Why Hogwarts Legacy Doesn't Deserve a GOTY Nomination

Despite being one of the most trending games of the year, and earning the accolade of the highest-selling game of the year at this moment, the title was snubbed across all categories, and many believe that this is down to the controversy around the game ties to J.K. Rowling’s work and the proposed boycott of the title upon its release.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Blah blah blah. Just long winded on why you think a well received game shouldn't have been nominated.

In the end some games do get snubbed. But this isn't a poor game, definitely not low selling and does what it was intended which is to give fans of Harry Potter a game they'd enjoy. Those that never watched Potter or read the books something to enjoy with magic. Would be no different than if someone created a good Transformers game, LEGO game or Simpsons game.

I'm not saying it should have won. But there's nothing wrong with it being nominated. There's no limit on what should get nominated. 100 games could be nominated. As for the personal views of JK, she didn't make the game. She's not an artist, programmer, level designer, etc. So, it should have at least been nominated because it scored well and sold well. There's titles that were nominated that some might say shouldn't be on the list. But it's all subjective anyway.

[sadraiden]

It's a mediocre RPG for people who are invested in a mediocre fantasy universe. It does nothing innovative, it is still victim to JK Rowling's hamfisted world building inconsistencies, and of course the controversy surrounding JK Rowling donating her wealth to anti-trans lobby groups.

The only people who are clamoring for its inclusion to the GOTY category are committed culture warriors that want to stick it to the "wOkE mOb".

[garos82]

bull. ive never played an rpg close to hogwarts in what it does. has plenty of unique features and feel to other rpgs out there and does it really really well. i dont think it should win GOTY but ill take this argument to the grave that it at least deserves a nomination for goty. the score for the game alone should have been nominated at the very least. and this is coming from someone who aint a massive potter fan

[sadraiden]

@garos82 what unique features does it offer that no other RPG has done before?

[Muigi]

Tell us how you really feel 😂

[badz149]

always mentioning the word "innovative" to deflect I see.

so, Super Mario Wonders is nominated for GoTY. what's so innovative about it?

[Stanjara]

Best adaptation for sure.

But let's nominate Starfield that angered gaming fans...

so that Kegly has good relation to be the first to show Elder Scrolls 6

[notachance]

this dude said it isnt innovative but there’s a damn remake among the nominees lmao

[FalcorMononoke]

Sounds like you're part of that woke mob they're trying to stick it too.

[H9]

Imagine saying that Men are Men and Women are Women will make anything related to you the most controversial product of it's year

[sadraiden]

Imagine not knowing the difference between biological sex and gender and just assuming your "muh common sense" take is somehow profound.

[JEECE]

Why don't you explain the difference and give some citations to scientific studies establishing that difference so that this person doesn't make the same mistake again?

[H9]

That's because I don't believe that they are any different, your sexual identity is the sex you have been assigned at birth, that simple, you can't have a imaginary identity

[mike32UK]

So let's play devil's advocate.

You have a friend who "identifies" as they/them and their sex is genetically male. Is it ok in your head to say THEY (gender) are a man (sex)?

Edit: Or would it be they is a man? 😂

[anast]

"you can't have a imaginary identity"

I can imagine that I am a lizard, get tattoos to look like a lizard and change my name to Lizard Man. I may want to be a lizard and be treated like a Lizard, which I should have the freedom do so without the Mather family burning me at the stake.

Also, it is not absurd to identify people outside of what is "the" biological reality. Something as simple as our names are evidence of this. At least, I don't think we sniff each others' asses as only means of identification. yes, it is a part of identity, but not the only part. There are also civil laws that purposely defy biological realties to supposedly to keep human primates from rewilding, the mere fact that agencies control the water and food in industrialized spaces shows such — the separation from "nature" is a historical "thing".

Biology is not an identity outside of speciation, which as far as we know as human primates, occurs via natural processes and pressures sans a teleogical end nor an identity beyond what humans can give it. Biological identity itself, without human primate intervention, only tells an organism whether or not they can use any given part toward reproductive success, anything beyond that is civil-religious nonsense.

Of course I can change mind, if I were presented with evidence of a biological god that commands that I can't be born Gene yet want to try to become Gina.

[Charlieboy333]

Imagine being as messed up in the head as you

[H9]

@anast you are making an argument I respect that, however what you are basically saying is that freedom to defy reality in your mind to create something that you desire, now if we allow that then we basically will be giving every criminal the freedom to imagine a excuse to commit their crimes which is not speculation, many pedophiles use the arguments used by LGBT community to defend themselves, that without talking about how damaging this process is, I am sorry but you can't be allowed to fake a personality because that's just a ticket to suicide and mental illness, it is a mental illness to think of yourself outside of what you really are, Biology is concrete fact and that's why it's not superstition, and reality uses both biology and psychology, which shows us obviously that you need rules to to ground you to reality, you need to face your demons and solve your problems yourself, you can't escape, you can't fake a personality to distract yourself, every successful society never did base itself on the feelings of it's people, it based itself on logic

[sadraiden]

@Jeece there's no need to cite scientific studies.

People have gender identity. Most people identify as the gender that matches their biological sex. Some people don't.

[sadraiden]

@mike32UK

You're arguing about grammar. Everyone else is arguing about whether or not trans people exist.

Trans people do exist. And they're not hurting any of yall lol

[JEECE]

"there's no need to cite scientific studies.

People have gender identity. Most people identify as the gender that matches their biological sex. Some people don't."

I mean, when you are trying to disprove someone's position-and I might add, specifically criticizing the person you are arguing against for relying on "common sense" arguments-yes, there absolutely is a need to cite sources. You have done the same thing you accused H9 of doing.

[smashman98]

Careful. Jk Rowling said biological sex is real and now people hate her.

[Babadook7]

I watched a documentary on the origin of the word and concept for gender as opposed to sex. Pretty eye opening. The science surrounding “gender” is not settled whereas sex can be thought of as purely scientific.

[mike32UK]

@sadraider you picked out my clear joke at the end and decided to ignore the actual point I was trying to make by going along with your ideology and making you realise how little sense it makes.l, and obviously you know that so you ignored it entirely.

"Trans people do exist. And they're not hurting any of yall lol"

I'm fully aware trans people exist and never once said any of them are hurting me, I have a trans colleague at work who struggles with gender dysphoria and presents as female.

I just don't think sex and gender (which whilst I would agree they are different, are inextricably linked) should be treated the same as a pair of shoes, something you can change at will depending on how you "feel".

[StarkR3ality]

People who go through life and expect the world to share their views and beliefs, and have a divine right not to be offended are genuinely everything wrong with today's society.

The current Trans movement I liken to religious zealouts. They attack and dismiss anyone who does not agree with them, or "misgenders them". Meanwhile while expecting not to be offended they show no remorse about offending others, calling Straight men "CIS", physically attacking others that protest their rallies.

I thought modern feminism was bad enough, that made it okay for girls to sell their bodies online for a price of a cup of coffee, and pretty much all but destroyed traditional family values. Then this shit came along and it's just evident that they're trying to destroy society out of spite.

[TheKingKratos]

Where i grow up... If someone have a Dick he is a man and if someone have a Vegina she is a woman

You guys complicate things way too much
Chill the hell out.

[recoctimocassirnff]

I'll second that. Rowling did absolutely nothing wrong. She merely pointed out biological fact.

[StarkR3ality]

Well I mean, if everyone was trans and unable to procreate which is what they're going for at this rate with their attack on both Straight men and women, then yeah, it could destroy humanity..

[anast]

@H9

I think you might need to step away form the identity situation for a moment. but I will reply out of reciprocity.

1) Mathematics and physics do describe reality, but logic does not necessarily match with reality. If there is evidence here of your argument, I am willing to listen.

2) I am only talking about identity and biology. Your argument teases a strawman here. The current quasi-political idea of identity forces it to be a biological necessity and it is not. None of this means that it is okay to hurt people. I would guess that a ton of scumbags have traditional gender roles, which might imply that there is something genetic in the way of abnormalities, but once again, this conversation is only about identity necessarily being a biological construct, not an issue of free will or jurisprudence.

3) If biological identity were the only reality, then those red herrings you are talking about would not be found culpable. The difference between human primates and the rest of the animal kingdom is that we don’t think we are animals, which is false and extremely destructive; nevertheless, we need this imaginary separation. Therefore, we have things like identity and other types of imagination that separate us from being complete wild assholes, of which, we are free to identify ourselves in any manner possible, insofar as atrocities and abhorrent actions are not committed, i.e., strictly biological impulses. The freedom of identity is the right thing do to if freedom and liberty are involved.

4) I said biology is a fact, but this does not mean our empirical interpretations of facts are absolute. Science does not deal in absolutes; it deals in falsifiable facts. It seems that your argument is taking it to the superstitious side of things. I clearly stated what biology can tell us outside of an emotive context, thus I am speaking facts in the strictest sense within my capabilities.

5) Thinking in absolute terms beyond some very rudimentary truisms is the business of a preacher.

[H9]

1) math and physics are the language that logic uses to show itself, we know 1+1 = 2 not because that's how scientists saw but because it is logical, any science that doesn't reflect on the real world in a direct manner is false!

2) I guess our disagreement is that you think identity and biology are different things, as I said before, science is the language of logic, biology is physical manifestation of logic, if you wanna talk you can't make yourself what you are not because your identity is tied to logic itself therefore biology!

3) feelings are manifestation of human nature, therefore every person can experience instinctive feelings, however what you do with them is your choice, just like you would have the desire to beat up someone you would have the desire to give them mercy, whoever strays from good is closer to animals!

4) the end of the road for humans is diving into religion because like I said we all move according to the logic of our world and that logic have to have come from somewhere, the perfect form of science is understanding the world, which is not achievable for the human being so we keep going in that direction!

5) I think I have answered this one beforehand

[anast]

1) Logical reasoning does not remove people from all crisis which are realities also. Math and Physics describe reality, but do not tell us how we should act or what is necessarily true. You yourself said we have demons inside us, and this is true to you and this is something that science cannot answer. I still think you are missing the point, but only your can interpret the facts that are laid out before you and in this case it is not 1+2 =3.

2) I don't think they are different things, they are emergent. This is exactly why people should be free with their identity.

3) I have already mentioned how people and why people can do good and not act like wild beasts.

4) Yes, you answered with demons, this is preacher talk. If you are a believing man then no worries, we probably don't have much to talk about this.

[H9]

1) science is the language of logic in physical matters and philosophy is logic's language spiritual matters, the fact but they are connected, by facing demons I meant facing the psychological problems that you come across, and you don't face them with how you feel you face them with your understanding of how the world works, you solve them with logic for example, homosexuality leads to extinction, therefore it is logically false, so if you have those sort of feelings you need to deny them!

Yes I am a believer if that answers your questions, like I said we are incapable of fully understanding the world, so naturally we need the aid of someone above it!

[anast]

I can't move any further. We have vastly differing views on the limits of logic. Thank for the argument though, I enjoy it.

[LordoftheCritics]

Author: because the Game Awards didn't milk the controversy surrounding Potter transmania, that means the game wasnt snubbed and simply was not worthy

What a bs take.

Potter was excellent in all the technical departments and could have easily replaced the REmake

It seems anyone can become a game journalist today.

[MrDead]

The game was average and didn't do anything new, good start for a new series but nothing special or memorable. Stop trying to bring dumb culture war bs into this, not everyone is from the US.

[garos82]

what was new in spiderman 2, super mario wonder , re 4 remake? i cant talk about alan wake or baldurs gate as i havent played them. tears did enough to warrant nomination. but please do tell why the other games deserve the spot and not hogwarts

[MrDead]

"but please do tell why the other games deserve the spot and not hogwarts"

... because it was average and forgettable, sorry if that upsets you. It's a solid start but nothing engaging to make it stand out.

[sadraiden]

Literally every feature of Mario Wonder is new. RE4 remake and Spider-Man 2 are objectively better games than Hogwarts.

You guys wanting HL to be GOTY need to actually support your claim with reasons why it's so good. But no one in this thread has been able to do that.

[BrainSyphoned]

I'm sorry your culture already died.

[MrDead]

"I'm sorry your culture already died."

What does that even mean in relation to my comment?

[sadraiden]

The culture warriors are strong in this thread.

The game is categorically mid. But because the creator of the (really juvenile) universe is publicly transphobic, the Gamerz are calling for the game to be GOTY lmao

[recoctimocassirnff]

You do realise if you're promoting the argument that biological reality isn't a thing, not only are you a culture warrior yourself, but you are on the wrong side.

So technically, you are correct. The thread is full of culture warriors...

Also, pointing out biology fact doesn't make you a transphobe. I can treat someone suffering with gender dysphoria with love, kindness and respect, while also not thinking they are a woman when there are indeed a man.

[CrimsonWing69]

F*ck right off!

I haven’t played a game this year that gave me the good feels and sense of awe and splendor that Hogwarts did and I’m not even a diehard fan of the source material.

Highly recommended and it’s a real shame it doesn’t get the acknowledgment of its achievements because of politics. The game does represent diversity, and yet these a-holes who cry about that representation straight up snub it for awards.

[garos82]

100% agree the castle itself is a digital art masterpiece, let alone the rest of the game and villages. had almost zero bugs and the gameplay felt very different to any other rpgs ive played in the past. screw the awards at least it sold boat loads of copies and those artists who made the game got the only award that matters: $$$

[RaiderNation]

Maybe not GOTY but to not be nominated in ANY category whatsoever is a shameless, blatant snub and makes the integrity of the VGA's highly questionable.

[JEECE]

Yeah that's the thing that's suspect. I can get behind the argument that it is derivative in many respects and that it wouldn't have been so big if not for the IP. But those are great reasons it shouldn't WIN Game of the Year. The fact that it wasn't nominated for anything is what is questionable.

[RaiderNation]

Well you can't get more derivative than a Remake. Yet Resident Evil 4 was nominated for GOTY. So the derivative argument doesn't hold water.

[JEECE]

@RaiderNation

Yeah it's a fair argument against that game too.

[recoctimocassirnff]

After regaining a tiny bit of credibility after years of obvious bias by rightfully ignoring Starfield, the awards show once again confirms they shouldn't be taken seriously.

[jeromeface]

I wish we could find out how many ppl didnt finish it vs elden ring.

[Plague-Doctor27]

Just going off PSN trophy percentages
34.7% completed Hogwarts last boss
35.3% beat Godfrey (last boss with trophy data before the ending is split into 3)

Looks like pretty similar completion between the two, on Playstation at least

[isarai]

There are far worse games nominated in these categories, that's my issue.

[lellkay]

I enjoyed the game and think it's a shame it didn't get a single nomination, but I'm also aware 2023 has been a killer year for gaming so the competition was tight.

[victorMaje]

I’ve had my issues with the game but I would’ve expected it to be nominated in more than one category.

Best Map Traversal (if we had that) would go to Spider-Man 2, but Hogwarts legacy would definitely be right up there as very close second.

[FatalityX77]

Look ... we all know why it was snubbed. Let's not pretend it's for any other reason.

[sagapo]

It deserved a nomination in my book. Great graphics, runs great even on graphics mode (basicly the only game I’ve played in this mode this year). A bit light on the RPG elements but had enjoyable gameplay. I’m no Potter fan but I really enjoyed this game.

[Magog]

It was charming but the way the spells were handled and the general clunkiness of the combat kept it from being something special. This is a game that would have been better in VR.

[Inverno]

I played this game expecting what they had talked about over the years before it's release and instead got a game that played it extremely safe. Mostly lifeless open world, with repetitive dungeons and copy pasted caves, low enemy types, shallow RPG mechanics that don't even kick in until hours into the game, and the story does not a candle to any of Harry's individual years at Hogwarts. For that reason I personally think it doesn't deserve a nomination, but if we're being brutally honest, and I know people will go full fanboy stupid, most of the games nominated don't deserve the nomination either. Most are safe sequels that do much of the same, with mid stories, or lack of there of, repetitive gameplay loops, and a whole lot of pointless boring fluff, and in the case of BG3 that game was an early access game that took people's money before it was a complete product so technically it didn't even come out this year.
My point is that there's an argument to be had for all these not deserving a nomination, but what does it actually matter when we're talking about an award based on opinions.

[Elda]

Though I played the entire game & enjoyed it... in my opinion I don't see it as a GOTY contender.

[Waffler]

Yet Spider-Man 2 gets nominated? Please, it's all politics.

[MrDead]

"it's all politics."
Only if you live in the US as you guys have politicised everything. To the rest of the world it's just an average game

[RaiderNation]

The UK and Canada are just as bad, if not worse.

[Tzuno]

Because is a mediocre game, begins amazing and falls short immediately.
The only ones that sees this as a goty are die hard fans of harry potter universe.

[mjchitown]

i see a clown wrote this.

[FernDiggidy]

Game was repetitive as shit. Theres no way it will be a GOTY contender. the name alone is what carried it.

[Crows90]

Its a typical open world with typical open world issues. Thats why.

[Petebloodyonion]

What a load of BS from the author
because of course everything regarding this game not being nominated ONCE is related to the transgender situation.

Again I'll repeat the same things I said about the Keighley Games Award.

The goal is to make money (meaning viewership) in order to pay for everything, please sponsor to reinvest next year, and please media so they invest in the process.

Now in no way shape or form does Keighey, sponsors, or media want to deal with a possible backlash for nominating this game.
Just think about how Gamespot would react toward the Game Awards if this game were nominated
how some Sponsors would react if the KGA received a heavy flask for promoting a "transphobic game"?

The same applies the other way around and the reason why the KGA didn't take a stance (see Disney).

So the best course of action is to snub the game and make sure the majority of ppl are happy.

[GoodGuy09]

I do hope they take the criticisms and improve on the sequel...and include quidditch lol.

[Games1st]

No it isn’t down to some controversial stuff it isn’t worth game of the year.

[Soy]

Controversy aside, it's a game you have to be invested in before you even play - if you're not a Potterverse fan already, you're not going to enjoy it. It won't change any minds or make new fans.

[Kaze88]

Never a popular but not a great game got an nomination? are you shitting me :D Also to the part what is Hogwarts doing that something has not done before, making an actually good license open world game based on Harry Potter. It's not winner material, but nomination at least in some categories was in order. We all know it's not getting any nominations due to JK Rowling, who had no part in the game making.

[Ashunderfire86]

Why you don’t deserve to write ✍️ this article

[MarcianoBR360]

It's the same reason the Lord of the Rings: Gollum didn't compete for best game of the year, I believe

[gold_drake]

it was one of the most successful games of this year, what are you on about?

it was also really really good.

[smolinsk]

Other than Hogwarts house and Hogmeets the game has nothing to show for. Very very boring and empty world. Of cause it doesn't deserve to be nominated but with the amount of horrible games this year anything could be on that list. Only game that definitely didn't deserve anything was Starfield.