Hogwarts Legacy Steals At Least One Thing From Pokémon
Hogwarts Legacy's recent State of Play presentation has shown that the game has stolen at least one aspect from the beloved creature-capture series Pokémon. The games are very different from one another, but it looks like Portkey Games drew just a little inspiration from Pokémon with one of its characters. Players might just find themselves channeling their inner Pokémon Trainer when Hogwarts Legacy releases later in 2022.
In Pokémon, those who study the mysterious and powerful creatures that inhabit the world are known as Professors. These Professors vary in their fields of study, but they typically have one thing in common: being named after plant life. From Oak to Magnolia, Professors are almost always named after some sort of flower or tree. It's just one of many traditions in the series' long history, one that's made its way into Hogwarts Legacy's canon. Professor Fig was revealed in the State of Play, and his name certainly sounds like it could belong to a Pokémon Professor. He shares his surname with the fig tree and its fruit, native to the Mediterranean.
The Hogwarts Legacy State of Play presentation didn't reveal too much about Professor Fig, save that he would help the player character investigate the upcoming goblin rebellion. From what's been shown so far, it looks like he'll have an important role in the game's story, but how big of one is yet to be revealed. It's possible that he'll act as something of a mentor to the player, much like Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledore. The trailer described him as "accomplished, yet enigmatic." Everything about Hogwarts Legacy's Professor Fig isn't known yet, but given the eccentricity of some Pokémon Professors, he could be closer to them than simply his name. Fans of both the Harry Potter and Pokémon series will have to wait until the game's release to find out just how much.
From what's been shown of Professor Fig so far, it looks like he'll work with the player to investigate the impending goblin rebellion in Hogwarts Legacy. It also would appear that he'll guide the player character and help them to learn to harness and control their Ancient Magic, at least in part. Whether it's for intellectual curiosity or keeping said magic from falling into the wrong hands, it would appear that Professor Fig will act as a mentor and aid players on their journey to understand the unusual gift that they possess. Hogwarts Legacy looks massive, with a lot to do, so it's likely that Professor Fig will have his fair share of screen time. His exact role is so far unknown, but it seems like he'll be a pretty important character in the game.
In the Pokémon games, Professors are fairly important characters themselves. They're the ones to give player characters their first partner Pokémon, kicking off the rest of the events of the story. They, too, act as some form of guide to players, giving them occasional advice, items, or just being someone that they can turn to. Professor Fig will likely be more involved with the player than a Pokémon Professor is, but that doesn't change the fact that it looks like they'll have somewhat similar roles. Even if he doesn't provide the player with a lizard that can breathe fire, it looks like Professor Fig will play a large part in the player's magical education in Hogwarts Legacy.
Of all the features that could be in Hogwarts Legacy, creature capturing was a surprising one. The gameplay trailer revealed that players will be able to collect magical beasts and store them in a satchel akin to Newt Scamander's, as well as in the Room of Requirement. It says that they will nurse them back to health and protect them from poachers, so it's unlikely that players will be able to pit them against other beasts like in Pokémon. Regardless, the way the trailer portrays the player character capturing and caring for the various beasts of the Harry Potter universe looks quite a bit like a Trainer with a Poké Ball, conceptually speaking.
Hogwarts Legacy's creature capture aspects raise the question of what else from Pokémon will be in the game. Hogwarts Legacy can learn from games like Skyrim and other big names in order to improve itself. A journey to be the very best and a series of gyms aren't likely, but there are other features and themes that could appear once the game releases. Bonding with the beasts of Hogwarts Legacy and becoming friends and partners with them is possible. The core messages of the series could show up, if not aspects from the games themselves. It can be tough to imagine what could cross over given the fact that they're very different games, but it's possible that the developers have taken inspiration from Pokémon in an unexpected way.
Professor Fig certainly looks like he'll be an important character in the game, and his name may hold a deeper meaning than a Pokémon reference. Names in Harry Potter are not always banal, and Hogwarts Legacy looks like it will follow in its footsteps. Sebastian Sallow and Poppy Sweeting both have names that fit their character, so it's possible that Professor Fig's name holds some deeper meaning. Although it's spelled differently, it could be a reference to Arabella Figg, a Squib who has a minor role in the main Harry Potter books and movies. If there are some Pokémon fans among the developers, then his name could be the nod to the series that it appears to be. Returning Harry Potter characters in Hogwarts Legacy are likely few and far between, but there's nothing stopping them from sneaking in references.
However, it's possible that Professor Fig's name holds a darker meaning. Although "fig" is a species of tree, it could also refer to the "fig wasp," a species of insect that serves as the tree's primary pollinator and gives its life to do so. It could also be meant to represent a combination of the two and their symbiotic/parasitic relationship. What this could mean is unknown, but it could give a hint as to what players can expect from the professor. It could mean that there's a dark side to him and that he'll betray the player at some point.
The way that wasps burrow into fig fruits could also represent a deep secret and an ulterior motive for helping the player character harness their Ancient Magic that he's hiding. Hogwarts Legacy's main villain is likely an evil Dark Wizard, but it could also be Professor Fig. None of it is certain, but the idea does add some intrigue to what would appear to be one of Hogwarts Legacy's most important characters, Pokémon influences or not.
Source: Hogwarts Legacy State of Play Presentation
Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
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- Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
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