Summary
Video game renditions of popular media can struggle to meet up with accurate and enjoyable depictions of what fans expect from the silver screens, andHarry Potter-themed titles are no different. WhileHogwarts Legacyreceived many superlatives for its impressive features and gameplay in the months following its release, a few elements didn’t resonate well with sections of the magical fantasy’s fan base due to their perceived abandonment of the source material. Many argue thatHogwarts Legacylet its houses downdue to their perceived unimportance in the game’s overarching plot, but Avalanche Software had a few quests that were executed so beautifully they could be considered love letters toHarry Pottermedia.
Harry Potterstill holds a noticeable sway in the fantasy gaming market years after the conclusion of its main plot, as evidenced byHogwarts Mystery’s recent resurgence andHogwarts Legacy’s record sales numbers on Steambefore and upon its release, crushing every notion of waning popularity. SomeHogwarts Legacyquests may have deviated from standardHarry Potterexploratory vibes, and its puzzle mechanics may not have been every player’s strong suit, but the Ghost of Our Love mission is a perfect blend of everything that made the franchise so well-loved in the first place.
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Ghost of Our Love’s Starting Points Have Something Different for Each House
As players head into Hogsmeade and wander deep into the Forbidden Forest in the fight against Ranrok and his minions inHogwarts Legacy, finding treasure chests is essential to upgrading gear, collecting coins, and completing quests.Hogwarts Legacy’s missionshave endured some criticism for not having enough distinguishing features for each Hogwarts house, but the Ghost of Our Love quest is one of the few that encompasses theHarry Potterexperience. The mission, like many others, tasks players with solving a quick puzzle and is mainly rewarded with loot - but the starting location varies depending on the player’s affiliation.
Gryffindor players kick off the quest in the cozy Hogsmeade town, while Slytherin residents start in the Squid Cave under theHogwarts Castle. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff begin in the Owlery and the vault below Upper Hogsfield, respectively. The mission gives players a map to decipher, depicting drawings of trees, ruins, floating candles, a wand, and a bridge. At first glance, the picture doesn’t give much of a clue, but the wand’s image is similar to that of the Lumos spell - which is the key to solving Ghost of Our Love’s puzzle.
There are a lot of bridges surrounding Hogwarts, but the one relevant to the quest lies close to the Forbidden Forest Floo Flame, just north of the School of Wizardry and Witchcraft’s grounds. At night, players will use Lumos to cross the bridge, causing three floating candles to appear. Following the candles leads gamers deeper into theForbidden Forest ofHogwarts Legacy, past the ruins shown on the map, and coming to a chest surrounded with even more floating candles. Opening the chest completes the Ghost of Our Love quest, and players get rewards consisting of appearance gear and XP.
The journey into the dreaded Forbidden Forest is reminiscent ofHarry Potter’s adventures in the books and movies, and although players don’t come across any dangers in the quest, there’s a sense of unease in the air, perfectly capturing the forest’s ominous nature. The varied starting points for each Hogwarts house are also a nice touch, as gamers have new areas to explore in future playthroughs to complete the mission.Hogwarts Legacymay have dropped the ball in its handling of the legendary Hogwarts houses by not ascribing them enough importance to the storyline, but the diversity in the Ghost of Our Love quest is a case study for properHarry Potterportrayal in future games.
Hogwarts Legacyis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Switch version will release on November 14.
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