Honkai: Star Rail is much more than a simple meeting of waifus because behind its heroines with impossible physiques hides one of the most frenetic and refined turn-based combat systems in recent years. The action in this game is so dense, modular and articulated that at times it seems like you have an action game in your hands because it is rare that, even during the enemy's turns, you find yourself inactive.
Developed by HoYoVerso, Honkai Star Rail is a close relative of Genshin Impact in visual style, writing, and monetization, but it differs in two key factors: the sci-fi setting and the open linear structure of its levels that abandons the open world of its older brother. Players take on the role of a character with no memory at the center of an interplanetary conspiracy that pits humanity against ancient deities, all while traveling on an interstellar train.
In this Honkai: Star Rail review We'll tell you all the fun that awaits you in this game's anime-inspired combat and the dangers hidden behind its monetization model. Like Genshin Impact, in fact, the game is free, but to unlock most of the available characters (the heart and soul of Honkai Star Rail) you will have to deal with a gatcha system, that is, prize boxes with very low probability of getting what you want, which then pushes you to spend money to get what you want.
It's not a simple story
When Genshin Impact came out, many complained that there was too much dialogue dedicated to building the game.narrative universe and the tsunamis of difficult-to-process information that came to players in the game's first hours. Honkai: Star Rail does it better, but not by much. Especially in the first three hours of the game, many terms are introduced that explain the technologies and deities of this universe, but they confuse and frustrate because they seem completely disconnected from what is happening. In fact, after a very brief introductory phase, the Trailblazer (the character that represents the player as the Traveler of Genshin) awakens on a space station under attack. Monsters reminiscent of Eva from Evangelion want to kill us, but the cast of characters who will later accompany us on future adventures are there to help us.
If we were to summarize the Honkai story: Star Rail Until now we could do it like this: the ancestral divinities of this universe created the Stellarons, seeds of prosperity and growth that then corrupt and destroy the planets that accepted them. The Trailblazer has one implanted inside him and therefore decides to join the crew of the Astral Express (the space train) to help them on their expeditions that often have to do with these destructive divine gifts. After saving the space station from invasion, you will set out for Jarilo IV, one of the two planets available for launch, which is facing a dangerous crisis dictated by the negative effects of its Stellaron. The planet slowly freezes and the last bastion of humanity remains standing only thanks to the menial work of those in the basement who keep the heat and lights on. We're not quite at Final Fantasy 7 levels in terms of class warfare, but we're close. The narrative arc on this frozen planet is emblematic of the entire Star Rail experience: don't expect omnipotent heroes to come and solve problems, the stories of this universe are matters of compromise, somewhere between maintaining the status quo and preventing a planetary catastrophe. . We won't reveal anything about the second planet you can visit because it's easily the best setting in the game so far and, like Genshin, we already know that new destinations for the Astral Express are being developed.
star combat
Where Honkai: Star Rail manages to stand out and surpass not only Genshin Impact, but also most big-budget video games, is in its combat system. The anime style of the graphics, the exaggerated costumes of the protagonists and the playful but dramatic atmosphere of the story blend perfectly when you have to defeat the enemies. On a visual level, the best thing is the animated intros of the strongest abilities, the ultimate ones, and here you can really see everything. From a possessed deadly scythe to a giant chicken, to a dream dimension and an orbital beam that crashes into enemies. In addition to this special ability that charges over time, each hero has a basic attack, a powerful attack (which consumes an action point), and a passive ability. By performing a basic attack you can gain an action point and all characters (friends and enemies) will move in a pre-established order. The latter, however, can be activated at any time, interrupting the flow of turns, to surprise opponents.
Each opponent in Honkai: Star Rail has two bars on their head: a red one that indicates their health points and a white one that relates to their stamina. When the latter is consumed, the enemy enters a stunned state, his actions are delayed and he suffers more damage when attacked. There is seven elements In this game each one corresponds to a color, and each character is the owner of one of them. Each enemy has highlighted above their health bar which elements they are vulnerable to, so having a balanced team is essential. There are offensive characters and support specialists who protect their teammates. Ideally, you should only use one, maximum two basic attacks per turn, using special and ultimate moves the rest of the time. There are characters who can get extra turns under certain conditions and others who add auto attacks when particular combinations of damage are dealt.
In many of the battles found while exploring the linear levels it is possible to ignore the rock-scissors-paper mechanics that elemental attacks require, but in boss battles it is essential to have specialized equipment, capable of quickly eroding the bar. player's resistance. enemy attacking his weaknesses. There's an auto-battle feature for smaller battles and an intricate system of items like Cones of Light, Relics, and Traces to level up each character. These resources can only be collected to a certain point, as the game has blocked progression on multiple occasions, forcing raise our level before you can face a boss. Star Rail's combat, however, is so satisfying that it's almost never boring to go back and face the same group of enemies to acquire the resources necessary to level up.
Problematic monetization
Lately more and more studies and regulations believe that Reward boxes are a mental health hazard. of those who play. The risk of leading to addiction is real and should never be underestimated. In Honkai: Star Rail it is possible to get some tokens to try your luck simply by playing, but the progression blocks imposed by the game design and the very low chances of obtaining a new character will lead fans to spend real money. Over the course of our 20 hours with Star Rail, we earned around 60 prize chest tickets as rewards for playing. After spending all of them we only got one new character, and not even of maximum rarity (five stars).
What's most annoying is the unnecessarily complicated coin system (there are more than seven) and the daily repeatability limits for activities that give more in-game coins and resources to upgrade your character. However, the moment you decide to invest real money, everything becomes simpler and more direct and waiting periods are eliminated. The set of free characters you get as you play are fun, relatively strong, varied, and will provide some really fun anime magic-filled combat. The title, however, wants you to interact with the store, so it will give you a taste of some character battles that can only be obtained in prize chests, and it's clear that some are decidedly stronger than others. The "problem", if we can define it that way, is that each of the characters in Honkai: Star Rail is really well done. His moveset is unique, as is his aesthetic, and balancing each other's strengths and weaknesses in the toughest fights is a fun challenge that never tires. If this game were a full-price product where characters are unlocked over time or by completing challenges or side quests, it would be an excellent, long-lasting title and one of the best and most creative RPGs in recent years.
Conclusions
Tested version PC with Windows digital delivery playstation store, Xbox Store, app store, Google Play Holygamerz.com 7.0 Readers (26) 7.9 your voteHonkai: Star Rail is a game whose merits are clear. In addition to a cast of very attractive male and female characters, it has a well-written story that leaves a lot of room for future expansions and one of the most dynamic and fun turn-based combat systems in recent years. The graphic style will hypnotize anime lovers and the soundtrack is as epic as it is balanced to very well underline the most tense and fun moments. The narrative manages not to cause anxiety despite addressing issues such as social inequality and not to cause rainbow overdoses when you have to interact with the sweetest characters. Some dialogue could be shorter and some explanations a little less vague, but overall Star Rail is a well-made game with a lot of potential. All these good qualities, unfortunately, collide with its monetization system that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The characters have been lovingly crafted, each with their own unique and captivating aesthetic and personality, and seeing them trapped behind a lottery that requires dozens of hours of work or real money is a real shame. The title seems almost incomplete in the hands of those who play, especially when the narrative content ends and only the routine of obtaining the prize chests and the hope of unlocking five-star objects or characters remains.
PRO
- Frantic combat, beautiful to look at and not boring at all.
- Scenarios, history and music in a professional manner.
- Unique and very different characters.
AGAINST
- Gacha monetization that prevents you from fully enjoying the experience
- Dialogues and explanations really too long and complex at some points.
- Not available in Spanish
