Thomas Robb

An enjoyable game for those interested in a slow, narrative driven plot with extensive dialogue, and particularly kids aged 10-12 with occasional adult supervision. For those who enjoy the satisfaction of an enjoyable, liquid combat system with both chance and planned encounters, and a vibrant open-world adventure, this may not scratch your itch. Unfortunately it falls into a category where it is not quite suitable for children, and not engaging enough for an adult audience. Due to limited action and constant gate-keeping, Hogwarts Legacy is essentially a Pokemon game without the ASD self-soothing that comes from collecting and ordering. Where it succeeds; - It offers a visually stunning open world - The addition of flight adds depth to the experience - Offers a plethora of cosmetic customisable content - Full of nostalgia porn for the Harry Potter fanbase - The most comprehensively multi-cultural representation I've ever seen. Almost any player from any country will find themselves represented in-game, despite being in 18th century Britan. Where it fails; - Far too busy, far too quickly. The entire game feels like a tutorial for a moment that never arrives. - Huge sections of travel, dialogue and tedious fetch and gather tasks make up 90% of the game. - Limited combat tasks on offer, and the ability to find them in the open world is incredibly challenging. - Constant gate-keeping. You can't jump over walls or ledges. Doors are level restricted, chests can't be opened until key steps in the storyline have been met, etc. - Time-locked elements, like having to wait X time for your plants to grow. Wait 2 weeks and this game will be flooding the second hand market at a quarter of the price.