Hogwarts Legacy Review - Sleight Of Hand - Gamespot

Hogwarts Legacy brilliantly adapts all of the source material fans of the Potterverse will expect, but wastes it on a rote open-world filled with mundane quests.

[metalhead]

Biased garbage review. GameSpot said they weren’t playing it a week ago because of JK and now they’re trashing something that functions better than Assassin’s Creed at launch.

This review is utter trash.

[Jin_Sakai]

“Although she is not personally involved with its development, she stands to profit from its success. For more, read our in-depth article on how Rowling's comments have impacted the trans community. In this article, you will also find links to trans creators you can support, as well as charities you can donate to.“

After that never even bothered reading. As a matter of fact nobody cares about your garbage review. Millions of people are enjoying the game. Bet that hurts doesn’t it.

[metalhead]

I read it and it reads like they’re just making stuff up. I do not find this game any where near as repetitive as AC or other games they praise

[Jin_Sakai]

“I read it and it reads like they’re just making stuff up. I do not find this game any where near as repetitive as AC or other games they praise“

Of course they’re making stuff up. This review is about J.K. Rowling in disguise.

[Vengeance1138]

Are the charity donations to help them get the mental help they need to correct their mental illness? Maybe become normal people again.

[NecrumOddBoy]

“Hogwarts Legacy is developed by Avalanche Software, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game has been embroiled in controversy due to transphobic remarks from Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Although she is not personally involved with its development, she stands to profit from its success. For more, read our in-depth article on how Rowling's comments have impacted the trans community. In this article, you will also find links to trans creators you can support, as well as charities you can donate to.“

Straight up activists and why are they masking the reviewer?

Who actually reviewed this? We want to know!

[RNTody]

After that excellent paragraph I'm definitely buying the game! At full price too!

[coolbeans]

@Vegeance1138

You know that's not the case. And phrasing it like "becoming normal people again" is a distasteful way of putting it. You can go about criticizing the review w/out doing that.

[ChasterMies]

No problem with a trickier going Meta. I’m still non plussed by Will Smith and that will bleed into how I receive movies that he stars in. But indirect profit is a weak reason to avoid media. Every project will indirectly line the pockets of all kinds of people. Lest we forget all of the developers who are directly profiting, and we have no issues with them!

[savedsynner]

Right...it's like giving Dante's Inferno(a Ps3 game from a while back) a bad score because you disagreed with Dante's politics hundreds of years ago. Review the game, not some political bias you have against the creator of the IP. Imagine not buying a Volkswagen because the company was started under the Nazis. Just stupid, ignorant review.

Is this what gamespot has become...you have to agree with the developers' politics to like a game? So if Hideki Myazaki(sp?) was a conservative, would they give Elden Ring a 6/10?

[frostypants]

So sad what's become of Gamespot. Taken over by blathering ideological idiots to the point that it is NOT the same publication it used to be. It just shares a name with a once great outlet. And JK Rowling never said anything "transphobic". Anyone who reads what she said and thinks she is transphobic is utterly devoid of rationality and unworthy of consideration or even acknowledgement.

[RpgSama]

"By GameSpot Staff on February 17, 2023 at 12:43PM PST"

They didn't even had the courage to put who wrote the review in there (checked other games, they all had who wrote it), they just put a generic GameSpot Staff, this is how much even them know this is all BS and activism disguised as "journalism".

[savedsynner]

Gamespot is a shell of it's former self and honestly, kind of a useless site not that they don't have good exclusive content, but that game reviews are so plentiful now, it's not like is was in the early 2000s where a great gamespot review could seriously boost sales. We have so many honest alternative review sites, gamespot can go live in cancel culture world and reap the consequences.

[jambola]

Yeah, I'm not going to say it invalidates a review, but it definitely makes it less credible when there's a clear agenda

[Bushwick]

yep 100% agree

[lelo2play]

My opinion is the most important one. Played Hogwarts Legacy, and finished the main story. It's a good open world game (set in a the fascinating magic world of the Harry Potter universe), with interesting gameplay, story and side-quests.
I give Hogwarts Legacy a 8 out of 10.

Hogwarts Legacy is a sales success, hope the developer does a sequel.

[anast]

They probably gave all AC creed games a 10.

[metalhead]

They gave Valhalla an 8 and it was a broken mess at launch.

[savedsynner]

From the looks of it, it also didn't innovate much at all. It looked like Odyssey and Origins with a Viking mod. I've given up hope for the AC series to be anything but a constant cash grab by Ubisoft.

[SonyStyled]

That’s weird. I remember assassins creed games receiving 8-9s from gamespot… But around that same time period gamespot did give 6 to an original AC game which is the same as this score. I’d say that 6/10 AC game is great too.

I really miss the old AC though, I’m not an RPG fan of the new ones so I don’t know what gamespot reviewed them. Just liked the historic setting GTA/sandbox style Assassins creed. Also loved the Saboteur for the same reason.

[metalhead]

Did you remember the reviewer getting fired for giving AC a 6? That shows how messed up they are

[Bobertt]

This is why i don't go to IGN and Gamestop for reviews. Steam reviews and certain youtubers usually are better.

[GotGame818]

It is a great game! Leave JK the hell out of it!
It is more fun, and original than a lot of games. It is also challenging. Crap biased review!

[VenomUK]

Gamespot has done a 180, likely for the controversy.

When you’re not reviewing the quality of the game but scoring down to make a political statement then you’re being unethical and not being honest with your readership.

Don’t ever trust them again, don’t give them your clicks, or your views, don’t approve their stories - it’s a simple as that.

[Ashunderfire86]

Everything woke turn to shaaats. I don’t care what the angry 😤 alphabet mob has to say! This is an extremely bias review! No one waited for Gamespot review anyway! YouTuber like ACG I trust said this game was great, and give a detailed an more honest review than even IGN, that made it look 👀 like it was this generic game.

[ABizzel1]

What a bunch of cowards.

Usually I'm of the everyone has the right to express their opinion crowd, however, if you do then stand on it, and people have the right to express their differing opinions as well.

These cowards at GameSpot didn't even put an actual reviewers name to avoid any potential backlash for the reviewer, added an unnecessary paragraph about someone who is not involved with the creation of this game, and turned the comments off so they didn't get rightfully dragged.

So it's okay for Gamespot to drag the developer and attempt to hurt the success of their game and the hundreds / thousands of developers who made it, because they disagree with the viewpoint of someone labeling cis / trans genders, goes to show just how ignorant these people can be. They're so blind in their ignorant hate of JK for the alleged "hurtful" things she said, that they are too busy trying to stick it to her and not taking a moment to realize the hurt they're causing to actual everyday people and families.

Then you block the comments from this one review, to avoid any backlash. Pure cowardice.

[savedsynner]

How is the combat? From the gameplay clips, it looks to be it's weakest feature.

[GotGame818]

The combat is challenging. You have to use combos to beat enemies. It isn't hack and slash.

[Exvalos]

Probably can't take this particular review seriously. If you legit don't like the game that's okay not everything is for everybody. However this particular site has publicly stated there distaste for Rowling.

[mkis007]

The good thing about this game in particular is that it makes it easy to see which publications can't be objective...gamespot is now on that list as is the guardian. And yes even publishing a 3rd party review without issueing a retraction is enough.

[sadraiden]

Game reviewing as an exercise is inherently subjective. Games are a form of art, and everyone has differing tastes. Biased or not against Rowling, it's their take. Why do they need to issue a retraction?

[esherwood]

They’re obviously making the review seem like it’s about the quality of game when it has nothing to do with that. Its dishonest

[mkis007]

That is why this game makes it easy. Subjectivity is one thing entirely different from trolling a game.

Review activisim shouldn't exist

[Ashunderfire86]

I think you need to retract your comment you got a lot of downvotes🙃

[Kaii]

Negative - Cumbersome spell-switching and uninteresting enemies quickly make combat a repetitive chore
Fix - Pick spell knowledge at lvl 5 In the core tree and press R2+^ and presto 4 spells to use

[NecrumOddBoy]

I know you literally can map 16 spells across 4 sets. Build combo flows you like..

This is nonsense here.

[Dandalandan117]

Lol go play Assassin's Creed to know what mundane feels like

[Demetrius]

Lots of controversy around this game all cause of someone’s opinion lmao most adults are like kids nowadays…hell even kids behave better than these mfs anyways this game is awesome

[JonnyBeoulve]

The poliitical activism in the US is pathetic. Nobody takes these outlets seriously anymore.

[ThEusAisPoisonous]

No one takes the US seriously anymore.

[BrainSyphoned]

Thegamer-Canada
RockPaperShotgun, The Guardian-UK
Guess I forgot when the U.S. successfully invaded both those cesspools where you can be arrested for tweets or conservative/Christian mind think.

[Imalwaysright]

Last year more people were arrested in the UK for something they wrote on social media than in Russia and by a wide margin. Personally I find it to be funny because it's Russia that is supposed to be governed by an authoritarian state.

[metalhead]

In the US the two political parties are Proud Boys and Antifa and regular people have to sit there and watch while our tax dollars get burned away paying for their whining whenever their fee fees get hurt. Left wing snowflake and right wing snowflake is all we got.

[randomvoice]

Can we leave the woke BS out of game reviews? Jeez no one cares about what JK said and it has nothing to do with the game. You boycotting the game isn't gonna make JK poor lol. How delusional do you need to be? The game has nothing transphobic about it.

[VersusDMC]

With all the videos of you tubers crying over being hate raided over playing Hogwarts on stream there is no way this didn't cause more transphobia and make more transphobes.

And putting the spotlight on JK Rowling so much probably made normies look up what she actually said and now may agree with her when they were indifferent or unaware before.

If there was no boycott she would have made such a small amount of money(we don't even know if she gets money from hogwarts sales!!!) considering how much she already has and all the boycott did was spread JK's views to everyone.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

Well good news EMPRESS is close to being done: https://twitter.com/DenuvoS...
😆 Denuvo cancer. Once it's done I'm just going to spam post WB Games twitter with links of it. Then ask them what now? Nothing that's what, you can't do jack shit. Games need to be on GOG DRM free, that's where I go now.

[gold_drake]

damn, another biased trash article.

didnt they day they aint gonna review it?

[CrimsonWing69]

You guys really lose all sense of credibility and also make a mockery of reviews when you do this bullsh*t.

It really goes to show how pointless reviews are. Listen, this game is straight up a Game of the Year contender. I’m 40 hours in and I’ll say what Avalanche has done is nothing short of amazing.

Do you honestly feel like you can lie to us and think we’ll eat up this vomit? We’re not idiots and it’s quite disturbing that you’re willing to sacrifice integrity to push a bias. I’d have more respect for you if you straight up said you wouldn’t review the game and leave it at that.

Look, don’t take my word for it. Check out the game for yourself via Twitch or YouTube and you tell me if this game is a 6/10.

What the hell is going on here!? Like, seriously.

[rlow1]

Wow, calling out a game because of your perceived intolerances of someone’s personal views …… Oh the Irony.

[Elda]

Opinions Opinions everyone has one. So far I've been enjoying Hogwarts with 9 hrs in so far & I'll give this game an 8.5.

[badz149]

There goes the little credibility you had left. Now we know your reviews are biased and shrouded by agendas. F GAMESPOT! You won't be missed!

[Ashunderfire86]

Should’ve of known that since the firing of Jeff, Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077 review. This website straight up has an agenda.

[YodaCracker]

Thanks for the reeeeeview, GameSpot.

[banger88]

Review by......"GameSpot Staff". The spineless, gutless reviewer couldn't even attach it's name to the review. And yes, it is an IT, because we don't know who or what it is.

[CorndogBurglar]

These far left assholes are the biggest hypocrites in the world. They preach about tolerance and acceptance but the second someone has a different opinion they turn completely intolerant and unaccepting.

[sadraiden]

While everyone here is lamenting gamespot trashing their favorite culture war proxy, I'm sitting here wondering why the hell N4G is pushing a review for a game that's been out for weeks. You've all been baited into another JK Rowling argument.

[coolbeans]

Because it's not about the game being a few weeks old, it's about reviving this old argument of aspects *outside* the game itself influencing the review. So long as sites continue doing this, it'll be a hot topic.

[esherwood]

Man games journalist are so far gone it’s ridiculous, I honestly take a closer look at games they trash because we have nothing in common so I’ll probably like them

[Rutaprkl]

Trash review, move on.

[Hedstrom]

So much fud against Hogwarts Legacy only because JK thinks there are only two genders, its bizzare!

[Machina]

For me this calls into question the credibility of all GameSpot reviews going forward, which is a shame because I've historically considered GameSpot one of the better review outlets.

And I'm not saying this because of some reflexive fanboy defence of a game I love - I haven't played it and I have no interest in the Harry Potter IP.

You can't preface your review with an attack on the IP's creator that's unrelated to the quality of the game itself, implicitly state that you don't want the game to succeed because she stands to gain from that financially, post a series of sister articles that are full of political activism, and then expect anyone to think you've objectively assessed and rated the game on its merits.

This is the definition of a political hatchet job and any GameSpot staff who have an ounce of personal integrity should be ashamed by this behaviour.

[Towers]

Totally agree. I haven't bought the game, I don't care much for HP or that universe but to see 'gaming' sites review it in such a blatantly biased way is embarrassing. Not that I visited Gamespot often but going forwards I don't think I'd even acknowledge a review score from them.

Credibility means a lot when it comes to reviewing games that I could possibly purchase. And with games now even more expensive you need to have trusted opinions.

I'd recommend SkillUp on YT as he tends to give pretty good in depth reviews on games.

[coolbeans]

100% agree.

It's really uncomfortable to see certain critics brazenly admit they're not going to give this game a fair shake.

[StarkR3ality]

Big reason why I stopped watching a lot of GameSpot's reviews in general, they have so many SJW's that effect scores it's ridiculous. Some of the reviewers are still golden there, but most just play to the victim crowds tune.

[Towers]

Polygon, Kotaku, Gamespot and a host of others all showing themselves up. Unsurprisingly I was never a frequent visitor of these sites in the first place. Awful gaming perspectives in general.

[SeTTriP]

Man I hope this game sells 10-15mil its first month.gamespot will never get another click from me.
J.k Rowling is Recession and canceled proof she's a f'ing billionaire ffs, the only ppl you'll be hurting are the men and women who worked they're asses off to give us this great game.

If I had a Xbox or gaming p.c I'd buy another copy.

[Lore]

Oh it’s going to sell beyond that

[Grave]

It feels like the media isn't just getting stories "wrong" anymore. It's that they are actively trying to deceive you.

[PaleMoonDeath]

If this doesn't get this political acti.. I mean "reviewer" fired, I don't know what will.

[MeatyUrologist]

Just another political site masquerading as a games site. Cross another one off the list. I'm considering buying a second copy just to spite these trolls.

[MeatyUrologist]

This also goes to show why game developers should never cave and try to pander to the woke crowd. Right off the bat, this game introduced a trans character and gay couple, in an effort to appeal to this crowd. It did nothing to satiate their hatred and anger. Just avoid this altogether and focus on the actual crowd who is buying your products without the shoehorned pandering.

[Flakegriffin]

Get over yourself. Wizarding World is much larger than JK at this point in time. Creating a biased review article to protect yourself is the lowest of low for journalism. The game is fantastic and the way it’s been selling like hot cake proves that. So, instead of being truthful, you created a review “in-disguise” that’s really a review about JK Rowling.

gaming journalism at its best, eh?

[Muigi]

I don’t see the industry not reviewing or bashing Activision games. Still out here giving Duty 9s, everyone will gush about Diablo 4. Yet the workplace environment is wayy worse than some words JK Rowling ever said imo.

[rippermcrip]

I haven't seen a negative review that didn't mention Rowling yet. Are there any?

This game is excellent. I got it for my son who is a big fan. I've been playing it more than him.

[Majin-vegeta]

Thanks for putting donation links....now I'm gonna go and donate to J.K by buying the game😂

[ModsDoBetter]

The whole controversy with this game and the reviewers pandering to it out of fear is going to set a dangerous precedent.

Shame to see Gamespot lose all credibility now too. Seems like only reputable reviews now will be your own.

[KrillinShine]

Gamespot has lost credibility only now? They lost it a long time ago with the Kane and Lynch review controversy.

[D4RC]

Well, I've been hooked on it for over a week. Never watched or read a HP book before I played the game, but I couldn't ignore the brilliant reviews. It's been a strong start to the year with Hi-Fi Rush, Dead Space, Hogwarts Legacy, and Returnal on PC, and we're only on February.

Don't let Hogwarts pass you by, if you don't care about the political circus surrounding it. It's a great game. I can't remember the last time a game kept me so hooked.

The Gamespot review and the Wired review in particular, who scored it 1/10, are a disgrace to journalism.

[jambola]

If you want to wash your hands of art because of the creator etc, that's fine, do that
but don't do this bs of pretending there's more to it
just stick to your guns or don't, instead of this cowardly half assing crap

[DrDoomer]

Holy crap, I'm surprised to see gamespot still up and running.

[HeliosHex]

Lol you guys already know what this is about. This game is awesome as hell. One of the best out this year.

[moongrim]

hopefully the snowflakes don't melt over this

[VanHalen]

You know what, I seriously was just on the fence on buying this game. Wasn’t sure if it was my type of game or not, but now after reading what crazy sh@t you people at gamespot wrote, I just bought the game. Donations and support to trans community? Is that supposed to be some kinda joke? Donating to someone whom can’t figure out if they rather lob off their dick or not, is insanity. Do the donations help go to the mutilation, because it should go to mental illness research for these nuts. Not donate to maybe homeless, abused or cancer, something actually that is a major problen, but to trans community? Gamespot have lost their minds

[esherwood]

Perfect example of how irrational these people are. Willing to hurt the 600+ people that worked on this game to let a billionaire know they don’t agree with her opinion. Games journalism definitely has a disproportionate amount of these nutjobs

[hennessey86]

People still pay attention to Gamespot?

[RiseNShine]

The best part of all this JK Rowling boicot is that the game is selling like hot cakes, so it only proves the complete lack of influence from all these woke activists.

[MehmetAlperTR]

F............ Off Gamespot... STFU !!!

[lex-1020]

I played Hogwarts Legacy, and while I'm enjoying it, there are a ton of fetch quests, collectables, and things that are just blatant rehashes of the movie.

They really nailed the combat, though. It feels really fun to sling magic around.

[pintar32]

game spot is trash. Ban them.

[Firebird360]

How are factual Comments that are based in reality transphobic.
Games awesome, enjoy it.
And don't accept delusions as reality.

[Waffler]

Absolutely tragic to see that gaming journalists have gone down a route of prejudice and wokeness. It's almost like anyone who's put in the spotlight and asked about this game is afraid to even consider wanting to play it. Things I'm hearing from Gamespot and even people at IGN (though I know they actually rated the game well) are just bad mouthing it and sort of brushing it on the side when speaking about it publicly or on podcasts.

[jeromeface]

The game is overhyped, get over it.

[Crows90]

Holy cow.
Don't bother clicking into here. This Gamepot staff member doesn't like that in a videogame you'll be using the mechanics that the videogame contains....and that you'll use them often.

He even complains that quests contain combat...like...what?!? Yes a Harry Potter arpg will have combat and plenty of it.....it says action in the genre.

[Jdubya1986]

I mean its one review no need to get that upset about it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If *you* enjoy the game then that is all that matters.

[MeatyUrologist]

I get what you are saying and have seen others make the comment as well. The problem isn't that someone has a different opinion, as that would be no issue. The problem is a games "journalism" site falsely tanking the score of a major release because someone very distantly involved in the game has an opinion they don't like. What is next every single person involved in the development of every game must sign a form confirming they follow the popular opinion on every topic in today's world? It is f-ing ridiculous.

Games are becoming very expensive and so many of us trust reviewers to give honest impressions to help guide our decision making. It would be like car and driver claiming a car was unsafe because one of the engineers who worked on it was a climate change skeptic. Who gives a F? Take your biases and politics out of everything and do your damned job!