Free tactical RPG from miHoYo
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.
Relive special events
With the 1.1 update, Honkai Star Rail now offers the Conventional Memoir feature which allows new players to access past events and obtain any special rewards. Take note, though, that Trailblazers who have already participated in these events and obtained all claimable rewards cannot redeem the same prizes a second time. However, you can still freely play the events as many times as you’d like.
In addition to this, players can look forward to a number of events both on the Herta Space Station and in the city of Belobog. Players will be able to act as a curator for the Belobog History and Culture Museum and entice residents to view the unique additions to its collection. Meanwhile, there are a number of special tasks from workers, as well as a game set up by Silver Wolf for you to look forward to back at the space station.
Soon to be available on new platforms
Developer studio miHoYo recently announced the upcoming release of Honkai: Star Rail on a new platform: PlayStation 5. At the same time, a PlayStation 4 version is also under negotiation.
Unravel the secrets of immortality
Honkai Star Rail’s 1.2 update brings forth more adventures for Trailblazers to look forward to. With the addition of two new maps—the Alchemy Commission and Scalegorge Waterscape—players can now unlock even more puzzles, as well as all-new stages for Cavern of Corrosion and Echo of War. These new arenas grant you with new relics and resources to equip your characters with, especially as they ascend to higher levels.
The newly added Echo of War, Divine Seed, will be made available once you’ve completed the continuation to the Trailblaze Mission, “Xianzhou Luofu — A Dragon Gallant, Its Ocean Distant”. You can obtain drop from this stage to level up the new playable characters Blade—who will be made available during Phase 1 of the updates—as well as Kafka and Luka—who will become available during Phase 2.
Following the completion of the already mentioned Trailblaze Mission, players can also unlock a limited-time event where a storyteller wants to learn more about the adventures you’ve overcome in order to retell your story to the people of Starskiff Haven. You’ll also be able to revisit Belobog in order to take part in an exciting treasure hunt where you can earn relics and Stellar Jades.
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.
