Hogwarts Legacy was meant to be a magical RPG, allowing players to become any sort of witch or wizard they desired and explore the world of Harry Potter – but as it turns out, it may have inadvertently become an 1890s fashion show above all else. Cosmetics are a great way for any game to add a touch of personalization and self-expression to the experience, and so they are rarely met with any complaints (provided they aren’t locked behind microtransactions). But outfits seem to be the major focus for many students, especially in the late game, and this could spell trouble down the road for Hogwarts Legacy.
As prevalent as fashion is, it’s far from the only personalization feature in the game. Players are offered endless combinations of wood types, styles, lengths, and more when customizing their wand at Ollivanders. Contrastingly, the character creation menu in Hogwarts Legacy is lackluster, and it’s missing key details that could greatly enhance immersion. Out of all the cosmetic systems, gear customization is by far the most expansive, but this is a double-edged sword, as Hogwarts Legacy‘s outfits may simultaneously highlight a core issue with long-term gameplay.
Outfits In Hogwarts Legacy Are About Fashion, Not Function
Oftentimes, it can feel like the only incentive for exploration is finding new clothing. After all, with the transmog system saving each item to a player’s collection, and then allowing them to equip said item at any time without sacrificing stats, witches and wizards will inherently want to collect as many potential outfits as possible. On the other hand, finding gear with better perks or stats quickly becomes unimportant. Not only are students constantly switching from one article of clothing to the next, they can also apply their own upgrades using the Enchanted Loom in Hogwarts Legacy. In other words, most loot serves a cosmetic purpose, instead of concerning survivability.
Hogwarts Legacy Outfits Are The Most Dynamic Gameplay Feature
Compared to other RPGs, some of which don’t feature any sort of transmog system, Hogwarts Legacy can provide a nice change of pace for fashion-forward students. However, it can quickly become a problem if it’s the only reason players have for exploring the massive, open-world map. After all, gear and Galleons are practically the only consistent rewards they’ll receive throughout their adventures. Thus, when witches and wizards inevitably collect every item of clothing or otherwise become satisfied with their outfits, they may no longer feel excited to actually play the game. By this point, Hogwarts Legacy‘s lack of meaningful side quests and replayability will make themselves apparent.
With fashion being one of the few motivators for progression, the player experience can slowly start to unravel over time. Providing more dynamic rewards for exploration is one magical opportunity that Hogwarts Legacy missed the mark on, but that doesn’t mean things can’t improve in the future. With any luck, new updates, expansions, or even sequels will grant witches and wizards with more gameplay features to look forward to – but in the meantime, creating the best outfits in Hogwarts Legacy may remain as the primary focus of many.
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Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
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