The MOST NOSTALGIC Hogwarts Exploration I EVER Played! - HP2 (PC) Custom Map

Описание: Harry Potter 2 Custom Map "In Search of Skele Gro" by ‪@Kehhalar‬ (2020)

Maplink:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folder...

Help for installation of custom maps:
   • How to instal Harry Potter 2 (PC) Custom M...   by @Nixxo

This map was found on hp-games.net
The linked version is the one shown in the video

Review:
This is one of the most interesting custom maps to play in HP2 PC. It mixes the atmosphere of the first two Harry Potter games, especially HP1 in this case, with its own unique spin. The map has a very charming visual style, but combines that with surprisingly difficult gameplay.

I already played this map a few years ago, so I still remembered many of the solutions and rooms, which made some things less impactful this time. Even so, this playthrough was still a lot of fun. I do have to say, though, that experiencing the map for the first time was something else, because there are quite a few unexpected moments and ideas hidden inside it.

The map is genuinely large, with countless rooms, but also a beautiful outside area with a lovingly designed background. In general, it is also a big labyrinth, and by the end even literally so. What makes it work so well is that it uses many different kinds of areas, so it never really becomes boring. It is definitely one of the more creative HP2 custom maps out there.
Together with the detailed design and the very varied soundtrack selection, exploring this map can be a really atmospheric and enjoyable experience.

What makes it very difficult, however, is that during a first playthrough, it is easy to miss large parts of the map and many of the secrets. A lot of these things are not explained very clearly, and in some places the player would have needed stronger indicators or a bit more guidance.
For example, in the hall with the red carpet, you can be cut off from a large part of the map if you do not find the gargoyle behind the stairs, or if you do not realize that it can be opened by casting at the fireplaces. That is a shame, because it also prevents you from reaching areas such as the bathroom section.

Another unfortunate point is the red jelly snail. The fact that it can kill you instantly and behaves so aggressively, without a save book placed directly before it, feels a bit harsh. For someone who does not already know how difficult the secrets in this map can be, it can quickly become frustrating to miss a large portion of the content or never figure out how to access it.
There are more examples of this. One is the gnome that has to be thrown back into the chest right in the first room of the hospital wing. Another is the later requirement to bring all the gnomes in the area to a specific fountain in order to open the tower in one of the courtyards. That is quite a lot of effort, and I think using just a few gnomes as the trigger would have been enough.

If you accept this kind of design, or if you have some help available to find the secrets, then I think it is easy to look past these issues. Still, I do have to consider these strange and not always player-friendly or fair design choices in my rating.

Overall, I give this map an 8 out of 10. For a casual playthrough, the negative points do have a noticeable impact. On the other hand, this is still an extremely atmospheric and lovingly made map, with many wonderful details, such as Harry’s dressing gown, which I have not even mentioned until now. There is clearly a lot of work behind this map, especially in making it feel varied and nostalgic. Because of that, it would also feel unfair to rate it any lower.

Overall, this is definitely a recommendation from me, as long as you are willing to deal with the difficult and sometimes quite demanding secrets.