Ad Astra Abyssosque, adventurers! From the ruins of Khaenri’ah to the caves of an eroded stone dragon and to the misty islands of the Golden Apple Archipelago, ready your teapots as we set sail to the land of eternity.
Genshin Impact’s open-world, role-playing action gameplay expanded its horizons with one of the biggest updates the game has ever had. Departing from the European town of freedom and the landscapes of the land of contracts, the Traveler journeys through the next region on their quest to uncover the mysteries of Teyvat.
With a thundering start, players dive right into thrilling quests, new characters, and dream-like sceneries. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a novice, Inazuma proves to be a worthwhile challenge.
Weathering unforeseen storms
While Genshin Impact’s previous updates left players with lighthearted stories, the second major chapter came crashing with relentless thunder. The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia does not shy away from tackling darker and heavier narratives than those preceding it.
The latest Archon Quests show the Traveler sailing unforgiving seas and braving the dangerous islands of Inazuma. The game’s main character now must fight for their right to stay within the outlander-averse Inazuma, hoping for a chance to meet its ruler: the Raiden Shogun or the god of eternity.
In their quest, the Traveler gets tangled in the Inazumans’ struggle against the oppressive rule of Raiden Shogun. Joining forces with the citizens, the game challenges players to wage war against divinity, a far cry from their previous adventures in Teyvat.
Through thunderous travels
The update innovates the way the players traverse the land of Teyvat. It introduces Electrogranum plants that allow travelers to go through Electro barriers to the nearest Thunder Spheres—reaching new heights and distances. 1.6’s Waverider system was also permanently incorporated into the game, as the Inazuman islands take more than the usual climb and swim to explore.
Inazuma’s detailed landscape is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s ambient sceneries with a setting that echoes feudal Japan. MiHoYo’s take on the artistic depiction of Japanese culture translates well into the game’s art style. From quaint villages to imperial shrines, the landscapes amid the foggy forests and sakura trees will definitely leave the players in awe.
A fleet of newfound comrades
Inazuma also comes with new characters that players could acquire, including the long-awaited five-star Cryo sword wielder Kamisato Ayaka. Her release drew mixed reactions, with fans admiring the depth and design of her character, but with more technical players critiquing her kit. However, Ayaka is not all that the 2.0 update has in store: three weeks after, Ayaka, Yoimiya and Sayu have also been released. Five-star Pyro archer Yoimiya has raked in the Primogems of many Travelers thanks to her easy-to-use skill set, and the four-star Anemo claymore wielding Sayu garnered love for her cute animations and unique elemental skill.
For some players, the arrival of new characters is something to look forward to. However, the new additions have little novelty to offer as opposed to the likes of Ganyu, Eula, Yanfei, and Hu Tao—all widely praised for their high damage numbers. However, miHoYo makes it clear that the heart of the characters’ allure lies in their designs, stories, and even their voice acting, given Genshin Impact’s consistently stellar voice lineup.
New enemies also rise in Inazuma, and their increased HP scaling poses a challenge even for experienced players. Mirroring the ancient arts of the Katana, Nobushi, and Kairagi, the new enemies each have a distinct way of fighting.
The eternal euthymia
Inazuma’s story may revolve around the feeling of eternal euthymia—an unchanging eternity—but Genshin Impact’s current state as a whole begs to differ. Through the game’s latest update, miHoYo proves that players still have an endless chain of twists and turns to look forward to. The new region offers brilliantly crafted mechanics, stories, and characters never seen before—allowing players to hope that the same will hold true for the five more nations yet to be explored.
The Traveler’s journey is far from over. They have yet to get to the bottom of Inazuma’s tragedies, mysteries, legends, and realities. With a more exciting and impactful punch than its previous filler updates, The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia leaves no doubt that the Genshin players have come to love so far is just at the tip of its iceberg.
