Latest Hogwarts Legacy gameplay showcases magical murder with curses

Although the news that Hogwarts Legacy is getting delayed on last-gen consoles was unfortunate, Portkey Games, Avalanche Software, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are softening the blow a little bit by showing off more gameplay details. In the latest showcase, we got to see flying, customisation, and, curiously, killer curses.

Let’s get the less interesting parts out of the way. Players will be able to fly around both on a broom as well as a hippogriff, making the trip to locations outside of the school much easier in Hogwarts Legacy. Further along in the showcase, we are also treated to the customisation options available for the Room of Requirement, which will see those conjuration spells come in handy.

However, the main highlight of the Hogwarts Legacy showcase is that of the Dark Arts Battle Arena. In this particular place, players will be able to tap on all kinds of Unforgivable Curses, such as Avada Kedavra, Imperio, Crucio, and the Confringo as they fight back waves after waves of enemies. Seeing an enemy get murdered with the killing curse is certainly a fresh take on a traditionally non-killing property.

It has to be said, combat in games is always kind of a given, but for a title that features young students, Hogwarts Legacy is taking a risk in allowing such wanton use of the curses as part of the gameplay offering. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen just where else these spells can be used, and whether that will have a further impact on the story of the game.

Hogwarts Legacy launches on Feb 10, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Following the delay, the PS4 and Xbox One versions will arrive on April 4. They will all be followed by the Nintendo Switch version, which is slated for release on July 25.

This article was first published in Geek Culture.