Honkai Impact 3rd game review
Now everyone is hearing about the extremely popular free-to-play gachas from Chinese studio miHoYo (aka HoYoverse) - we're talking about Honkai Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero and, of course, Genshin Impact. But they all grew out of Honkai Impact 3rd, which was released back in 2016 in China, and 2 years later made its way to Europe and America. We tell you in our review why it still remains popular and has a cult status.
About the world and the plot
Actually, the answer to the question posed as to why Honkai Impact 3rd remains popular is simple - it's all about the story and characters. Many of the characters in this game are from Houkai Gakuen 2, the previous miHoYo game, but the new story is much more powerful, and the gameplay of Honkai Impact 3rd laid the foundations that were later developed in Genshin Impact and other projects of the studio.
Although, just in relation to the story, there is no need to talk about development. In Genshin, on the contrary, it's much simpler - no, there are some extremely dramatic moments there too, but already in the later stages. But in Honkai Impact 3rd we are plunged into drama and tragedy from the very first minutes, which, as is often the case in anime, is hidden behind a beautiful facade of cute girls in frivolous costumes.
Although, just in relation to the story, there is no need to talk about development. In Genshin, on the contrary, it's much simpler - no, there are some extremely dramatic moments there too, but already in the later stages. But in Honkai Impact 3rd we are plunged into drama and tragedy from the very first minutes, which, as is often the case in anime, is hidden behind a beautiful facade of cute girls in frivolous costumes.
Immediately it turns out that these girls have a very important and dangerous role - they are Valkyries, specially trained warriors, who in an alternative version of Earth oppose a destructive global force called Honkai. This force periodically destroys overdeveloped civilizations and entire planets, and its guide are the so-called Judges (or Rulers) - these are abnormally strong and especially gifted people, distorted by Honkai.
The problem is that the girls became Valkyries as a result of rather dangerous experiments, and many of those whom they consider their "aunts" and "mothers" from among the leaders of Shikzal (this is a peacekeeping organization in which our heroines serve), personally arranged these experiments - of course, for the most good purposes. But as a result, many of the girls have health problems, including mental health problems.
The problem is that the girls became Valkyries as a result of rather dangerous experiments, and many of those whom they consider their "aunts" and "mothers" from among the leaders of Shikzal (this is a peacekeeping organization in which our heroines serve), personally arranged these experiments - of course, for the most good purposes. But as a result, many of the girls have health problems, including mental health problems.
Moreover, as a result of these experiments and other factors (e.g., the effect on the mind), Valkyries can periodically lose control of themselves and turn into Judges themselves, killing millions. And then, when sanity returns, are forced to live with that weight in their souls. As a result, the plot immediately turns into a dark, painful and tear-filled tale of suffering, self-sacrifice, depression, but also of hope, friendship and the desire to win at all costs. Plus a lot is tied up in the intrigue and relationships between the factions trying to fight the Honkai - or manipulate that power.
Like Game of Thrones, characters you've grown attached to can die or become enemies. Or here's another example - in one of the first chapters there is a girl in a wheelchair who was chosen to be the vessel for one of the stones containing the power of the Judges. Because of this she became an invalid, but she herself agreed to sacrifice her health for this seemingly good cause. A couple of scenes later, she loses control of herself with cries of "I hate you!", turns into one of the Judges and throws herself at the rest of the Valkyries.
Like Game of Thrones, characters you've grown attached to can die or become enemies. Or here's another example - in one of the first chapters there is a girl in a wheelchair who was chosen to be the vessel for one of the stones containing the power of the Judges. Because of this she became an invalid, but she herself agreed to sacrifice her health for this seemingly good cause. A couple of scenes later, she loses control of herself with cries of "I hate you!", turns into one of the Judges and throws herself at the rest of the Valkyries.
And these are just the first chapters of the storyline, and there are dozens of them in total. Plus there are separate chronicles devoted to personal stories of some heroines. As a result, if you watch clips and cut-scenes from the game, you get a gorgeous, exciting and very dramatic anime series at the level of the best representatives of the genre - in part, it can even be compared to "Evangelion". It is possible that someday the game will be made into a full-fledged anime, but for now there is a mini-series "Cooking with Valkyries" and a few episodes of manga, which you can read right in the game - by the way, in terms of drama it sometimes gives the game script a boost.
About the game modes
All these chapters and scenarios we go through in story mode according to approximately the same scheme: we choose a squad of three Valkyries, fight in closed arenas with crowds of enemies, and in the breaks we listen to dialogs and watch cut-scenes. If you win, you move on to the next chapter. But in Honkai Impact 3rd there are many other modes, some of which, however, are opened only after reaching the required level of the player ("captain level").
And first of all, we must talk about the open world game. Yes, it's not the main mode here, unlike the same Genshin Impact, and in general it's not so coolly developed, but still it's interesting to play, and most importantly useful. There are several worlds to choose from - more precisely, large open maps, on which we are free to run freely. Each map is dedicated to a different theme: there is a typical feudal area, a futuristic one (Shiksal Headquarters) and two post-apocalyptic ones. Here we run around, explore the area, including with the help of a cat hook and a personal helicopter, collect resources and fight common enemies and bosses.
We also complete story missions. Each world has a different scenario. For example, the Shiksala headquarters shows how the leaders of the organization work with the Valkyries. There are also additional quests and errands focused on battles and resource gathering. The open worlds are not as rich as in Genshin Impact, there are not so many points of interest, a lot of more or less peaceful citizens with tasks behind their backs, but still here you can unwind after corridor locations in the story mode, learn new interesting stories and get useful rewards.
We also complete story missions. Each world has a different scenario. For example, the Shiksala headquarters shows how the leaders of the organization work with the Valkyries. There are also additional quests and errands focused on battles and resource gathering. The open worlds are not as rich as in Genshin Impact, there are not so many points of interest, a lot of more or less peaceful citizens with tasks behind their backs, but still here you can unwind after corridor locations in the story mode, learn new interesting stories and get useful rewards.
Also in Honkai Impact 3rd a large number of all kinds of trials, where we fight particularly strong opponents and bosses. Somewhere it's just one battle to get certain materials and resources. Somewhere - a whole series of battles, when we pass stage by stage or floor by floor. Everywhere there are its own nuances and conditions - for example, you will be offered to kill a boss in the allotted time or told that after the first battle you must necessarily change the composition of the squad.
In Realms Of Battle mode you have to choose separate thematic missions on the map with these or those conditions (there are eight such missions in total), and then you get the opportunity to fight the final boss. And the mode "Kingdom of Elysian" reminds partly of a roguelike, where we unlock new abilities as we pass different stages, while playing only one girl - by the way, there is also a separate story, which is presented in the format of a visual novel.
In Realms Of Battle mode you have to choose separate thematic missions on the map with these or those conditions (there are eight such missions in total), and then you get the opportunity to fight the final boss. And the mode "Kingdom of Elysian" reminds partly of a roguelike, where we unlock new abilities as we pass different stages, while playing only one girl - by the way, there is also a separate story, which is presented in the format of a visual novel.
Endgame content is mainly concentrated in the Abyss trials - by passing the floors (there are 10 of them, and every 3 days they are updated), we increase our rank, which determines the difficulty of enemies and the steepness of rewards. The difficulty in the "Abyss" is already high, but here you can earn especially valuable crystals. There is also the "Memorial Arena", where you can choose which bosses to fight.
The online component is represented in Honkai Impact 3rd by co-op and guilds. In cooperative mode players together go through small dungeons and get rewards - it is especially useful for beginners, because it is more fun and effective to solve and help each other together.
The online component is represented in Honkai Impact 3rd by co-op and guilds. In cooperative mode players together go through small dungeons and get rewards - it is especially useful for beginners, because it is more fun and effective to solve and help each other together.
You are also allowed to create or join a guild (here they are called armadas) to receive bonuses and participate in various activities. For example, you can fight bosses for a while, trying to beat the rating of other players.
But that's not all there is to it. Honkai Impact 3rd in general is surprisingly rich in all sorts of activities and challenges. Some of them take place in the format of funny mini-games or allow you to test yourself in different genres - for example, in platformer, bullet hell or even in battles between robots. By the way, we are free to make our own "mechs" and then we can keep them in our garage. And in the dormitory mode we interact with chibi versions of our Valkyries, send them to stores and expeditions, pump them up and get different rewards.
But that's not all there is to it. Honkai Impact 3rd in general is surprisingly rich in all sorts of activities and challenges. Some of them take place in the format of funny mini-games or allow you to test yourself in different genres - for example, in platformer, bullet hell or even in battles between robots. By the way, we are free to make our own "mechs" and then we can keep them in our garage. And in the dormitory mode we interact with chibi versions of our Valkyries, send them to stores and expeditions, pump them up and get different rewards.
About characters and gacha
But, of course, the main thing that people come to such games for is the characters themselves and the opportunity to beat the heroine or hero (which happens much less often) in the local roulette (i.e. gacha). Honkai Impact 3rd has a lot of bright, pretty Valkyries of different ranks, fighting styles and specializations. More precisely, their specializations and peculiarities depend on the battle costume worn. Each has many of them, and all of them give different skills and sometimes even fighting styles. For example, Kiana, essentially the main character of the game, has one form focused on close combat and the other on ranged combat.
In addition to costumes, the chosen skills, weapons, and stigmata - these are special artifacts with various passive bonuses - are also important. All of these can and should be pumped for all sorts of resources. If they are not enough, the game quickly and conveniently prompts you where to get the missing materials. But directly in battles, and when pumping, and when creating a squad better still do not mindlessly press the buttons, and focus on the fact that between the Valkyries should be a suitable synergy, which gives an additional advantage.
In addition to costumes, the chosen skills, weapons, and stigmata - these are special artifacts with various passive bonuses - are also important. All of these can and should be pumped for all sorts of resources. If they are not enough, the game quickly and conveniently prompts you where to get the missing materials. But directly in battles, and when pumping, and when creating a squad better still do not mindlessly press the buttons, and focus on the fact that between the Valkyries should be a suitable synergy, which gives an additional advantage.
Of course, among the characters there are more powerful and rare SSS-ranks, there are weaker ones. And many people spend their blood money to make as many spins in the local gacha as possible, trying to knock out a rare character. After all, the gacha in Honkai Impact 3rd works on the same principles as in all other miHoYo games - the more attempts you spend on a certain banner, the higher the chance of getting the desired character. If 99 times you were chased by failure, then on the hundredth time you are guaranteed to get it. In any case, you will earn materials and resources. The same principles are used to knock out weapons, for which there are separate banners.
But rare crystals and other resources necessary for gachi can be earned and just playing the game. After all, here, as in all such projects, we are flooded with tasks, tests, achievements and different variants of battle passes with their assignments, for which they give a bunch of free rewards. True, so, naturally, it will be longer.
But rare crystals and other resources necessary for gachi can be earned and just playing the game. After all, here, as in all such projects, we are flooded with tasks, tests, achievements and different variants of battle passes with their assignments, for which they give a bunch of free rewards. True, so, naturally, it will be longer.
Conclusion
In fact, spending time on Honkai Impact 3rd is not a pity. Yes, on the background of Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero the open world looks less developed and diverse, and battles are more chaotic. But it was the Honkai Impact 3rd combat system that formed the basis for the battles in ZZZ - here you need to switch between characters in real time and activate their special skills. And it still looks very spectacular. And as for the story and artwork, Honkai Impact 3rd is still out of competition. So it's never too late or too bad to get acquainted with it and learn more about the characters that periodically appear in all miHoYo games (because they share the same universe).
Zarium. August 2024
Zarium. August 2024