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GAMING FEATURE

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YOU CAN DO MAGIC! The magic of theWizardingWorld is ours to play with this month with the arrival of the much anticipated Hogwarts Legacy .We caught up with AlanTew, game director at Avalanche Software, to discover more – and to have a nice spot of tea! Words Bec Summer T here have been games based in the world of Harry Potter in the past, but none of the magnitude of Hogwarts Legacy . Diving

“We strived to make it so!” enthuses Tew. “Although the game is absolutely stuffed to the brim with references, both subtle and hidden, to Wizarding lore, we always tried to view them through the perspective of someone who may be entirely unfamiliar with the world and provide investigatory or explanatory dialogue for these concepts. As much as possible, we wanted to give returning and potential fans of the series the chance to see the Wizarding World through entirely fresh eyes, just like Harry did when his story was first unveiled.” As an action RPG, the developers have concocted a world that combines both an open world that can be explored at the players whim with some linear story elements. Tew elaborates. “It will feel like a mix to most players. Missions unveil themselves over the course of the game one at a time or in batches, and different missions trigger additional batches of missions, including side missions, to unveil. But the player can choose which of many available missions they might undertake

back in time and focussing on the venerable place of learning allowed the developers a lot of scope, and much to be excited about. “We’re most excited to give players a fresh ’new student’ experience at Hogwarts,” Tew tells STACK , “with an entirely different faculty and unfamiliar circumstances that will leave their own Hogwarts legacy and indelible mark on the Wizarding World.” It’s also offered the chance to craft a game that those unfamiliar with the Wizarding World can easily click into the vibe of.

as they see fit, and some missions branch based on the order or choices they make in missions prior. The longer players progress through the story, the more open it will feel, as a result of all the

WHAT’S THE STORY? We asked Tew to give us the brief key story summary, and he was more than happy to oblige.

“You’re a student admitted late into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as a fifth year, under mysterious circumstances. While you struggle to catch up to your peers and prepare for your O.W.L.s, you embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world.”

FEBRUARY 2023

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