Hogwarts Legacy Gameplay Showcase II Highlights

Firstly, we were shown the broom mechanics. As presented in the video, you can call your broom to your character whilst in the open world, and you have the freedom to fly around, using it to explore the vastness of the game world. There will be a broom shop in Hogsmeade where you can purchase new brooms, apply cosmetic changes to your broom, and assist the shopkeeper to unlock new upgrades as well. Upgrades will affect how well your broom performs, with one specific detail being how fast the broom can go whilst higher in the air. The base level broom can only achieve max speeds whilst flying low to the ground, with the highest speed available reducing gradually as you fly further up, so an upgrade would be crucial for more efficient exploration!

The team also presented a mount, the Dark Onyx Hippogriff, which you can summon to ride around the game world. Being able to trot on the ground, but also take to the skies with its wings, the Dark Onyx Hippogriff makes for a thrilling alternative choice to the standard broom. During this section of the video, the developers also showcased the winter season, transitioning the game world from a quaint green countryside to a snowy vista, with season changes acting as narrative markers in the full game to display progression of the school year. Though the Dark Onyx Hippogriff mount is specifically a pre-order exclusive mount, it’s possible that there will be more alternative mounts available in the full game.

Though we’ve had glimpses into Hogwarts Legacy’s combat previously, we were treated with a more in-depth look this time round. Focusing on the Dark Arts Battle Arena, we get to see some of the Unforgivable Curses. Hidden deep within the Forbidden Forest, the Dark Arts Battle Arena will be part of the Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition — though standard edition players can also purchase the pack separately — and other themed battle arenas will also be in the main game. The battle arenas will act as combat challenges where you will face enemy waves, with cosmetic rewards being earned for their completion.

Though the Unforgivable Curses will be available for all players based on choices they make during their Hogwarts Legacy story, the Dark Arts Battle Arena lets you enter with them pre-loaded, so you can get a taste of being evil before deciding if it’s a path you want to commit to. The actual combat looks astounding. The Unforgivable Curses hit with all the brutality and lethality that you would expect, with the Killing Curse specifically having a dramatic camera zoom whenever you perform it, whereas different Ancient Magic spells allow you to fling objects and opponents around the arena. The Ancient Magic spells work by building up your combo meter to unleash their power, whereas your standard spells work on a cool-down system, meaning you won’t be able to just spam Avada Kedavra to clear the waves, instead having to balance your spell usage to stave off enemies without becoming totally overrun. We also got to see the player character use the Protego spell to shield themselves from enemies, and hit back with a Stupefy stunning spell as a counter. You’ll also have access to combat tools, which take the form of potions and plants that you can consume during fights, such as the Rock Skin Potion which reduces damage received for a short period, with a rocky texture being presented on your character to show its effect. Other potions will also recover your health, or reduce the cooldowns on your spells.

One of the biggest reveals was the Room of Requirement, which acts as your personal safe haven. You have the freedom to change the architecture and to customise the space as you wish, with the developer seeking to present the Room of Requirement as a reflection of your character. One specific change shown was adapting the ceiling of the space from a traditional glass dome design to a large green-house style ceiling full of plants and vines. The customisation options allow you to conjure up various forms of furniture such as rugs, statues, or chairs, and then place them freely about the space, even being able to adjust the scale and size of them to your liking, with further customisation options available to be purchased from a store in Hogsmeade. The Room of Requirement will also host your crafting stations, where you can grow your plants and brew potions for use in battle, as well as looms which can be used to upgrade your various gear and apply enchantments to. You’ll also have access to the Identification Station, which you will use to identify your new gear and pinpoint its properties.

As you progress through the game, the Room of Requirement will also grow, with new rooms forming, and new options for upgrades. One specific room that you will have access to is the Vivarium, a magical outdoor space for you to take care of your creatures and to customise. Here you can feed and pet creatures that you’ve saved in the outside world to build your relationship with them, allowing them to bestow you with their magical ingredients for use in your gear. We got to see the large, yet calm, Graphorn, the awkward and cute Mooncalf, as well as the tiny Niffler all residing in the Vivarium space. The customisation options in the Vivarium vary a little from the Room of Requirement due to being an outdoor space, with you being able to erect ruins and towers, as well creating feeding stations for your beasts. You also have access to a Toybox, which includes various toys and balls for you to play with your creatures.