It is only the first half of 2023, and already there have been several big games released. One of the bestselling titles thus far isHogwarts Legacy, which fuses magic with the joy of exploring the wizarding world. Despite how much there is to discover,Hogwart Legacy’s world is relatively limited, taking place mainly in Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade Village. This is something futureRed Dead Redemptiongames should emulate, as there are many benefits to narrowing the scope of an open-world.
Hogwarts has winding corridors, and players will naturally get very lost at first. However, with time, it is possible to learn how to navigate, and it is quite rewarding to know how to get from point A to point B without needing any help. Having everything in a smaller space also makes it far less likely that players will accidentally miss optional side content.Red Dead Redemption 3could mimic this by restricting players to one richly populated town, even if it is only for a chapter of the game.
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How Hogwarts Legacy Makes the Most of its Space
InHogwarts Legacy, players take the role of a fifth-year student enrolling at Hogwarts for the first time. Everything is new to the player, which makesHogwarts Legacytasks as simple as finding classesa tough mission. Things are made harder by the fact that Hogwarts is a magical place with twisting hallways and surprises lurking around every corner. Hence, it always feels like there is something new to discover. There are some tricks to make navigation a tad easier, even if players aren’t using the mini-map. For example, the Charmed Compass shows the route to the next quest. It is also worth remembering that the environment often gives clues regarding what is coming up, and paying attention to the surroundings can let players know whether they are headed toward the dungeons or the greenhouse.
The game benefits from having a relatively small open-world. It gives players the chance to slowly but surely learn their way around the map. Withenough hours put intoHogwarts Legacy, players will eventually know how to get anywhere in the castle without having to consult the map, which can be quite a rewarding feeling. Furthermore, a smaller map means that players are far less likely to accidentally miss side content by simply forgetting to visit a certain corner of the map. This is a huge help to completionists, as it makes engaging with all the game’s content much easier.
TheRed Dead Redemptionfranchise is known for its sprawling environments. This is especially true withRed Dead Redemption 2, which features a map so large players will find that they’ll need to stop and camp for the night if they wish to travel from one end to the other without fast travel. Though the large open-world is appreciated,Red Dead Redemption 3would benefit from focusing on the smaller settlements. There is already a foundation for this, aslocations like Saint Denisand Blackwater are very immersive inRed Dead Redemption 2. However, taking things a step further and limiting players to a single settlement for a chapter or two would be a good way to emulate thatHogwarts Legacyexperience of growing very intimately familiar with a specific location.
Rockstar has yet to confirm the existence ofRed Dead Redemption 3. This could be because the studio is currently focused onGTA 6, or it could be a sign thatRed Dead Redemptionwill end up anotherforgotten Rockstar franchise. Hopefully, it is the former, and players will see more of the studio’s take on the Western genre.
Hogwarts Legacyis available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. It is scheduled to release for Xbox One and PS4 on May 5, and for Nintendo Switch on July 25.
