Reviewing this game is akin to two hornets hovering over the back of your neck, inching closer and closer until the inevitable stings. The first being the inherent nature of this genre. That being a gacha game. Those words alone would probably invoke a level of disgust and unbridled annoyance. The second being, this is a live-service game. I was grateful that I was able to finish the second major region’s Trailblaze Missions (main story) in one sitting and not wait around for a patch to conclude Chapter II.
So what kept me around? What was the secret sauce Hoyoverse had in store? Plain and simple: it’s the writing. I was grossly unprepared for how well-written this game, particularly, Jarlo-VI, was. I’ll admit, Herta’s Space Station wasn’t the greatest hook, but when this game gets going, and you are shuttled on to Belobog, the writing puffs out its chest with an infectious energy you can’t help but be absorbed by. I can’t speak on how much of an improvement for Hoyo this is over Genshin or Impact 3rd as both of those games I dropped in the early hours with no desire to return, less so after Star Rail’s first impression.
While, at times, this game falls into the trappings from the XIV syndrome of a lot of cutscenes for brief moments of gameplay, it doesn’t at all compromise what it’s trying to do in the name of avoiding what the genre is known for. Yes, you are walking from place to place, combat spliced to breakup traversing from one conversation to the next, but Hoyo is throwing either new characters at you, new plot threads, old plot threads, hilarious dialogue options, character banter, characters actually having personality, emotional tension, there is something that is keeping you hooked at all times.
Despite the inherent nature of this genre, which is to say more for the characters' looks or merely the fact they are stupidly powerful, I want so many of the characters in my roster because of their personalities and the incredible VA work done in the English dub. I care so much about the crew of the Astral Express, the workers aboard Herta’s Space Station, the residence of the Overworld and Underworld, and the denizens of the Luofu, because Honkai lets you get close to these characters. They have such charm to them that, yes, an RPG should have as a gold standard because party members are a critical aspect to this genre, but I’m pleased Hoyo took the time to make these characters…well characters.
I’m deliberately avoiding any major themes or topics because this is a game that deserves to be experienced as blind as possible. So many of these moments are going to be remembered for their spectacle, their emotional beats, and what these stories aim to do.
This is just talking about the main quests by the way. Companion quests and side content have just as much impact, if not more at times, which is always welcomed.
Hoyo doesn’t back down on the gameplay front either. It’s simple in its construction with a basic attack, a special attack, and an ultimate, used to deplete an enemy’s break meter with specific elemental damage for your DPS windows, but eloquently designed. Characters all feel unique despite fulfilling roles, resource management is crucial, and while yes there is going to be that eventual, “this is the best build for that character” you still are switching party members frequently and everyone is on an equal playing field.
My biggest worry was that any ‘freebie’ characters were going to pale in comparison to banner characters, but that is not the case. As said, every character is on an equal playing field and the compositions you can make with characters can get absolutely bonkers crazy. Despite finishing Chapter II, Dan Heng is still a frequent party member, with the Trailblazer as a runner up. As long as you keep up with levels and gearing, your characters are as good as gold.
Now, do you remember those two hornets I discussed earlier? Well, unfortunately, it is time for that stinging pain.
Because this is a Gacha, I have reached a point where progression has been slowed to a crawl, yet I necessarily don’t mind it as much because the earlier levels, 1 to 40, were not stingy at all, quite on the contrary, rather generous at times. I’m thankful the minimal times I had to grind were because of my own desire and not just “hey we are putting you on breaks for the last mission because we need an excuse to pad out this story’s runtime.” The main story was almost an uninterrupted experience and I am really thankful for that.
The other sting is the live-service model, and the fact stories are broken up into patch content. I am familiar with this model, but after having a complete experience from the space station to the Luofu and hearing how mixed Luofu was during its runtime as patch updates, I do worry about the longterm haul, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to what comes next.
Despite finishing the main story, I still have a lot of content I’m eager to get back to immediately. Honkai: Star Rail is the biggest surprise of my year, and this is going on some nebulous game of the year contender in my head. I love this game.
Anyway, Stellemarch the world.
So what kept me around? What was the secret sauce Hoyoverse had in store? Plain and simple: it’s the writing. I was grossly unprepared for how well-written this game, particularly, Jarlo-VI, was. I’ll admit, Herta’s Space Station wasn’t the greatest hook, but when this game gets going, and you are shuttled on to Belobog, the writing puffs out its chest with an infectious energy you can’t help but be absorbed by. I can’t speak on how much of an improvement for Hoyo this is over Genshin or Impact 3rd as both of those games I dropped in the early hours with no desire to return, less so after Star Rail’s first impression.
While, at times, this game falls into the trappings from the XIV syndrome of a lot of cutscenes for brief moments of gameplay, it doesn’t at all compromise what it’s trying to do in the name of avoiding what the genre is known for. Yes, you are walking from place to place, combat spliced to breakup traversing from one conversation to the next, but Hoyo is throwing either new characters at you, new plot threads, old plot threads, hilarious dialogue options, character banter, characters actually having personality, emotional tension, there is something that is keeping you hooked at all times.
Despite the inherent nature of this genre, which is to say more for the characters' looks or merely the fact they are stupidly powerful, I want so many of the characters in my roster because of their personalities and the incredible VA work done in the English dub. I care so much about the crew of the Astral Express, the workers aboard Herta’s Space Station, the residence of the Overworld and Underworld, and the denizens of the Luofu, because Honkai lets you get close to these characters. They have such charm to them that, yes, an RPG should have as a gold standard because party members are a critical aspect to this genre, but I’m pleased Hoyo took the time to make these characters…well characters.
I’m deliberately avoiding any major themes or topics because this is a game that deserves to be experienced as blind as possible. So many of these moments are going to be remembered for their spectacle, their emotional beats, and what these stories aim to do.
This is just talking about the main quests by the way. Companion quests and side content have just as much impact, if not more at times, which is always welcomed.
Hoyo doesn’t back down on the gameplay front either. It’s simple in its construction with a basic attack, a special attack, and an ultimate, used to deplete an enemy’s break meter with specific elemental damage for your DPS windows, but eloquently designed. Characters all feel unique despite fulfilling roles, resource management is crucial, and while yes there is going to be that eventual, “this is the best build for that character” you still are switching party members frequently and everyone is on an equal playing field.
My biggest worry was that any ‘freebie’ characters were going to pale in comparison to banner characters, but that is not the case. As said, every character is on an equal playing field and the compositions you can make with characters can get absolutely bonkers crazy. Despite finishing Chapter II, Dan Heng is still a frequent party member, with the Trailblazer as a runner up. As long as you keep up with levels and gearing, your characters are as good as gold.
Now, do you remember those two hornets I discussed earlier? Well, unfortunately, it is time for that stinging pain.
Because this is a Gacha, I have reached a point where progression has been slowed to a crawl, yet I necessarily don’t mind it as much because the earlier levels, 1 to 40, were not stingy at all, quite on the contrary, rather generous at times. I’m thankful the minimal times I had to grind were because of my own desire and not just “hey we are putting you on breaks for the last mission because we need an excuse to pad out this story’s runtime.” The main story was almost an uninterrupted experience and I am really thankful for that.
The other sting is the live-service model, and the fact stories are broken up into patch content. I am familiar with this model, but after having a complete experience from the space station to the Luofu and hearing how mixed Luofu was during its runtime as patch updates, I do worry about the longterm haul, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to what comes next.
Despite finishing the main story, I still have a lot of content I’m eager to get back to immediately. Honkai: Star Rail is the biggest surprise of my year, and this is going on some nebulous game of the year contender in my head. I love this game.
Anyway, Stellemarch the world.