Summary
Honkai: Star RailandGenshin Impactare practically two peas in a pod.Genshin Impacthas paved the way for the success of other HoYoverse IPs, such as the newly releasedZenless Zone Zero. Although it may serve as a blueprint for success in some areas,Honkai: Star Railcan’t afford to follow in the footsteps ofGenshin Impact’s world design.
Despite their many similarities,Honkai: Star RailandGenshin Impactface some wildly different problems. Both games share a shell, with similar design philosophies guided by their joint status as live service gacha games, but it’s what’s housed inside that shell that requires two entirely different approaches.Genshinis a fantasy adventure around the world, whileStar Railis a sci-fi journey across the universe.
Honkai: Star Rail Can’t Afford to Copy Genshin Impact’s World Design
Genshin Impact Takes Players on an Adventure through Teyvat
Genshin Impacttakes place in the world of Teyvat, which is divided among seven major regions. Each region serves as an expansion to the game that comes packed with a new story to unravel and new characters to interact with. This model has proven effective forGenshin Impact’s success, and it’s one thatHonkai: Star Railhas roughly replicated with its planets. However, there is still one factor that completely separates the sister series on every level, and necessitates a change in approach to world design in particular.
ThoughGenshin Impact’s character designhas some catching up to do, the game is very much an international journey first and foremost. This intent permeates nearly every aspect of the game’s design, and is especially apparent within the game’s world design. WhileHonkai: Star Railmay seemingly share similar roots, even some of the same characters, the game’s intent is entirely different. WhileHonkai: Star Railmay be a grand journey in its own right, the destination it sets reaches far beyond the stars.
Honkai: Star Rail Can’t Always Reflect the Real World
Genshin Impact’s setting wasn’t invented out of thin air. Instead, the nations of Teyvat each take inspiration from a litany of real locations in the real world. This is meant to provide a degree of authenticity to the journey players go on inGenshin Impact, and this effort has succeeded for the most part. Despite this success, it is a formula thatHonkai: Star Railcannot keep pace with for much longer.
Every genre comes with certain expectations, and the sci-fi genre sets expectations forHonkai: Star Railthat are dramatically different fromGenshin Impact.Genshin Impactis a globe-trotting fantasy odyssey, and it definitely provides that appropriate sense of wonder. Likewise, sci-fi opens endless possibilities for character and world design, possibilities thatHonkai: Star Railhas yet to fully explore.
Most ofHonkai: Star Rail’s storytakes place on planets that don’t stretch the imagination very far. Of course, this is only true for the time being, and has every possibility of being upended by future updates. However, it’s worth recognizing the mild disappointment that comes withHonkai: Star Rail’s planets resembling real world cultures and locations. The Xianzhou Luofu is inspired by Chinese myths surrounding immortality, and as cool as that location was, it wasn’t a place you couldn’t potentially see in any other HoYoverse game.
This issue isn’t restricted to a single location. Penacony has embraced plenty of sci-fi elements, but still bears a striking resemblance to Roaring Twenties America. There’s nothing wrong with taking inspiration, and the game’s regions have been enjoyable so far. It’s simply necessary to admit the pattern that has formed, and change course to prevent future locations from feeling repetitive.Honkai: Star Railhas found plenty of successby following in the footsteps ofGenshin Impact, but world design is one subject where the two must fully diverge.
Honkai: Star Rail
WHERE TO PLAY
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