All of us starry-eyed Potterheads, at some point of time, had woken up hoping to receive a Hogwarts acceptance letter. We all wanted to be a part of the magical experience. Disappointed with the knowledge that we were muggles, we used sticks as wands, and mounted our cleaning brooms, pretending to play that noblest of wizarding sports, Quidditch. We dreamt about our favourite Houses, and what it would be like to attend Hogwarts classes. We went crazy when, in 2011, the Pottermore website came into existence. Users were taken on a Harry Potter journey through each chapter of the books. It had some pretty interesting features—users were sorted into the different Hogwarts houses based on their answers to a series of questions. From exploring Diagon Alley, getting a wand from Ollivanders, to walking down the Great Hall, it was truly delightful.
The Pottermore website has changed much since, with the introduction of several additional features. Sadly, they took the gaming feature off their website. But, in November 2017, the website had announced that in collaboration with Portkey Games, Jam City and Warner Bros, a new game, ‘Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery’ would be launched. Official trailers gave us a glimpse of the game and we couldn’t contain ourselves. Something exciting was brewing in the cauldron. The wait is finally over; as of April 25, the game officially launched on Android and Apple platforms worldwide.
The game starts off with a quick one minute trailer of an introduction to the story. You feel the excitement as Maggie Smith and a few others lend their voices to the game. The Sims-like graphics might seem a little off-putting, and slow to load, but the low-key virtual reality experience succeeds in mirroring the luminous Great Hall, and Snape's sardonic disdain. It lets you create your avatar with limited options, and a fixed storyline. If you expected a full-fledged sorting ceremony, and real Pottermore adventures, think again. 'Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery' is no mystery at all, as it lets you choose your own house and meet key characters and rivals along the way. The story is that your older brother was infamously expelled for causing trouble; he has gone missing, and the whole school harbours inhibitions about you. You embark on a quest to find your brother and prove everyone wrong.
The music and features are simple; there is nothing exceptional. It doesn’t capture the full essence of the books, but is still a fun ride for a supposedly free game. The challenges might not seem difficult enough, even slightly childish as it comes packed with lessons of 'courage', 'empathy' and 'knowledge'. If you are a true Slytherin, seeking dark arts training, you will be utterly disappointed.
The game works on ‘energy’ points which are pretty annoying because it takes three minutes to recharge. The game is free, but you can choose to pay for energy, gems, coins and other features of the game. If you’re not willing to pay, the constant wait can put you off. In addition, the way your character develops affects the storyline.
Overall, the design of Hogwarts is fun, with illustrations and detailed graphics.. But don’t expect to bump into Harry, Hermione, Ron or Draco and gang as the game is set before Harry’s birth. Instead you might come across Nymphadora Tonks or Bill Weasley and such. Was it a truly magical experience? That might not be, but it certainly had the 11-year-old nerd inside me excited as I pulled out my wand and robes.