Summary
With a wide catalog to choose from,Hogwarts Legacy’s spell list is certainly nothing to sneeze at. While most of these spells improve the experience ofexploration, puzzle-solving, andcombat inHogwarts Legacy, there are a few that are unfortunately missed opportunities, with one iconicHarry Pottercharm being a notable example.
As an open-world game set in a unique and beloved fantasy world,Hogwarts Legacyhad a lot of potential for fresh and exciting exploration-centric gameplay. While this potential is realized in some aspects of the game, especially in specific locations like Hogwarts and Hogsmeade,Hogwarts Legacysuffers from the same pitfalls as so many other titles in the open-world genre. Wide open spaces and shallow, unrewarding exploration characterize much of its open-world experience, and these issues are, unfortunately, exacerbated by the implementation of Alohomora, the lockpicking spell.
How Alohomora Falls Short in Hogwarts Legacy
Alohomora is one of the morelackluster spells inHogwarts Legacyfor a number of reasons. One reason the spell falls flat is a criticism that can be applied to many open-world RPGs: lockpicking minigames can be hard to get right.Hogwarts Legacy’s magical lockpicking sections can feel obligatory and awkward, forcing the player to play a stripped-down, repetitive, and unengaging activity whenever they wish to overcome a locked door or chest. It would seem that Avalanche was aware of this to some degree, as it added an option to skip the lockpicking minigames entirely on Story Mode. With all that said, the minigame itself is not the biggest letdown of Alohomora.
Alohomora’s Shortcomings Are Tied to Hogwarts Legacy’s Poor Loot System
Looting and exploration represent some of thebiggest flaws ofHogwarts Legacy. While it can be fun to discover new cosmetics and clothing items early in the game, the practice of opening innumerable chests and peeking around every corner just to find copy-paste gear can quickly become tedious and disappointing. Many of the gear pieces in the game are either replicas of each other or superficial reskins, with minor stat bonuses that have a minimal, dull impact on the gameplay experience. This ultimately makes exploration underwhelming, as players will come to expect bland rewards for their efforts.
Alohomora does little to alleviate these issues. LikeHogwarts Legacy’s Revelio skill, Alohomora can serve to make exploration more annoying than fun, as it’s just a roadblock for loot. More importantly, the rewards that are locked behind closed doors are often just as lackluster as those that aren’t secured by lock and key. This means that a rote and unvarying lockpicking roadblock worsens the underwhelming feeling that often accompanies finding new loot inHogwarts Legacy.
How Alohomora Can Be Improved in a Hogwarts Legacy Sequel
In theHarry Potterbooks and films, Alohomora is used as a plot device to get characters into unique, mysterious, or otherwise restricted areas. If the nextHogwarts Legacyput a greater focus on these restricted areas themselves, rather than the loot that they contain, then Alohomora could wind up being a useful and rewarding skill. For instance, players could use the spell to accessother Hogwarts common rooms, which would be a compelling reason to use and upgrade the spell.Ideally, these secret locations would also hold worthwhile gear or unlockables, but discovering these hidden areas would be its own reward.
Alohomora could have been a powerful part ofHogwarts Legacy’s adventure role-playing, but as it stands, it’s often just another rung in the ladder of bland open-world exploration. If the sequel toHogwarts Legacycan lean further into the mysterious aspects of theHarry Potterworld, providing players with novel and rewarding ways to make use of Alohomora, then the spell could have a bright future in the series.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
