Hogwarts Legacy is a huge success and has managed to rekindle the magic which began over twenty years ago. One of the ways it achieved this was not just by remaining faithful to the lore, but by going all in on bringing the world of Harry Potter to life.
While the books were the main source of inspiration for developers Avalanche, many amazing designs and details have also been taken from the movies. From iconic music scores to the architecture of Hogwarts itself, players will often feel like they are part of a Harry Potter film themselves.
6 Magical Creatures
While Hogwarts Legacy features many magical creatures that were never seen in the Harry Potter films, a handful were carried over to great effect. Arguably the best example of this is how the hippogriffs within the game take on the same appearance as Buckbeak, just with variations in color as was described in the books.
Thestrals, which can be seen at the start of the game and later on, also appear as they did in the films. This is a fantastic decision as it not only makes them instantly recognizable but their eerie yet beautiful essence is perfectly captured. Phoenixes also look incredibly similar to how Fawkes appeared in the films.
5 The Quidditch Visuals
While Quidditch sadly does not feature in Hogwarts Legacy as a playable or even watchable sport, Quidditch gear and visuals are everywhere and their design is taken straight out of the movies. From the stadium itself to each of the three types of balls and even the box they are kept in, the visuals are all inspired by the movies.
The Quaffle, for example, is described as a bright scarlet in the books and nothing is mentioned about the iconic indents from the movie Quaffle, which is the design the game went with. The padded gear to protect players' limbs and heads also appears to have been inspired by the films.
4 Goblins and House-Elves
Both Goblins and House-elves in Hogwarts Legacy appear as they did in the movies, which is not only great for the visuals of the game but also helps with continuity as fans go on to enjoy the two in combination. When it comes to the Goblins such as Lodgok, Arn, and Ranrok, their appearance is more specifically styled to match the appearances seen in the Deathly Hallows movies, with pearly black eyes and fanged teeth.
The House-elves such as Deek, Scrope, and those seen in the kitchens also look very much like Dobby and Kreacher did in the films, which helps endear them to the hearts of fans.
3 Lumos And Other Small Sounds
Sometimes the smallest of details can make the biggest difference, and this is particularly the case when it comes to iconic sounds taken from the Harry Potter movies. The best example of this is the rush of nostalgia every time the player lights up their wand with the Lumos spell. The sound it makes provides just as much safety as the light itself, even in the darkest of dungeons in Hogwarts Legacy.
Other great sounds, which have been carried over from the films into the game, include the hovering Golden Snitch when players first enter the Room of Requirement, and the caws of the ravens and crows near the cabin that will one day become Hagrid's home.
2 The Architecture Of Hogwarts
Although the developers built Hogwarts in line with descriptions from the books, where possible they were also able to include plenty of the architecture from the movies. From the iconic Great Hall and the rickety bridge that Seamus Finnigan will one day blow up, to corridors lined with paintings whose occupants don't like to be disturbed at night, there is a wide variety of recognizable locations.
The list of places that players will stumble upon in Hogwarts only to be reminded of a certain scene from the films goes on and on. Along with all the book references to look out for, this makes exploring the castle one of the most fun things to do in the game.
1 The Music
Easily some of the best things to be taken from the Harry Potter movies are the incredible soundtracks and musical themes which have either been adapted for Hogwarts Legacy or served as inspiration. Throughout all areas of the game, players will recognize elements of the movie scores and feel like they are living out the films.
One great sense of comfort comes from hearing the small musical cues upon collecting a Field Guide Page or completing a quest, all of which are iconic motifs from the films. Even better though is the rendition of Buckbeak's Flight which is first heard at the end of the quest The High Keep when players fly on a Hippogriff for the first time. This sensational song can thankfully be heard at other times when flying on a Hippogriff.
Hogwarts Legacy is out now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X with PS4 and Xbox One versions coming April 4 and a Switch release dropping July 25.