Final Week, HoYoverse dropped the newest chapter of the Amphoreus storyline within the turn-based motion RPG Honkai: Star Rail. Titled “For the Solar is Set to Die”, the replace picked up the place we left off with the final of the Chrysos Heirs, Phainon, resolved to satisfy his destiny whereas additionally holding out hope that the Trailblazer might need one thing up their sleeve.
After all, the Anonymous aren’t ones to stroll away when a world wants assist. That’s to not say they’ve a plan. However winging it’s their specialty. And that’s the place we are available in originally of the newest replace.
We got an opportunity to spend a while with this new content material earlier than it formally dropped on July 2. After all, being me, I selected to spend that point with the sport’s story. I used to be given entry to a full roster of max-level characters to play with, and put collectively a workforce of characters that appealed to me. In relation to organising my roster, I’m not the min-maxing kind. I select my workforce primarily based on which characters I like spending time with. That stated, on this case, I merely examined a few of the characters out to see what their skills regarded like.
The factor is, as I commented on in an earlier put up, the Amphoreus storyline appears to have much less fight than any of the sport’s earlier zones. So, except I wished to veer away from the principle questline to struggle some issues, there wasn’t plenty of want to make use of my new workforce. As well as, parts of the story solely allowed you to make use of Phainon in fight.
I’ll admit that he has some cool traits. Our “final man standing” has some very highly effective and damaging skills, which is suitable as he does comply with the trail of Destruction. And the trial he goes by means of on this new replace fleshes him out in a method that he wasn’t earlier than. Sure, he’s nonetheless the man who has taken it upon himself to hold the world. However now we all know why and what harm that call has induced.
I’m not going to enter nice element on the story itself, because the replace has solely been out for per week, and I perceive not everybody can get to it that shortly. I’m positively not right here to spoil it for you.
That stated, in case you haven’t been taking part in Honkai: Star Rail, one of many issues you must find out about it’s that HoYoverse actually enjoys having plenty of completely different story threads to drag at, and they’re going to take their time with it. Usually, there shall be B and C (and perhaps even D) plots occurring, and we’ll spend a little bit of time with the characters concerned earlier than coming again to the principle storyline. However when that occurs, we will simply stroll away with extra questions than solutions.
I imply, we spent a very long time questioning what was occurring with March 7 as she slumbered in ice. We noticed a little bit of what was occurring with Welt, Sunday, and The Herta as they tried to find the supply of this drawback. But it surely wasn’t till now that we actually received some solutions to these issues, when the whole lot is lastly coming collectively. And but, we’re nonetheless left with questions.
Within the meantime, we’re shifting between the assorted tales of the Chrysos Heirs, studying about their histories and their fates, in addition to the predetermined destiny of their world. And being Trailblazers, we will’t assist however attempt to put destiny as a replacement. There’s loads occurring, and it’s attracted the eye of a couple of Aeon.
The narrative does a wonderful job of letting us know issues are occurring with out letting us know precisely what’s occurring till the exact second we’re imagined to know. It may be just a little irritating, however within the “I wish to know!” method reasonably than feeling baited by the writers.
Furthermore, the whole lot that we’ve been seeing in Honkai: Star Rail’s Amphoreus storyline proves that HoYo was critical about creating a whole HoYoverse with (most) of its sport worlds tied collectively not directly. (Zenless Zone Zero doesn’t appear to be a part of that plan.)
Whereas arrange as a Greek-esque tragedy (And make no mistake, it’s a tragedy of epic proportions), Amphoreus’ story parallels what’s been occurring in Teyvat in Genshin Influence. Each worlds exist beneath a pretend sky. Each have larger beings exercising authority over the mortals that reside on these worlds, even stopping them from making an attempt to go away. Each have secrets and techniques that even god-like beings with “authority” over the mortals appear to not have grasped. For each, the world appears to be a knowledge assemble.
After all, there are the tie-ins to Honkai Influence third which were there for the reason that starting as properly. Welt Yang is probably the most direct, having come from that universe. However as we work our method by means of Amphoreus, one other huge affiliation crops up, with much more parallels.
I’d been interested in Welt’s historical past for some time now, not having performed the primary sport. So I’d determined to obtain it and play for Welt’s story. However Amphoreus and the journey of the Chrysos Heirs have made me much more interested in the remainder of the sport’s story and its characters. For me, that’s a real signal of a thought-out universe, and one I’m glad to spend time in. It’s in all probability why I’ve spent the final a number of updates – this one included – as much as the wee hours of the morning, solely to get to the “to be continued” display and stumble off to mattress barely pissed off by not having realized extra.
The one factor that I can say that comes wherever near being a grievance is simply that, for me personally, I’d wish to see a bit extra fight. I don’t thoughts a visible novel model. And I’m truthfully grateful that HoYo determined to permit us to AFK grind a few of the supplies we want for leveling. However my workforce would nonetheless be glad to see a bit extra in-story motion. Then once more, maybe it is smart because the Trailblazer and Dan Heng have been the one Anonymous on Amphoreus this complete time.
After all, the model replace did not simply include new foremost story content material. All HoYo updates come full of aspect content material, new playable characters, and the like. This replace can also be the lead-in to the Destiny/keep evening crossover, which can introduce two new playable characters from that universe and provides us a motive to spend extra time in Penacony. Some new variations of enjoyable mini-game occasions are additionally again.
As it may be a bit troublesome to maintain monitor of all aspect occasions in video games, I usually keep on with those which have story content material. However I do know some individuals are actually right here for the problem, and can get pleasure from finishing these as properly.
Oh. And on a further notice, it is so good to have Nicholas Leung again to voice Dan Heng. We actually missed you.
