“Genshin Could Never – The Game” – This is what Honkai: Star Rail has been dubbed as by the fans and community at large. Most of the people who played Genshin and were jaded by it are now enamored by Honkai Star Rail, and every update seems to bring us that Blessing of Elation (Pun Intended) even more.
Using Honkai top up services to buy Stellar Jades, Oneiric Shards, and more is still recommendable, but this game rewards you with so much free stuff through fun activities that it feels as if it didn’t come from the same company – Hoyoverse.
So, what is it that makes this game so much better than Genshin? Let’s dive into a quick, relatively shallow review of what Honkai Star Rail has to offer to its players, with an in-depth review reserved for a different article.
The Honkai Star Rail Gameplay
Let’s not beat around the bush – the main aspect where Star Rail differs from Genshin and most other gacha games of its type (Wuthering Waves, Tower of Fantasy, etc. ) is in its turn-based gameplay.
It was a surprise when it was revealed to be full-on JRPG-style combat but with some fun twists and turns.
Team-building is still an important aspect of the game, but elemental reactions are gone (good riddance) and thanks to a more limited scope in terms of open-movement and stationary combat, the animations for these Honkai Star Rail characters are simply out of this world.
The Main Honkai Star Rail Characters – Trailblazers
Both the male and female main characters of Honkai Star Rail look much more adult than their Genshin counterparts, but that’s not the only thing where they differ.
Trailblazers are viable all the way through the end-game in Star Rail as competent characters, but they also exude a LOT more personality and fun than the Travelers Lumine and Aether do.
But wait, there’s more – there are actual choices that change the way dialogue plays out, as opposed to Genshin – and since there is no Paimon, the Trailblazers are much more active in conversations. And, to put salt on a wound – there are some cases in side stories where the choices you make can change the outcome of the quest drastically. These are rare and few between, but definitely a welcome sight.
While you can always buy an Honkai Star Rail account with all the Honkai Star Rail characters you want and an already-beaten story to get to that juicy end-game sooner, it’s definitely best to experience the travels of the two goofy Trailblazers.
Honkai Permanent Events and End-Game
One of the best things Honkai Star Rail has done is add permanent events. These are obtained through quests throughout the various parts of the story, and the first one is the “Fight Club” in Belobog, which oozes with personality and charm – and a lot of effort is put into it.
These permanent Events have unique UI and gameplay elements as you’d expect from any other limited Event, but you don’t have a fear of missing out if you don’t do them right away. However, thanks to how much love and effort was put into some of them – Fight Club, Belobog Museum, etc. – it’s hard not to do them the moment you unlock them.
End-game systems are another thing that gets permanently and constantly added to the game. Just recently we got an update to the already robust Simulated Universe with the Gold-And-Gears expansion pack, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
A Great Story Of Honkai Star Rail
While Stelle and Caelus (The Trailblazers/Main Honkai Star Rail Characters) are aloof goofs, the story surrounding them and their companions aboard the Express is anything but that.
Without spoiling too much, the Trailblazer wakes up without knowing who or what they are, realizing they have a Stellaron (Ancient, usually evil entity) inside of them. How it got there or why, and how the Trailblazers can control themselves is unknown – but the mystery of it all is amazing, and it only goes deeper and more serious from there.
This all gains much more context when you play through the first act of the story and realize what the Stellarons can actually do.
That, coupled with morally gray Honkai Star Rail characters, actual stakes in the story, and great writing just comes together in a neat, relatively serious package full of mystery that you just can’t help but want to unravel.
Random Interactions with the Honkai Star Rail World
While the world is obviously much smaller and more limited than in Genshin Impact and similar games, it feels more “alive” and abundant (again – pun intended). Small details and interactable objects with fun dialogue and occasional rewards are scattered all around the world for you to find. Trashcans seem to be of particular interest to the Trailblazers for some reason, and it has become a running gag and meme. The game is most reminiscent of Yakuza games, where they are similarly limited in scope, but much more dense and filled with fun activities than anything else on the market.
Conclusion
Honkai Star Rail is, without a doubt, the best gacha game on the market right now – and probably one of the best ongoing/live-service games and just games in general. It’s a game alright. This is what happens when you put a ton of love and care into something but also respect your player base.
What Honkai did from the start (Adding permanent events, constant new permanent game mods/end-game systems, QoL changes) Genshin is only starting to learn to do now thanks to being called out and overshadowed by Honkai. It’s such an impressive feat to not only compare to but overtake the leading gacha on the market within only a year, no less.
As always, check out the best Honkai Star Rail Shop for the cheapest items, best deals, and great offers!
