Do You Turn Evil in Hogwarts Legacy? Exploring Morality and Consequences
The question of whether you can become truly evil in Hogwarts Legacy is a complex one, especially given the game’s expansive world and the inclusion of Unforgivable Curses. The short answer is: no, you cannot canonically become an evil character in the way one might traditionally expect. While you can make morally questionable choices and wield dark magic, the game does not fundamentally alter your character’s trajectory to label you as inherently wicked. You won’t rise up as a new Voldemort. Your decisions, though impactful in some ways, don’t lead to a radical shift in how the world perceives you. The storyline does not change to showcase your descent into darkness, nor does the world change to treat you like the evil wizard that you perhaps may play as. Let’s delve deeper into this by examining the game’s morality system, the impact of using Unforgivable Curses, and the various choices you make.
The Illusion of Evil: Choices and Their Limited Impact
Hogwarts Legacy presents players with choices, particularly concerning the Unforgivable Curses: Crucio, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra. Learning and using these powerful spells might seem like a clear path towards a dark character arc. However, the game’s design prevents this.
Unforgivable Curses: Power Without Moral Consequences?
The ability to use Avada Kedavra, the killing curse, or any of the other Unforgivable Curses is granted if you choose to pursue that path. It’s tempting to believe that using these spells will have profound consequences in the game world, perhaps leading to NPCs fearing you or the game altering in a way to showcase the darkness that has consumed your character. However, this is not the case. The use of these spells mainly affects combat. It is entirely for combat convenience. It provides powerful tools for dispatching enemies with ease, but it does not change how the world reacts to you. You will not get branded as a dangerous wizard for using Unforgivable Curses. Other characters may make remarks on your usage of such magic, but nothing further occurs in the game.
The Good and “Bad” Endings: A Matter of Perspective
Hogwarts Legacy has multiple endings, which are based on certain dialogue choices and your interaction with the character Fig, specifically, concerning how you wish to manage the powerful ancient magic that you discovered and are managing. It is not necessarily that one ending is better than the other, but rather, a matter of choosing how you personally want to manage the knowledge. These endings, often termed “good” and “bad,” mostly amount to changes in the final cutscene, which does provide some closure to your character and the storyline. The endings, though, do not create a dramatically different gameplay experience. Even choosing the “bad” ending, where you seemingly embrace the power of the ancient magic, it doesn’t unlock further gameplay features that reflect that choice.
The Case of Sebastian Sallow: A Morally Gray Path
Sebastian Sallow’s storyline is a critical point for exploring morality in Hogwarts Legacy. His descent into dark magic, marked by the use of the killing curse against his uncle, allows the player to learn more about the nature of dark magic and provides opportunities to engage in moral debates. You decide whether to turn Sebastian in for his actions, or to protect him from the authorities. This choice does impact the availability of certain spells and who you will interact with through the end of the storyline. However, even when supporting him, it does not make your character evil. The game does not treat your choices as a descent to the dark side.
FAQs: Further Insights Into Morality in Hogwarts Legacy
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the morality mechanics within Hogwarts Legacy:
1. Can you be punished for using Unforgivable Curses?
No. The game does not penalize the player for using the Unforgivable Curses. The story does not change based on the usage of these curses. You will not be sent to Azkaban, for example.
2. Does using the Unforgivable Curses make your character evil?
Not inherently. You may be labelled “evil” by players, but it does not fundamentally change how the game world or the characters within it will interact with you. The choice is yours.
3. Is there a true “evil ending” in Hogwarts Legacy?
The game does have an ending that some players may consider the “evil” ending. However, this primarily results in a different ending cutscene, not a shift in how the world treats your character. There is no added gameplay associated with the ending.
4. Does turning Sebastian Sallow in for killing his uncle change anything?
Yes, but primarily in terms of gameplay accessibility. If you turn him in, you will not be able to learn the Avada Kedavra spell if you haven’t already learned it through his storyline.
5. Does learning Avada Kedavra affect the story?
No. Learning and using the Avada Kedavra spell does not alter the main story. It does allow players to use this spell during combat, though.
6. Can you get sent to Azkaban in Hogwarts Legacy?
Yes, but only for a specific House. Only Hufflepuff students can access Azkaban through their unique House quest. It is not possible to be arrested for using dark magic and sent there.
7. What are the four Unforgivable Curses?
There are only three Unforgivable Curses in the wizarding world: Crucio, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra.
8. Can you be expelled from Hogwarts for dark magic?
It is not possible to be expelled from Hogwarts as a result of using dark magic in the game.
9. Does your chosen Hogwarts House influence your potential for evil?
No. Your House choice does not have any influence on the types of spells you can learn, nor does it influence how “good” or “evil” your character can be.
10. Can you stop Sebastian from killing his uncle?
No. Sebastian’s showdown with his uncle is a fixed event in his storyline, regardless of your choices.
11. Is there a moral code in Hogwarts Legacy?
Not really. The game does not impose a moral code on the player, and using dark magic does not cause negative consequences in the game’s world.
12. Is it better to be good or evil in Hogwarts Legacy?
There isn’t a “better” path in the traditional sense of alignment. The game allows you to explore various choices, but with no real long-term consequences.
13. Does siding with ominous dialogue options have long term consequences?
No. While you can side with ominious choices, your choices do not have any long-term consequences in the game.
14. Does learning the Imperius Curse change the story?
No, there is no impact on the storyline for learning this spell.
15. Is it better to learn the Unforgivable Curses or not?
It’s entirely up to your personal preference. There is no penalty, nor reward for using them, or not. They are merely a convenient choice in combat.
Conclusion: Morality as a Personal Choice
While Hogwarts Legacy allows players to engage with dark magic and make morally ambiguous choices, it doesn’t fundamentally transform your character into an embodiment of evil. The game lacks a system to penalize players for using dark magic. Instead, morality becomes a personal matter, driven by the choices you make as you play through the game and ultimately reflected in your perspective on the game’s ending. It’s important for players to understand that the narrative impact of choices is often minimal, allowing a greater focus on exploration, combat, and enjoying the immersive world of Hogwarts. Despite the inclusion of potentially dark magic, the game ultimately maintains a sense of wonder and adventure within the wizarding world.