GamesOpen WorldGenshin ImpactIt’s taken 4 years and roughly $900 million, but Genshin Impact is a better open-world RPG than ever after update 5.0When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesOpen WorldGenshin ImpactIt’s taken 4 years and roughly $900 million, but Genshin Impact is a better open-world RPG than ever after update 5.0When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
More than more of the same
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
If you’ll accompany me back to 2020 for a minute, you’ll find that Genshin Impact was, not entirely undeservedly, called a knockoff of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game has always been more than that, and has becomea lotmore in the past four years, but Breath of the Wild and now Tears of the Kingdom are useful comparisons here. Breath of the Wild is fun to explore in part because it regularly shows you smoke and lets you find the fire for yourself. You notice something strange or out of place – misaligned stones, a circle of trees, a platoon of enemies, oddly detailed ruins – and follow it to a Korok or a chest or a cool weapon or even a permanent upgrade for Link. This trains you to be curious and observant, and the game rewards you for following your gut.
A better open-world experience
(Image credit: HoYoverse)
Thankfully, this is less true in Natlan, which is much more inventive and subtle about how it creates and places hundreds of little discoveries. How do you connect these gizmos? Where will you find the missing piece to this puzzle? What is this graffiti trying to tell you about your surroundings? Likewise, the Saurian abilities unlock new possibilities and even enable some sequence-breaking. My favorite cluster of discoveries is probably the new batch of Local Legends, souped-up bosses with combat challenges that unlock a special cosmetic name card. Finding and mastering all of these bosses is one of the most rewarding and motivating challenges in Genshin. It helps that a higher world level, which is basically a harder difficulty, was released with Natlan, meaning open-world enemies don’t just instantly fall over anymore. Combat, like exploration, is more satisfying with a little more bite.
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On a kinetic level, it’s more fun to move through the world, especially if you have either of the new 5-star characters, Mualani and Kinich, who can surf and soar in a way that echoes and often beats the aforementioned dino suits. And experientially, Natlan is just a more thoughtful and engaging open-world game. There is more to find and it isharderto find because exploration requires more input from you. To put that into context, I’m at 97% completion for this first chunk of Natlan and already hungry for the next area.
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CATEGORIES
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”