Breath of the Waifu: Genshin Impact is a Worthy Cousin to Breath of the Wild
Genshin Impact is a recent entry into the mobile game and console market available for Windows, PS4, iOS, and Android. Created by miHoYo it is a free-to-play action RPG with gatcha mechanics; random generation of items and playable characters purchased through in-game currency which can be earned both in-game or acquired by using real-world money. It is a beautifully animated game of rolling landscapes, sprawling towns, and of course beautiful husbandos and waifus.
The question that arises: should you invest time (and possibly money) into it? The simple answer is if you like action RPGs, then this is worth the play, especially if you lament the pickings in the mobile gaming market. As for investing money, it is not required to enjoy the game but you have the option. For more details, read further but beware of spoilers for the opening of the game and mechanics. For reference, I am playing this on the Android OS and a Pixel 4a.
The story begins with a cut scene of twins, a boy and a girl. They have been dimension hopping and get trapped by a god in the dimension they are occupying. In the middle of the cut scene, you are asked to choose one of the twins and to give them a name. This twin will be your main character and the other twin will be captured.
After that, the game skips forward a few years and you find your character hanging with a floating fairy-like creature named Paimon who acts like Navi from Ocarina of Time but without asking you to listen all the time. After traveling a bit to get used to the mechanics you get dragged into defending a city from a dragon attack and your adventure truly begins.
In terms of gameplay, let us address the Divine Beast in the room and state that yes this game has a ton in common with the 2017 smash hit for the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Perhaps the biggest similarity mechanics-wise is the inclusion of a stamina meter which dictates the physical abilities of the characters including how long they can sprint, how high they can climb without a break, and what moves are available in combat.
Other similarities include a lush and varied open landscape to explore; a gliding ability to traverse large gaps and attack enemies from above; a map which is revealed as the character activates certain landmarks, and a foraging and cooking system which turns raw ingredients found in your travels into consumable items for use.
While there are a number of similarities, Genshin Impact does feel and play like its own game. One of the main differences is that the main character is not alone. Beyond Paimon, at any given time, you can have a team of up to 4 characters to accompany you on your journey. Each character is aligned with one of the seven elements in the game (ex: fire, water, electricity) and has a set weapon style (ex: longsword, archer, spellcaster).
The various combinations allow for a huge amount of variety and while you only control directly one character at a time switching is quick and intuitive. You acquire these characters through both story events and through the gatcha mechanic, called wishes. Wishes convert certain in-game currency into a random drop of items and new characters. You can make these wishes one at a time or in bulk for a slightly better chance for rare and power draws. However, the game is relatively fair in that using real-world money is not necessary to play but the option is there.
Despite the similarities, Genshin Impact does not feel like a simple clone of Breath of the Wild made for a quick buck (though if you are going to take inspiration a hit like Breath of the Wild is not a bad choice). The unique mechanics clearly separate the two games and the whole game is beautifully executed, especially on a mobile platform. The game is fair and the pay-to-play elements always feel like an option rather than a requirement. If you have space and the time, check out Genshin Impact and have fun exploring.
