Hogwarts Legacy struggles to balance authenticity against the acceleration of its action, though it does a fine job of concealing a tension between its overlapping role-playing, open-world, and action-adventure systems. Standing beside the Great Lake, gazing up at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is undeniably awe-inspiring. As is sweeping the valleys surrounding Hogsmeade by broomstick, catching but a glimpse of its many turrets and towers piercing a starry sky; or spotting the shadow of the vast castle on some distant horizon, as you battle beasts and dark wizards into the depths of the Forbidden Forest and beyond.
