Hogwarts: A failed RPG
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery review
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a game allowing Harry Potter fans to live out their long-awaited fantasy of going to Hogwarts and being a student. However, the game failed to rise to expectations because of its obvious money-grabbing techniques.
There was a lot of excitement for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery before it came out. The trailers for it made it seem like it was going to be a RPG, or roleplaying game, that allowed fans to live out their dreams. The game promised the full Hogwarts experience complete with the classes, characters from the book and a customizable character.
While it did deliver in its promises, like so many mobile games on the market many of its features are only accessible with the use of gems. These gems, purchased with real money, allows the player to buy clothing, hair styles and accessories. The gems also can be used to replenish energy.
In all the tasks, like classes, the character uses small amounts of energy for different activities. Eventually, enough of the completed tasks allows the character to earn a star and progress in the class. There are varying time limits and varying numbers of stars needed to complete a task.
This is a very common in mobile RPGs, but Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery starts the player off with a limit of 24 points of energy and a replenish time of four minutes. To regain full energy at the beginning takes over an hour.
While it’s understandable that the creators have to get money, the energy is frustrating even for RPGs. The amount of energy needed to complete tasks makes it hard for a player to get drawn into the game because the energy goes down fast. Even with a 27 energy limit, a player can use the full amount up in a single class in 10 minutes at most.
When the player isn’t in class, there’s usually a task that they can do. These quests or side quests usually have waiting periods for up to eight hours. This can be frustrating when there’s nothing for the player to do but wait for the clock to tick down so that they can move on in the story. If the player wants to stop waiting, they can use gems.
Though the graphics for the game are great, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery isn’t enjoyable for players. It’s a free-to-play game that doesn’t have ads every few minutes, which is a nice rarity, but the lacking energy system practically forces gems to be bought if the player wants to experience the game longer than a few minutes.
11
What is your position on the Bagpipe:
Staffer
What is your go-to snack:
Chips
What is your favorite tv show to binge watch:
The Crown
What are you most excited to get out of Bagpipe this year:
I'm excited about becoming a better writer and getting better at understanding the style of journalistic writing.
In what are you involved at HP:
I am in choir and music theory
What is your dream job:
Reporter
What is your favorite song or style of music:
Classic Rock
What is a fun fact about yourself that not everyone knows:
I rock climb
Where is the coolest place you have visited:
Countryside of England
What is one skill at which you were better:
Singing or public speaking
What is your ideal pet:
Either a basset hound or a dachshund
What is your favorite class this year:
English IIIAP-TAG
Where do you want to go to college:
SMU
What is your favorite news source:
Reuters
What is the best piece of advice you have received so far:
Winter is coming
If you could attend any major event, which would you choose:
A David Bowie concert