“I’m tired of it” – you tell yourself every time after a couple of months in Genshin Impact. But with the release of another major update, you return to the game. After all, Hoyoverse knows how to make exciting products for all ages and pull you back – they will find a thread for everyone that you just have to pull.
Each new region in Genshin Impact is not only another chapter of the story, but also game mechanics, environments, and space for exploration. All together, it’s a new adventure. Hoyoverse tries to keep the quality bar high, although they don’t always succeed.
So, in Sumeru (update 3.0), the side storyline was frankly unsuccessful, and the absence of underground levels on the map in that version greatly complicated the life of explorers. Fontaine (update 4.0) started well – the underwater levels were very beautiful. But the fortress of Meropides from the updates, against the background of all the beauties of the water region, was very pale – limited space and swamp colors were depressing.
All this, to a certain extent, affects the popularity of the game. It is still high, but it is becoming difficult to retain players. Playing the same game for four years without a competitive mode is not very interesting. The former wow-effect is gone, but the routine, which has not gone anywhere, is depressing.
It was hard to expect anything new from update 5.0. It seemed that everything would be a repetition of the past. It is difficult to imagine how else to diversify the gameplay and develop the plot. But it turned out that Hoyoverse has not forgotten how to pleasantly surprise. Natlan turned out to be a very unusual region. It is reminiscent of the terrestrial Latin America. There is a mountainous part with steep slopes, plateaus, deeply cut canyons, there is a local Amazonia – a river valley with large water spaces. Traveling, admiring the beauty, is very pleasant. Natlan does not cause admiration, as it was with the underwater world of Fontaine, but the fact is that this is one of the most striking regions of Teyvat.
Natlan is populated by several tribes, so there is no central city like in other regions of Teyvat. Instead, players have access to several villages, each with its own reputation quests and side quests. So now it is more interesting to explore the new region, there is less aimless wandering around the neighborhoods. In the process of completing side quests, you will have to visit many places.
The center of the region is the stadium where fights are held to determine the strongest fighters. The adventurers’ guild and merchants are also located there.
In each new region, the developers introduced a new way to travel around the world. Teleportation in Inazuma, a grappling hook in Sumeru, scuba diving in Fontaine. There were also some innovations in Natlan. Moving the old-fashioned way along the high mountain slopes of the new region would be excruciatingly long, and stamina would often be insufficient. So the player is quickly given a new heroine, Kachina, who can quickly climb the slopes with the help of a device that looks like a top, called the Turbo Whirlwind.
The turbo whirlwind is not the only way to travel across the lands of Natlan. The dragon-dinosaurs that inhabit the region also help in this process. Each tribe cooperates with one of the dragon species (saurians). Tepletisaurs, similar in appearance to vishaps, are able to move underground, including on vertical surfaces. Yumkasaurus jumps high and uses a long tongue to cling to surfaces (it turns out to be a grappling hook, like in Sumeru). Koholosaurs are natural swimmers, able to glide across water surfaces.
The ability to possess these creatures is the main feature of the new region. In addition, the saurians are used in many trials. You will have to swim, jump and crawl underground. Unusual and fresh sensations give joy from exploring a new region. Genshin Impact has not given such emotions for a long time. Of course, the usual routine has not gone anywhere, but these mini-games allow you to greatly diversify the gameplay. In some trials, the mini-game will be a platformer, in others – a runner. They are not difficult in themselves, but they are very pleasant to play.
The Traveler and Paimon will get a pet in Natlan – a young Tepletisaurus. There are several side quests associated with it, as well as an increased level of cuteness in the game, but in reality, all the fuss with the pet now is just additional activities-engaging. I would like to see more involvement of the pet in the main plot or additional game mechanics related to the pet.
The developers also attempted to refresh the familiar formula of Genshin Impact in the storyline. Previously, in each new region, the story was built on the same template: the Traveler found himself in a conflict situation and, extricating himself from it, he saved not only himself and his new friends from trouble, but also the entire region from an open threat. The plot of Natlan is built on a different scheme. The scriptwriters did not beat around the bush, but immediately immersed the hero in the abyss of events. Natlan is in trouble, the Abyss is attacking and the harbingers of Fatui are playing their game. The first two chapters associated with the new region are completed in one breath. It is interesting to follow the unfolding events, and the superbly staged videos with expensive animation are just the cherry on the cake.
New game mechanics, a new approach to storytelling are not the only distinctive features of Natlan. The region stands out with its unique visual style, design and musical accompaniment. The differences from other regions are significant. At first, there was even a feeling that they went a bit overboard with these innovations, the style turned out so different. Over time, you get used to the design solutions, but questions remain about the musical accompaniment. The music sounds more modern, more aggressive, less fabulous, which is probably not quite suitable for Genshin Impact.
Another obvious drawback is the size of the new region. It is smaller than usual. For new players, this will not be a problem. Teyvat is huge, and before heading to Natlan, it is worth running through at least the main storyline of the previous regions. And this is tens of hours. If you are distracted by side quests, then this will be more than a hundred hours of gameplay. But travelers who have been living in this world for several years will find it not enough. Of course, new updates will add new areas and new stories, but I would like to get more now.
Otherwise, Genshin Impact remains the same adventure game, with a unique combat system based on the interaction of the elements. To complete the main and storyline, you will not need heroes knocked out of the gacha and a pumped up starting pack of characters will suffice. In this, the developers are honest with the players. You really get dozens of hours of gameplay for free.
But there is a downside to this approach. If you don’t constantly follow the game and come back to it from time to time, then following the main plot becomes increasingly difficult. The number of characters is constantly growing and it is very difficult to keep them all, as well as previous events in the game, in your memory. To a certain extent, this destroys the atmosphere. The alternative is to be in the game all the time. But the endgame is a routine and tedious farming of resources for new heroes and their leveling, which takes a lot of time.
New characters with their own combat features brighten up the routine and hook players on the need to constantly get a new portion of pleasure. And the pleasure of the game, of adventures, replaces the pleasure of playing in a gacha casino, which strives to empty the pockets of gamblers. So if you are a gambler, you should not play Genshin Impact.
Technically, the game is improving with each new update. In its current state, it is close to being a perfectly polished product. But to start playing it on a smartphone, be prepared to invest in a good device. You will need a lot of free space on the storage and good 3D performance.
Diagnosis
A new region is a good reason to return to Genshin Impact if you have abandoned the game. Natlan can pleasantly diversify the usual gameplay. Even if you just run through the main storyline, you will enjoy it. If you spend a little time on additional activities and secondary storylines, the game will still remain a great adventure for one player.
But any activity outside the main and secondary quests kills the adventure, turning it into a monotonous routine and hooking players on gacha casinos, which replace the thrill of the game with the “pleasure” of owning a rare character. It’s not worth it.
Overall, Genshin Impact remains the pinnacle of mobile gaming, and Hoyoverse once again demonstrates the fact that the company employs top-notch professionals. Even four years after the release, they can surprise and find ways to bring something new to the familiar game. We hope that they still have enough energy for Snezhnaya, which is due out next year.
Pro
- The story is still interesting
- New game mechanics
- Exciting challenges
- A detailed world open for exploration
- Excellent graphics
Contra
- Manipulative monetization system
- Routine farming of resources outside of story missions
- Small size of the new region
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All images used in this material are copyright HoYoverse
