Over a year ago, Genshin Impact introduced the Traveler to Fontaine, the nation of Hydro. The patch’s novel mechanics of underwater exploration and HP-scaling character kits made deep diving into the game more refreshing than ever. But since the conclusion of a 500-year long masquerade and a bittersweet reunion with the twin through the Fontaine archon quests, the Traveler must now venture into Natlan, the nation of Pyro and war in the open-world’s version 5.0.
Located west of Sumeru’s vast deserts, the Pyro Archon’s domain greets players with Saurians, adorable dragon-like creatures that help them navigate Natlan’s extensive territories. With Natlan’s Archon standing out from those of the previous nations, travelers are surely in for a treat for the game’s fourth-year anniversary update.
Traversing through fire and blood
Much like every nation in the game, Natlan draws inspiration from real-life places, particularly Mesoamerican cultures and Native American traditions. Despite being dubbed “the land of war,” it is marked by vibrant hues and unique creatures, painting an eccentric balance of natural beauty and fiery landscapes.
The current patch features four distinct regions in the new area: Tequemecan Valley, a lush green ravine with trees and winding rivers; Coatepec Mountain, a series of grand peaks with cascading waterfalls and ancient structures; Basin of Unnumbered Flames, an extensive gorge with craggy cliffs and towering canyons; and Toyac Springs, a serene coastal haven with tranquil waters and inviting hot springs.
Exploring each terrain becomes more dynamic thanks to the introduction of new companions. The earth-colored Tepetlisaurus, for example, is a saurian with drill-like horns and claws that can burrow and tunnel across the landscape. The winged Yumkasaurus allows the player to traverse long distances aerially, while the aquatic Koholasaurus enables faster travel through water and lava. The creativity doesn’t stop at these dragons, as Natlan’s biodiversity is further distinguished by new animal species such as young saurian whelps, brown deers, alpacas, capybaras, long-necked rhinos, and flying squirrels.
Beyond its stunning landscapes, Natlan also elevates the combat experience for players, new and old alike. Scattered throughout the land are various enemy mobs, including the human Sauroform Tribal Warriors and elite monsters like the Avatars of Lava, Wayob Manifestations, and the Secret Source Automaton. There are also 10 formidable local legends for the players to defeat. As endgame players have been allowed to ascend to a higher world level, it is no surprise that the gaming and exploration rewards have significantly improved with it. While traveling through the land of war may not be the easiest experience, it offers a captivating and fulfilling addition to the Genshin adventure.
Bearers of the eternal flame
Along with the fantastical landscapes, the appeal of an open-world role-playing game lies in its characters. Meeting the world’s natives and discovering the heart-wrenching history embedded into the land are what keep players returning to the ever-expanding world of Teyvat. Likewise, the most captivating features of Natlan are those that deeply immerse the player in its culture.
It’s established early on that the natives’ lives intertwine tightly with the culture of their six tribes. Each settlement has unique motifs representing its values, closely aligned with the six elements found throughout the game. As the nation of dragons, each tribe has its own local Saurian. The Children of Echoes are locals of the Tequemecan Valley with Geo and the Tepetlisaurs, while the Scions of the Canopy and Yumkasaurs are mostly found Dendro swinging around the Coatepec Mountain. On the other hand, the People of the Springs and Koholasaurs are situated in the natural Toyac Springs, evidently drawing strength from Hydro. In this patch, separate reputation meters are introduced for each tribe, furthering the significance of each nuanced community within the nation.
The first wave of playable characters embrace the tribal traditions. Marked as Ancient Name bearers, these characters inherit the destinies of Natlan’s heroes, justly reflecting and representing the communities they hail from. These Natlan natives receive Nightsoul Blessings, an exclusive feature that boosts their exploration mobility and elemental potential. This gives the new characters—Kachina, Mualani, and Kinich—incredible home-field advantage, prompting players to be more inclined to pull for them.
Perhaps this is to counteract the fanbase’s continued, relentless dissatisfaction with the lack of melanin in supposedly colored characters. Despite being inspired by Mesoamerican regions, HoYoverse has adamantly kept playable travelers a uniform shade of pale skin and only non-playable characters had darker skin tones. This is a disappointing outcome given the clear extensive research that went into the landscaping and world lore of Natlan. With three more clans waiting in the wings for release, players are eager, though no longer hopeful for the developers’ change of heart.
Blazing pilgrimage
Taking pages from the previous archon quests’ books, the Natlan quest thrives on the vibrant personalities of its inhabitants. With players introduced to the characters’ daily lives and traditions off the bat, forming an attachment to the land and its people is hard to resist. This connection with the characters is what players are forced to cling to, with Genshin failing to accurately portray the regions and cultures they claim to represent.
As the ever-diverse player base continues to grow, the call for the developers to be more considerate and mindful of their players’ dispositions grows louder. Nevertheless, only time will tell if the Traveler’s arc in Natlan will succeed in intertwining all of the intricate elements of its story; but with multitudes of novel themes and mechanics, the nation promises to bring more to the table.
In its four-year run, Genshin Impact has definitely blazed through many trials by fire. Despite previous anniversaries drawing controversy from a lack of rewards to the player base, the action role-playing game still manages to kindle the flames they ignited in their travelers’ hearts. Natlan is no exception; it lives up to what the game is known for—rich landscapes and raveled storylines. As the game draws closer to the end of its story, it upholds its tradition of piquing the players’ interests and reminding them of what drew them close in the first place.
