75 hours in and I can say the castle and hogsmeade is top notch. The world graphics are incredible. It’s been a fun experience exploring. They really did Hogwarts justice from the book standpoint. The reason for the 4 instead of 5 star is due to lack of story and character building. I would have preferred a preset character with a story. You know nothing about yourself, your family, why you have ancient magic etc. it’s also a bummer that being sorted into a house seems.. well pointless. Aside from one soecial quest depending on your house.. you don’t interact with anyone really. Even the “main companions” do not feel like you’re building a relationship with them. The classes are not really much and you don’t really do anything as a student. I’m also bummed that no matter the choices you make, whether you choose to use dark spells or not, it has no impact in the game. Once you’ve gotten through the initial run and magic of the castle and surrounding area.. it becomes a soulless adventure full of fetch quest after fetch quest for people who you don’t know or have any other run in with throughout the game. I don’t even see the bad guys or feel like enough of their stories were told for me to feel like even they mattered. Picking your wand changes nothing and essentially doesn’t matter. There’s no house camaraderie in the school and after awhile it feels your doing the same missions over and over. The beast aspect was really cool, but even with that, you save them to get materials for upgrades and the .. either release them, keep them, or sell them to be sent off to a safer area. The breeding seems pointless bc the babies don’t ever grow up either. It just felt incomplete story wise. I am really hoping they add to this game in the future with DLCs that make relationship building with Hogwart pals or information in your character matter. It would be cool to see quidditch, or more storyline with the beasts… just anything. The story side of the game just didn’t feel fleshed out or completed. Battling was fun and I know people complain that it’s only 26 spells.. but it plays well and feels just right. I don’t think you should need two different spell slots to create and take down items in your room of requirement.
Some cool ways to create more story would have been hearing bits of history from NPC’s you are around. Maybe a mission where you take poly juice and infiltrate a goblin camp to gather intel and learn more about the story. I would recommend this game still, but if you’re really into story and character development.. you will be let down.