In 2021, Warner Brothers Games and Portkey Games is giving fans a log awaited, or to some very long-awaited, Third-Person Console "Harry Potter" game called "Hogwarts Legacy". An action-Adventure game with no branding of "Harry Potter" or "Fantastic Beasts". Even thou it would seem that it is more conjoined with the Fantastic Beasts world than the 90s set series. Everyone had and has a response to this reveal trailer and people make lists of what they would like to see it lists of ways it could be better than the previous console series adaptation. When in seeing this trailer, my mind was caught in wonder with the times, aesthetic appeals, and themes. The following is a list of what I thought of in wonder along the way and back again.
In the list, I will say "World" when it comes to the world-building aspect of the subject, in some cases, it is more of "time" then how the world is. Part of the wonder is the artistic style that is used to depict the time that it is or "aesthetic". Story and more. Theories are also present as I describe my responses.
1) Wands and Ollivander's of the time (World View)
Wands are the upmost important tool of witches and wizards and in each time, and over time, different wandmakers would experiment with different wood types and animal parts. Garrick used Pheonix, dragon heart, and Unicorn in the 90s. His father, Gerbold, used Kelpie and other animals. In the 1800s, wands were used but I wonder what were the cores of the time. Wands are listed first here because who would not want to know what popular animals were being used? And more importantly, what would be the player's wand? Given the time, Olovanders would be around as they have since the beginning. But before Gerbold with his connections to LIme wood, in the 1800s, the wandmaker is unknown. Are we seeing his father? What animals were used? This subject is about the world-building view.
2) Professors and Phineas Black (World View)
Teachers are the second wonder I selected. Who taught students in the "late 1800s"? In the trailer, the Herbology teacher, potions, and 2 other subject unknown teachers were shown. In the leaked gameplay, the teacher of transfiguration is seen up close with a transfigured book. Given its late 1800s, it can only be the 1870s-90s. The 1880s-90s at most. In the 1890s, Albus was a student and Aberforth. Phineas Black was Headmaster and Armando Dippet was a teacher. In the 1880s, Black could be a professor and Headmaster Brutus Scrimgeour. To me, the herbology teacher reminds me of Trelawney. Imagine that, her relatives was a professor of plants.
3) The Story and the subject of Runes and History (theme/Career view)
The Story is a big question as it is about a kid who did not get a letter until he or she was older. I think the school headmaster calls you in as you, the character, could solve an old puzzle and problems on the land. Kind of like the Chosen One. I list this as the third because of the subject of runes and history. It seems these days, WB is focusing on building a world from the view of other careers. Detective for books, a Cursebreaker (archeologist of sorts) for "Hogwarts Mystery" and Study of Ancient Runes and History of Magic focus for the new game. As a fan of history, and a student of Ancient Runes, I have to give this career view in number 3 of the list.
4) Spells and Potions [Patronus and Animagus results] (Gameplay View)
The next one is not something in the trailer but was something I thought of as a response. Spells and Potions. Alohomora, Reparo, ... the curses. The one spell and potion I instantly thought of was the Animagus and Patronus charm. This is a question of gameplay and how the results are decided. In Hogwarts Mystery, one can simply toucha choice. But I am hoping for a fluid result that is determined y choices the player makes along the way. In the idea of Moral Paths, the result could simply be a question of the good or bad path. But I am hoping for a variety of possibilities as long as the result is determined fluidly.
5) Timeslot (Canon View) [Albus and Grindelwald]
On the 5th spot is the timeslot. I previously mentioned how wand cores are my most wonder in a given time and with the professors, I imagine its late 1880s or 90s. But in this case, from the canon view, I wonder if it is exploring the 90s with Albus and Grindelwald. It would be strange thou to see how our character is a witness of the event in 1899 and were friends with Albus and Aberforth. Could be cool all the same.
6) The Cobblestreet Road of Hogsmeade (World View) [Aesthetic of the Times]
When I first saw the archway of the Hogsmeade sign, I thought of Skyrim. The thought that the player traverses a large landscape in a direction to find a small town of locals going on in their everyday lives and businesses. I see the cobblestones of the road and I wanted to keep going and explore more before the scene shifted. Hogsmeade is a magical place that id you noticed, there is NO SNOW anywhere on the street. For the first time ever, it's a dry location with spring time life growing nearby and on the brick walls of the opening. Eventually, I thought of a place that is none other then...
7) The Shopping Streets of Diagon Alley (World View) [Aesthetic of the TImes]
While this location is not shown in the trailer, there is a screenshot of Ollivanders. I think also that it was Hogsmede that was shown in the Gameplay leak, which I thought was Diagon Alley. It seems that Hogsmeade could be more akin to its starting location.
8) Dormitories and Common Rooms (Home View) [Aesthetic of the Times]
Dormitories, or at least one, was shown in the trailer. Dorms and Common Rooms are, to me, the true test of what makes Hogwarts Home as a young witch and wizard would be spending their time in this room for a great majority by the fire, watering plants, reading a book, and hearing undersea critters under the Black Sea.
9) Library (Personal Interest)
This is more of personal interest as I had spent most of my time in this place at all schools then the cafeteria. The Library of Hogwarts is a place where you are most likely to find me brushing up on the knowledge of the world and history. I do hope that there will be interactions with the desks, books, chairs and could actually read many books that Hogwarts allows to share its students on the many opened shelves for one's curiosity. Although, right around the corner, there is the Restricted Section that is banned for those curious book loving students. What lies in that section in the 1800s that we could not possibly want to know?
10) Quidditch (Gameplay View) [Aesthetic of the Times]
Quidditch is in the game, least that's what it looks like and it was around for centuries. I am not particularly all that about the sport, but from a gameplay perspective, could be quite a view. Imagine seeing your character on a broom in the field in the center of the screen. Being worn are old fashioned appeared of the times as you fly across the stadium walls of falling leaves in autumn. I think the coloring style and the time's fashion or appeal would have me of interest to join the team for tryouts. In part with Quidditch is the type of Broomsticks that are made. Oakshaft 79 created in 1879 by Elias Grimstone and, possibly, Silver Arrow. I also think that Avalance could be using the brooms that were shown slightly in the "Fantastic Beasts" sequel. it takes place in 1927 so it would not be far off from the possibility that these types are in fact Oakshaft and Silver Arrow and that whatever they are, they are also in the late 1800s.
11) Hopeful Outlands (Wizarding World View) [other schools]
Now, this is far stretched as it focuses on Hogwarts grounds, but given the details that were being of use in Hogwarts Mystery and Wizards Unite. It may be possible. Hence a Hopeful view. Simply, the idea that the game could have characters and locations outside the grounds from all over the world. A Castelobruxo student is in Hogwarts Mystery and the story involves a dark wizard from Mahatokoro. Knowing that other schools exist is why I also want to choose Gryffindor, partly. The robes in the game seem to be the ones in Fantastic Beasts and the Gryffindor ones look like Blue and Red (the colors of Ilvermorny). When I asked about it on Twitter, my reply response was that its a shade of Black. Yes, I am still wanting to see Ilermorny make some appearance.
12) Impact of House Points (Gameplay View)
On the last spot is also more Gameplay material around the houses. The player chooses a house at the start of the game, it seems. So I imagine its more of a menu as whats shown in the leak. It would be cool if it was more fluid, however, like Skyrim or Dark Souls. But what are the perks of each house? Would the house of one's choice impact the gameplay? Ravenclaw getting more Knowledge points for exploring, Gryffindors getting more combat perks when fighting, Hufflepuffs with nature association, and Slytherins with great ambition to finish a goal. The idea that each house is different when it comes to perks and gameplay advantages would make replayability possible and interesting.
There are many more locations I thought of like the Forbidden Forest which could be a separate list. The world is bigger than one realizes especially with the addition of the Ministry and its wide array of Ministers throughout the 1800s. This is a journey to be explored and a behold of wonder.
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