Genshin Homecoming

Homeward, He Who Caught the Wind 6.4 Event

To be honest, I have lowkey been burnt out on Genshin. Being a day one player and playing for about almost 4 years (5 years in September), I knew it was bound to happen eventually. What really took me out of it was Nod Krai, the lastest expansion of Genshin locations. 4 years of really cool worlds and events, from Mondstadt to Liyue to Inazuma to Fontaine to Natlan - all with characters I adore and world environments I loved looking at - but for some reason Nod Krai didn't do it for me. Perhaps it's also because of some personal stuff around the time of its release that I didn't really spend too much time, but I just didn't feel motivated on exploring. In contrast to Natlan, Nod Krai felt cold, mechanical, distant, and always felt like there was always something out to get me as you went outside of civilization. The other part of Nod Krai was certainly brighter but felt too, in lack of a better word, sterile to where while it was pretty it felt like either I didn't belong or I did not want to step in it for fear that I will mess everything up as the traveler.

In short, I understand why Nod Krai is what it is and the overall vibe of it connecting to the story narratively - it just wasn't my vibe. I do appreciate the lightkeepers and Jahoda of the Curatorium of Secrets. Aino and Ineffa are fun too. Columbina and Sandrone have a fun dynamic, these Fatui Harbingers sure are bunch. Wonder how the Tsaritsa managed to recruit them all.

WAIT WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT LORE AND CHARAS although I would love to WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT THE TOPIC AT HAND

I say all this because the most recent patch has brought back memories of 1.0 in a way that almost made me really emotional. The new quest starts at the very first spot where the game launches and you meet your adventure companion Paimon. You then basically retrace your steps to all the main events before you reach the city: your first battle, going to the statue in the middle of the lake, and meeting your first set of characters. Although the details are not exactly accurate as turns out this is all a simulation, the main strokes all being there made me grin all the way through. The part where you reach a cliff showing the broad horizon a la Breath of the Wild, with even the logo of the game appearing in the bottom corner got a real chuckle out of me.

Although I do have my problems with this current part of Genshin, I really do appreciate that this game can still be real silly and have this sense of humor at times. To me, this game is a celebration of common tropes in gaming and otaku media but done in a well-executed way. One of passion and really understanding what it wants to do. It's not exactly perfect all the time, but it does definitely try. Genshin Impact is such a unique game in today's modern gaming landscape, and one that even though I'm burning out on it, I'm committed to see it through to the very end.

Bless ups Hoyoverse, can't wait to experience the rest of 1.0 but wrong.

[writing this now that the event is over]

This was a super fun event, I love you Mondstadt. 9/10.