Set off on an astral adventure
Honkai: Star Rail is a free-to-play strategy game from miHoYo. As the fourth installment of the globally popular Honkai series, it features a mix of old and new characters from other games such as Honkai Impact 3. However, it focuses on a 3D tactical role-playing approach, allowing you to build teams and fight monsters and other creatures.
As the latest miHoYo title, Honkai: Star Rail definitely meets expectations. It has top-tier graphics comparable to Genshin Impact, a familiar roster of characters from the Honkai series, plus a turn-based fighting mechanic all make it a title to watch out for.
Hop on the Star Rail
Like other Honkai entries, this game takes place in another universe, with the same ultimate destructive force serving as the main antagonist. However, the premise for this game combines sci-fi and fantasy elements, as seen in the set and character designs. The titular Star Rail is an interstellar transport system the players will be using to advance to new worlds as they progress through the story.
As mentioned, it has top-tier graphics that allow its roster of characters to individually stand out. Players can build a team of up to four characters, then explore open worlds and dungeons to farm for resources and advance the story. Also, its turn-based strategy approach allows you to combine different character abilities for special combos, revealing additional animation and voice lines.
Also, like most gacha games, expect free-to-play players to be left at a disadvantage compared to those who make in-game microtransactions. Instead of grinding repeatedly, they can simply purchase the resources needed to roll characters. Still, all these things depend on luck as rolling characters or items are based on randomized events. Meanwhile, it allows you to pick your poison: hours of grinding or investing real-world money.
Hunt down enemies
With a handy enemy-tracking tool, players can easily keep an eye on opponents anywhere on the map. This will allow you to either avoid any sudden battles or look for specific enemies in order to collect materials that will help you level up your characters and their Light Cones. Players will now also be able to communicate with friends in the chat function. Previously, this feature was only used to communicate with the in-game characters.
With new companion missions for characters like Silver Wolf, Luocha, Yanqing, and Bailu. Honkai Star Rail also has its own version of rate-up banners where players can obtain limited-edition characters within a certain period of time. There’s also a dedicated banner for you to obtain special Light Cones, which are cards that you can equip your characters with in order to boost their base stats.
A new journey in version 3.7
The launch of Honkai Star Rail’s Version 3.7 introduces a new Trailblaze mission, As Tomorrow Became Yesterday, the nineteenth Trailblaze Mission chapter, set in the world of Amphoreus. It requires the completion of the Gods, Sound of the Anthem mission, but can be played in advance through the Finality’s Vision: Leap of Trailblaze function, regardless of completing the mission’s prerequisites.
The update introduces Cyrene, a 5-star character who can provide buffs to Chrysos Heir allies and can also activate the Ultimates of all allies. Players can also get the 5-star Light Cone, “This Love, Forever,” and 4-star Light Cone “Fly Into a Pink Tomorrow” to add to their equipment. There are also some cool outfits and apparel that you can obtain by joining the events.
Trailblazers can also dive into an all-new game mode called Currency Wars: Zero-Sum Game, where you can get a chance to receive some neat rewards, although a Trailblaze Level of 21 is required to participate. To add to this, the events in this major update also drop some useful in-game items, so don’t forget to participate. Other minor updates include various bug fixes, as well as improvements to combat, visuals, and audio.
A more strategic miHoYo game
Compared to its predecessors, which mostly rely on skillful play and fast reflexes, Honkai: Star Rail focuses more on strategizing and planning to win battles. Its turn-based strategy approach instead of real-time action combat systems offers players a more relaxing gameplay alternative. With a premise of its own, all while borrowing characters from previous installments, the developers manage to create an equally enjoyable game as their other titles.
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