Hogwarts Legacy had both huge shoes to fill, and a new reputation to forge. Whereas the Harry Potter license has not had the best luck in gaming, it has flourished elsewhere, so when Avalanche Software struck out to add to the IP rather than adapting something pre-existing, it was a brave decision. That valor has paid off, though, as it conjured a game that is great in its own right while also doing well to compliment what has come before.
Putting players in the role of someone completely new allows them to role-play in a setting that is ripe for new stories and adventures, but while this has its perks, it comes at a big cost. Creating a protagonist means there's little potential for a detailed and compelling backstory, delving into what their life was like at home before they got their admission letter. It's a beat that has served Harry, Hermione, and Ron well, so not including some kind of context for Hogwarts Legacy's protagonist is a shame, as it could have benefited the story hugely.
Hogwarts Legacy's Protagonist is a Blank Slate
Little is known about the protagonist of Hogwarts Legacy prior to their time at the school. This decision has its benefits and drawbacks, as it helps players to immediately get invested in the story and role play as the main character, but narratively it feels rushed, as the context that would usually be present in other Wizarding World properties is absent. For Avalanche Software's first outing with the Wizarding World IP it can be forgiven, as grabbing players early will likely have been a key priority. However, the studio shouldn't disregard the wonders that a sufficient backstory that analyzes a character's home life and upbringing can have on the game.
It's easy to enter the shoes of the protagonist in Hogwarts Legacy, but hard to be immersed by their antics, and feel any kind of empathy or compassion when they are in danger. The story suffers as a result, as the eyes through which players see simply aren't as ingrained in the game's world as the film or book characters. Even adopting the simple backstory creator that Mass Effect used would have gone a long way to establishing the protagonist in the world, but instead players are awkwardly thrust into a late-19th century England where the narrative goes from zero to 60 in the blink of an eye. Allowing players more insight into whom the main character's parents were and how they impacted them would have unlocked a narrative justification for the protagonist's good deeds.
Backstory is Big in Harry Potter
Each personality in Harry Potter is very well crafted, not just because of what they do in the moment, but also what got them where they are. Hermione Granger's backstory as a child to Muggle parents adds to her heroism, and Professor Snape's cursed life and love of Lily Potter drastically changed the viewer and reader's opinion of him.
Those stories are vital to each professor, student, and stranger's identity. Having a protagonist in Hogwarts Legacy that has no real story to tell about growing up and the people that inspired them before enrolling feels thoroughly out of place. Hogwarts Legacy is an RPG first and foremost, and Harry Potter's track record in the gaming space meant it was always going to attract a new audience, so throwing an elaborate backstory at players early would have been a risk. However, it contrasts what fans know of the IP, and because of this the immersion of Hogwarts Legacy suffers.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch release scheduled for November 14, 2023.
