Now that Hogwarts Legacy 2 has been confirmed, there are plenty of questions surrounding what the sequel has in store next for fans. The first game offered both Harry Potter lovers and RPG fans the chance to finally step into the school of Hogwarts as their own unique student, and Hogwarts Legacy 2 is bound to improve upon its predecessor. While the sequel is likely in its very early stages of production at best, Hogwarts Legacy 2 is probably a few years away, but that at least leaves plenty of time to speculate on what a follow-up may entail.
Despite some of its flaws, Hogwarts Legacy marked a strong start for a larger series. 2023 was a year filled with big releases, and Hogwarts Legacy managed to beat out the competition as the highest-selling game of the year. While the original was incredibly successful, the news of Hogwarts Legacy 2 being confirmed is exciting, because it presents the chance to improve and expand on certain features in the first game that left many players wanting more. One specific point that deserves to be explored further is the teased run-in with Merpeople.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Reward Gryffindors with a Nostalgic House-Exclusive Quest Item
Hogwarts Legacy would more than redeem itself if a sequel's house-exclusive quests included an iconic weapon given to Gryffindors in need.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Finally Deliver on Its Merpeople Promise
The Mer-ky Depths Side Quest Merely Teased the Underwater Creatures
There are plenty of side quests to partake in when playing Hogwarts Legacy, but one of the most interesting is Mer-ky Depths. In this quest, players are tasked with helping Nerida Roberts retrieve a gift given by the Merpeople. Since Nerida can't swim, players have to traverse underwater, which is the only time a quest asks this of players. It's an exciting moment, since underwater travel isn't really present in the rest of the game. The quest leads one to believe that an encounter with a Merperson is about to happen, but it unfortunately never does.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 will reportedly be loosely connected to HBO's in-development Harry Potter series.
The side quest is quite interesting, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. Getting to come face to face with a Merperson is an exciting prospect, and Mer-ky Depths' lack of delivery when the creatures are blatantly teased can be a little disappointing. Fortunately, now that Hogwarts Legacy 2 is becoming a reality, the next game has the opportunity to finally shine a spotlight on the Merpeople this time around.
2023 was a year filled with big releases, and Hogwarts Legacy managed to beat out the competition as the highest-selling game of the year.
Taking the Underwater Mechanics of Mer-ky Depths to New Heights
The underwater moments of Mer-ky Depths were incredibly brief, and if Hogwarts Legacy 2 really wants to impress players, allowing this type of traversal on top of interactions with Merpeople would be a thrilling upgrade. There are several methods used in Harry Potter lore that could allow players to explore underwater.
- Gillyweed
- Bubble-Head Charm
- The Piscifors incantation
Between the use of Gillyweed, the Bubble-Head Charm, and Piscifors turning targets into fish, these three options open the door for plenty of new forms of exploration in Hogwarts Legacy 2. If these were included in the next game, plenty of players are bound to try them out in order to get some quality time with the Merpeople. There are plenty of fascinating creatures showcased throughout the Harry Potter franchise, but the Merpeople are some of the most fascinating, and Hogwarts Legacy merely skimming over them feels like a misstep.
Completing Mer-ky Depths rewards players with the Mermish Liaison Uniform.
While Hogwarts Legacy was a good start, there are several moments in the game that seem to be only scratching the surface of features that can be made even greater. The presence of Merpeople is definitely one of those features, and the planned sequel hopefully keeps these creatures in mind for the next chapter. It remains to be seen what the story of Hogwarts Legacy 2 will hold, but the Merpeople will hopefully be given a much larger role.
Hogwarts Legacy
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- February 10, 2023
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Cross-Platform Play
- Hogwarts Legacy doesn't have crossplay or crossplatform support
- Cross Save
- you can freely use your saved data between each console as long as you are connected to the internet and signed into the same account where the saved data was created
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.
Explore an Open World
The wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.
Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to be
Learn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World Adventure
Experience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
- Franchise
- Harry Potter
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
