2023: My Year with Genshin Impact
If I could go back in time one year and tell my past self that I am a Genshin Impact Guy now, he would have laughed me back into my time machine. Fuck. I was only half joking when I made the tweet below, but I had no way of knowing just how deep into Genshin Impact I would get!
I blogged about Zelda "breaking a curse" in June, but all it did was act as the distance between myself and Genshin that made the heart grow fonder. My Genshin "Days Active" is sitting at 269/365, which is a lot of time. The Genshin hour count displayed on my PS5 has now surpassed my favourite game of all time: Bloodborne. And while the greater hour count doesn't necessarily mean the greater game, Genshin has certainly made it onto my list of favourite games of all time.
Something about the elemental reaction combat really clicks with me, and I really enjoy building teams and seeing how all their various elemental skills and bursts can synergise with each other. The systems that govern the combat and exploration are easily understood but have a high skill ceiling for tinkering and refining. Of course there are people online that have "solved" it, but I try to avoid those topics so I can work it out at my own pace (slowly haha).
As of right now, I am still not caught up on the main quest of the game, but I have finished the main Sumeru arc (Chapter III) and have just begun the journey to Fontaine (Chapter IV). I must admit I'm still buttoning through most of the story, but there are certain moments that have grabbed my attention; specifically any moment when Raiden Shogun, Kamisato Ayato, Kaedehara Kazuha, or Nahida are on screen. The stories surrounding those characters are exceptionally portrayed by their voice actors.
I'm not really a big anime guy, but the art style on display is fantastic. Everything has such a cohesive design and feel, from the item artwork to the OST. It's a feast for the eyes and ears. 10/10 no notes.
During these Christmas holidays I have been prepping for my next pull: Raiden Shogun aka Ei. This will be the third time her banner has rolled around while I've been playing, and this time I am not missing out. I have about 50 wishes saved up, and my next 5-star pull is guaranteed. I've been farming all of her character ascension material and have everything I need to get her straight to level 90 as soon as she drops. I've even been gathering items for her signature weapon: Engulfing Lightning, on the off-chance I also happen to get it. I am so ready!
The elephant in the room is the Gacha aspect. Yes, I've spent a good chunk of change on Genshin which includes Welkin, Gnostic Hymns, a few Genesis Crystal top ups when I really want a new character. But it's also extremely generous at doling out Primogems whether it be through quests, exploration, or events. For someone like me with a bit of disposable income to throw at a game I genuinely enjoy, it's a no brainer. But I also understand it can be predatory for players that lack self control.
Genshin Impact works at any speed. I have many spent nights diving deep into skill rotations, and seeing how I might develop characters to unlock their potential. I have also spent many more nights just throwing on my favourite podcast while exploring the vast world of Teyvat. It's so easy to roam around the open world and find unfinished puzzles or unopened treasure chests. It's a game of checklists that are seemingly unending, however I've also explored 100% of Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma which is extremely satisfying for me.
In fact that's exactly how I would sum up Genshin Impact in one word: Satisfying.