Reviewers rave for 'Hogwarts Legacy' video game despite backlash / Photo: Andrea KLAMAR-HUTKOVA - AFP/File
-
'Vande Mataram': Why is India's freedom song in spotlight?
-
Ukrainian fashion designer debuts art between air raids
-
Counterculture pop artist Peter Max dies at 88: US media
-
Gambian businesses struggle under prolonged blackouts
-
Asian Games chief defends 'functional' rooms after backlash
-
Fiji declares national HIV crisis
-
Leader's sister says only 'idiots' think N. Korea to give up nukes
-
Australia to cut migration to fix housing crisis: minister
-
World's water cycle becoming more unpredictable, UN warns
-
NASA scan discovers new, 'once in a century' Moon crater
-
Where the US-China tariff row stands ahead of White House summit
-
Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and indicates drive to curb inflation
-
Croc-habitat gets green light for 2032 Olympic rowing
-
US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly
-
Indonesia cash-for-photos scheme turns animal hunters into protectors
-
Lula says he will go to UN to tell Trump to 'stay out' of Brazil's elections
-
'Left-field' life: Briton becomes Thailand's top foreign monk
-
Messi heads Inter Miami to Campeones Cup triumph
-
India's transgender amendment leaves many in limbo
-
AI looms large ahead of Xi, Trump summit
-
Trump to host Xi amid pomp, low expectations
-
Smith still haunted by 'Sandpapergate' as he prepares for South Africa Tests
-
Harry set for UK public outings with security, royal status hazy
-
UK-Sudanese author pens book to give children 'African history of Africa'
-
NFL Chiefs' Kelce among investors bilked in Ponzi scheme
-
Boehly and Walter sell Chelsea stake to Clearlake Capital
-
Guardian Metal Resources PLC Announces Audited Financial Results for the Year Ended 30 June 2026
-
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - September 17
-
Trump threatens EU over 'hostile' Canada association plan
-
US House backs data center power cost bill amid midterm backlash
-
Argentine judge orders suspension of Falklands oil project
-
US Congress passes sweeping Russia sanctions bill
-
Carrick takes the blame as troubled Man Utd suffer League Cup misery
-
Barca hit Racing for seven as Atletico crush Osasuna
-
Barcelona hit seven in Racing Santander rout
-
US Fed raises rates to tackle 'too high' inflation, irking Trump
-
Amorim's Milan beaten by Benfica, Sunderland make dream European return
-
Man Utd misery mounts after League Cup collapse against Brighton
-
US stocks fall, dollar gains after Fed lifts interest rates
-
Turkey releases 106 protesters, jails more LGBTQ activists
-
Seahawks rule out Darnold for Sunday game at Arizona
-
US Fed raises rates to tackle 'too high' inflation in move sure to rile Trump
-
Mbappe explains Ceuta shirt stance after criticism
-
England were 'waiting for death' in World Cup semi-final defeat: Tuchel
-
Improving Atletico cruise to comfortable win over Osasuna
-
NFL star fined for displaying name of slain Palestinian girl
-
Candidate for UN chief calls for AI regulation akin to nuclear weapons
-
Witsel retires from internationals after 18-year Belgium career
-
O'Neill expects Celtic recovery after Old Firm misery
-
US Fed raises rates to battle inflation in move likely to rile Trump
Reviewers rave for 'Hogwarts Legacy' video game despite backlash
The highly anticipated video game "Hogwarts Legacy" was met with largely positive reviews after its release Friday, despite some gameplay quibbles and the controversy that has dogged the Wizarding World's original creator.
In the game, developed by Avalanche Software and edited by Warner Bros' Portkey Games, players virtually explore the "Harry Potter" universe as a student attending the magical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1800s.
The so-called open world format allows characters to roam around inside the fictional Scottish castle, attending magic classes and casting spells as they compete in quests.
Even before its release, "Hogwarts Legacy" elicited strong opinions online, as "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling has faced accusations of transphobia for putting an emphasis on biological sex over gender identity.
Still, review aggregator site Metacritic awarded the release a score of 85 out of 100, based on more than 60 different critics' opinions.
Specialty video game site IGN gave the title a nine out of 10, saying it "absolutely nails the vibe of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" and calling the adventure sequences "stupefyingly good," though it took away a point for plot holes and graphics glitches.
And despite the universe's decades of back material to draw on, the site Gaming Age said the game "doesn't just bathe in the reflected warm glow of nostalgia," but also offers new contributions.
The site Digital Trends, however, gave "Hogwarts Legacy" 2.5 stars out of five, panning a "cold and clinical" undertaking with a design that "lacks imagination."
Some gamers and streamers have publicized their decision to boycott the game in protest of Rowling's views on transgender rights, though the official "Hogwarts Legacy" website says the author was not directly involved in its creation.
Writing at tech website Wired, game reviewer Jaina Grey, who is a transgender woman and former "Potter" fan, called the gameplay "dated" and "lifeless."
But Grey said her real issue with the game is the "hurt" she feels from Rowling's comments about trans women.
"There are places we can't return to. Places like Hogwarts," Grey said.
Despite the friction surrounding its debut, "Hogwarts Legacy" has already logged an impressive opening, topping the charts on the Steam download platform Friday.
It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PCs, and is set for release on Nintendo Switch later this year.
A.Anderson--AT
