BeforeHogwarts Legacywas even in development,Harry Potterfans had many movie-based games to play with. There was the charmingLEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4, the weirdHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and the fun-filledHarry Potter: Quidditch World Cup. Perhaps some of the most memorable ones were the various sandbox focusedHarry Pottergames. One of the best versions of that came with the 2007Harry Potter and the Oder of the Phoenixgame which gave players the ability toexplore Hogwarts to their hearts content. While it was not the firstHarry Pottergame to allow that type of exploration, it was one of the best versions of it.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixwas developed by EA and followed the plot of the fifth movie, and book. It saw the return of the sandbox version ofHarry Pottergames that the previous entry had deviated from, and it was pretty fun forHarry Potterfans. The game was not a smash hit critically, but that does not mean it had nothing to offer. It helped build upon the sandbox world of its predecessors and gaveHarry Potterfans a chance to explore the world that they fell in love with.Hogwarts Legacywill be taking the sandbox world to the next level, but the olderHarry Pottergames should be remembered for their contributions.
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Order of the Phoenix Was Magical
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixgave the sandbox model a more real-life feel. The first threeHarry Pottergames let players explore a version of Hogwarts, but they had a more cartoony look and did not feel ripped straight from the films.Order of the Phoenixintroduced players toa fully explorable Hogwartsthat was inspired by the films, and it made players feel right at home.
Order of the Phoenixhad players control Harry Potter and let them run wild in the halls of Hogwarts. They could wander the courtyards, the common room, the Grand Staircase, the Great Hall, and all sorts of iconic Hogwarts areas. Sometimes, they could even duel other students in these areas. It was not all fun and games, however, as they also had to attend classes in-between their adventures. Overall, it wasa goodHarry Potterexperience, and it provided one of the best ways to experience Hogwarts.
The focus ofOrder of the Phoenixwas on the exploration, and it heavily pushed players to do just that. Hogwarts was filled with mini-games, puzzles, and different points to collect. Players had to explore the grounds if they wanted to get better at their spells and if they wanted to unlock all the rewards that they could. Some missions even tasked the player with traversing the school to accomplish them. This made Hogwarts feel important, and more than just a simple backdrop.
Hogwarts Legacy Is Building off that Framework
The originalHarry Pottergames let players experience what it would be like to explore Hogwarts, butHogwarts Legacyis expanding upon the conceptgreatly. It looks like exploration will be a huge part of the game, much likeOrder of the Phoenix. The big difference is thatHogwarts Legacywill have a lot more for the player to explore and do in these areas.Order of the Phoenixhad some decent exploration, but it seems likeHogwarts Legacywill have the deepest Hogwarts yet.
Hogwarts Legacyis going for a different feel thanOrder of the Phoenixwas, butOrder of the Phoenixstill blazed the trail. One game was trying to adapt the film, and the other will be letting players truly tell their own story in the Wizarding World. Even with that large difference,Order of the Phoenixwasone of the firstHarry Pottergamesto give players a fully realized Hogwarts.Hogwarts Legacyis aiming to perfect that vision.
It is unclear ifHogwarts Legacywill deliver on everything it promises, but anticipation is high for the upcoming title. If it is successful, then it could mark a brand-new era forHarry Pottergames. Even if the franchise evolves, it should still remember the games that came before it.Order of the Phoenixmay not be the best, but it was the start of some of the concepts thatHogwarts Legacywill be revolutionizing, and it should not be forgotten.
Hogwarts Legacyreleases in Holiday 2022 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
