Summary
Debuting all the way back in 1997, it wasn’t long before theHarry Potterfranchise received its first video game adaptation, with 2001 bringing with it both the iconic PS1Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonegame, along with the rudimentaryLEGO Creator: Harry Pottersandbox game. And that was only the beginning. For the next decade and a bit, at least oneHarry Pottergame would release every year, oftentying in with the latestHarry Pottermovierelease. Though the franchise took a bit of a hiatus from the world of video games, it returned in style last year withHogwarts Legacy, the best-selling game of 2023.
While it certainly wasn’t perfect,Hogwarts Legacyfound unprecedented success last year, somehow managing to beat outThe Legend of Zelda,Star Wars,Final Fantasy, and evenCall of Dutyfor that number one bestseller spot, and with that extreme level of success, a sequel seems like an inevitability. There are plenty of important narrative and gameplay kinks that should be ironed out in a potentialHogwarts Legacysequel, but it’s important for the game to not lose sight of its predecessors' legacy, and that could mean the implementation of a Bean Bonus Room.
Why Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Bring Back the Classic Games' Bean Bonus Room
Harry Potter’s Bean Bonus Room Explained
While theoriginalHarry Pottervideo game adaptationstried to stick within the canon as much as possible, they also weren’t too afraid of bending the rules of logic for the sake of a little fun, and the Bean Bonus Room is the perfect example of this. Only present in the PC versions of theChamber of SecretsandPrisoner of Azkabanvideo game adaptations, the Bean Bonus Room is unlocked when the player hits certain goals throughout the school year. InChamber of Secrets, players gain access the Bean Bonus Room when Gryffindor wins the house cup, and inPrisoner of Azkaban, this room becomes available when players have obtained all spell challenge shields.
Once inside the Bean Bonus Room, players are given the simple objective of collecting as many Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored Beans as possible within a time limit. InChamber of Secrets, this time limit is dictated by how many points they won the house cup with, thus incetivizing players to perform as well as possible. With these beans, players can purchase a range of items atFred and George’s shop, including Wizard Card collectibles.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Double Down on the Series' Lighter Moments
One of the biggest highlights ofHogwarts Legacywas its sense of wonder. Being able to freely explore iconic locations like Hogwarts and Hogsmeade and soak in the magical atmosphere of the area is undeniably one ofHogwarts Legacy’s best features, and for the first few hours of gameplay, many players felt just like they did when watchingSorcerer’s Stone’s Diagon Alley scene for the first time, being overwhelmed with whimsy, wonder, and most prominently, nostalgia.
However, that feeling didn’t last for many players. AsHogwarts Legacycontinues, that sense of light-hearted wonder begins to fade, instead being replaced by a surprisingly dark main plot, and an even darker set of side missions. Though the game’s tone remains fairly light, it quickly moves fromSorcerer’s Stone-like wonder toDeathly Hallows-like bleaknesswithin the blink of an eye, and that occasionally felt a little jarring.
InHogwarts Legacy 2, it might be nice to see a lighter tone stretch across the entire game, and the title fully embrace the series' more joyous aspects. Adding a Bean Bonus Room toHogwarts Legacy 2is exactly the kind of levity it would need, not only acting as a nice throwback to the classicHarry Pottergames, but also offering some worthwhile rewards for completing side objectives and challenges.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you may take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
