quests, the core storyline typically spans only around 25 hours. This reliance on exploratory gameplay, while engaging, may leave some players wishing for a more substantial narrative experience.
Despite its short length, the story in Hogwarts Legacy is presented compellingly. Some plots, however, remain open-ended. It’s unclear whether this serves as a strategic move by the developers, potentially laying groundwork for a sequel, or if it reflects time constraints during production. Should the next installment unfold in a different era, the narrative will inevitably require considerable adjustments.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Short Story & Exploration Element
Exploration Without Impact
The gameplay heavily emphasizes exploration, which aims to justify the overall time players spend in the game. While the main story is under 30 hours, hunting for collectibles and exploring various locations significantly extends gameplay duration. This exploration-centric design can be likened to popular titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but Hogwarts Legacy faces a notable challenge: after a certain point, these explorations often feel unrewarding.
Although engaging in open-world adventures is common, this reliance on exploration over narrative can undermine player immersion. As the game progresses, many players notice an accelerating narrative pace, especially after the halfway mark. This rush can lead explorers to inadvertently encounter high-level areas prematurely, diminishing the intended challenge of the later game stages.
Moreover, players might reach the level cap before fully engaging with the story, rendering subsequent challenges much easier. This imbalance raises concerns regarding the design philosophy of prioritizing exploration while risking player satisfaction. Furthermore, late-game exploration rewards, particularly with items such as Merlin Trials, can feel pointless when they contribute little beyond easily achieving completionist status.
As players continue their journey, even the Treasure Vaults and creature collection can become monotonous, as gold loses its significance in longer playthroughs. Additionally, managing creatures within the Room of Requirement becomes cumbersome, limiting the fulfillment derived from exploration. As a result, the available rewards lose their appeal and urgency, leading to a frustrating gaming experience.
Unresolved Side Plots
Insufficient Development of Companion Characters
As many side quests begin to feel repetitive and unrewarding, it’s equally notable that some character story arcs appear unfinished. For example, the narratives surrounding ancient wizards and the companions players interact with—aside from Sebastian—fail to reach a satisfying conclusion. Even Sebastian’s story can lead to varying resolutions based on player choices.
Characters like Poppy similarly grapple with incomplete arcs, highlighting an overarching concern. If a sequel happens directly after the events of Hogwarts Legacy, there may be opportunities to resolve these lingering threads. However, the time invested in exploration could have been more effectively utilized for enriching player relationships with these characters.
Increasing the Length of Hogwarts Legacy 2
Addressing Story Length: A Two-Fold Approach
The question of extending the main story can be approached in two ways. Firstly, enriching exploration rewards could enhance overall gameplay. For instance, unlike Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon: Zero Dawn provides substantial rewards from exploration—new weapons, abilities, and skill upgrades—which makes each discovery feel significant.
In contrast, Hogwarts Legacy mainly rewards players with cosmetic updates and experience points. Once players have achieved the maximum level and filled their collectibles journal, the lack of incentives can lead to feelings of futility. If developers expand this system, making exploration feel more impactful, players may find their time in the game more worthwhile.
Alternatively, the sequel could shift its focus to story-centric gameplay. Titles like God of War (2016) demonstrate how to seamlessly incorporate exploration while keeping the narrative at the forefront. By urging players to engage with the main story and offering the option to revisit for missed items, developers can create a stronger connection to the storyline.
This method could lead to a tighter storyline, emphasizing character relationships and narrative development over collectibles. While this may reduce some replayability, many players may not actively seek out every collectible multiple times. As such, streamlining the experience could offer a more satisfying engagement with the story.
Given that the game world already possesses a commendable size, a sequel could prioritize classroom interactions and character development to extend the narrative length without diluting its quality. Ultimately, there are various paths to improve upon the existing format, with hopes that Hogwarts Legacy 2 will deliver a more immersive and fulfilling experience.