Genshin Impact is taking the gaming world by storm, and while some might say it’s similar to the famous Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW), it stands on its own as a unique and exciting open-world gacha RPG. Developed by miHoYo, the game has become a massive success, amassing millions of downloads and huge sales, particularly in its first week of release. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into what makes Genshin Impact so special.
Story: A New Adventure Awaits
The story of Genshin Impact starts with a pair of twins who are separated during an intense battle against an evil witch. You, as the Traveler, get to choose which twin you want to control as your main character. After the battle, your character wakes up in the mystical world of Teyvat, not unlike the open-world setting of BotW.
You soon meet Paimon, a quirky fairy-like companion, who guides you as you journey across the lands. Your first stop is the city of Mondstadt, where chaos unfolds when a massive dragon named Stormterror attacks. After successfully fighting off the dragon, your character is recruited by the Knights of Favonius, meeting other playable characters such as Amber, Lisa, and Kaeya. Each character has a unique elemental power, making them vital to your journey.
Though the story continues to unfold with new chapters, Genshin Impact is also a gacha game. This means that, just like in other gacha games, players can expect plenty of updates with new characters and storylines, ensuring the game keeps evolving and stays exciting.
Gameplay: Fast, Fun, and Fluid
Genshin Impact’s gameplay is where it truly shines. The combat, especially for a mobile game, is surprisingly fluid. If you’re used to action-packed games like BotW, you’ll feel right at home. The game features real-time combat where you can switch between four characters during battle, each with their own unique abilities and elemental powers. One of the coolest features is how elements like fire, water, wind, and electricity can be combined for powerful effects. For example, using Amber’s fire arrows to ignite enemies and then switching to the Traveler to create a wind vortex can result in explosive combos.
With 24 characters to choose from, each with different strengths and abilities, the fun is endless as you experiment with different combinations. The game also allows you to level up your Adventure Rank, unlocking new areas, quests, and features as you progress.
While the game does have some grind-heavy moments—such as completing tasks to increase your Adventure Rank—this is not a dealbreaker for most players. There’s plenty to do in Teyvat, from fighting enemies to completing challenges, which help you level up and progress through the game.
Co-op Play: Team Up with Friends
One feature that really sets Genshin Impact apart from other games is its co-op play. Once you reach Adventure Rank 16, you can join other players’ worlds and combine forces to take down enemies and complete quests. Teaming up with friends opens up new strategies for combining elemental powers and makes the game even more engaging.
While the grind for Adventure Rank might be repetitive at times, the ability to play with friends and tackle challenges together keeps things fresh and fun. It also gives players the opportunity to experiment with different characters and build the perfect team.
Audio/Visuals: A Beautiful World to Explore
Genshin Impact’s world is stunning, especially for a mobile game. The art style is vibrant and anime-inspired, which gives the game a distinct look. The two countries currently available, Mondstadt and Liyue, each have their own unique scenery and architecture. Mondstadt, with its German-inspired architecture, is the perfect place for wind-based elements, while Liyue, inspired by China, features earth-based elements. The differences in these environments make each area feel fresh and exciting to explore.
The soundtrack is another highlight of the game. It’s so good that many players have left the game running just to listen to the beautiful music. The voice acting is a bit hit-or-miss, with some characters like Paimon being somewhat annoying, but the overall production quality is impressive.
Conclusion: A Game You Won’t Want to Put Down
In conclusion, Genshin Impact is a mobile game that has exceeded expectations. It combines the best elements of games like Breath of the Wild with a fun gacha system, fluid combat, and a beautiful world to explore. While it does have some repetitive moments, especially when grinding for Adventure Rank, the co-op play, character variety, and constant updates keep the game feeling fresh.
What’s even more impressive is that it’s a free-to-play game, with no significant paywall stopping you from enjoying the full experience. While the game is designed to encourage in-app purchases, you can still have a lot of fun without spending a dime. If you’re looking for an RPG that’s visually stunning, full of adventure, and offers endless hours of gameplay, Genshin Impact is definitely worth your time.