What I Think About Genshin Impact after 1.5 Years of Playing

It was about two years ago when I first heard about Genshin Impact. At that day, when I was searching something on Bilibili(A video streaming website in China), there was this special word standing out as the first on the Popular Trend – “灵龛“. I had no idea how to pronounce the second Chinese character. I clicked it and then a white marble cage appeared. In this not so big cage, accompanied by a Paimon-wants-it sound, the player opened a very attractive chest rested just in the middle of it, and voila! We got some shiny materials! I checked some other more similar videos, yet I still couldn't understand what ”灵龛“ means.

Though I did know it was a game, judging by the videos, I thought it was not convincing enough to let me try it. But after about one year or so, I remember this game suddenly got very popular. There were tons of videos and articles talking about it on the Internet. I was curious about whether this game was truly worth the word of mouth, so I downloaded it and began my first day of traveling in Teyvat. I am a loyal PC gamer, not a mobile gamer, not a PS or Xbox gamer, and never being a VR gamer before. I did not try even once playing games with a controller until I played Genshin. I had been playing it for more than a few weeks before I realized gaming with a keyboard and mouse really tired me. Having checked Genshin supports controller, though I did not know if a controller can beat a keyboard and mouse in terms of gaming experience, driven by my curiosity as an adventurer in Teyvat, I bought my very first one. It was in the evening on 6th of November 2021. Yes, I do like shopping online in the evenings. Looking back, it was the best decision ever made.

Another reason why I began playing Genshin is that it supports English text and audio, which made me, a person who always wanted to learn English through gaming, glued to it. I know, there were no lacking of games in English before the launch of Genshin. So why I did not play other ones? Well, there were indeed a lot of games in English, but the ones I knew were either violent and bloody games, or visual novels, and they were not my type of tea. Genshin combines fighting and storytelling very well. When I am bored by stories, I will go fight in the open world. Interested in a beautiful English storytelling? Go for a quest then!

I started playing Genshin when Hutao got her rerun. As a beginner, I obviously did not know much about this game, so I spent all my Primogems in the standard banner. If I could relive again, my first 5-star character would not be some other guy. At first, the scenery of Mondstadt was underappreciated, but those funny little puzzles in the open world were super appealing. When Dragon Spine unlocked, getting closer to the broken bridge at the bottom of the snow mountain, I was discouraged by the high-level monsters with red bars. Not before long, I met old players who were willing to help me, one of them saying that he can lead me in Dragon Spine. At that moment, I was a little hesitant to his offer. I thought, look, if he do everything for me, I will probably lose the fun of playing, but I also want to go into the depth of this snow mountain as early as possible. Later, I regretted. I should have not let him lead me. Most puzzles in that area were solved easily without even trying, and I felt like I was on a boring mission, which was not fun at all.

When I had gone through more than half of the exploring in Mondstadt, one random player said, “Why have you not gone to Liyue yet?” I was surprised for not even knowing there is another area on the map. He offered to lead me, but after the experience I had in Dragon Spine, I turned to him, “Nah, I’d better go explore on my own.” I think this was the last time when I accepted somebody’s help. The scenery in Liyue is wonderful. Having some traces of Xianxia novel and dominated by red and yellow hues, the scenery gives me an awestruck feeling. Compared with the exotic western scenery in Mondstadt, Liyue is unlikely as tranquil and relaxing. Because I had been staying in Mondstadt for so long, my rank level would soon allow me to unlock Inazuma. Before I had the chance to fully enjoy Liyue, I was on the way to the other side of Teyvat.

Inazuma is the nightmare during my journey because of its geographical layout. Disembarked from the ship, the violet dark hue of the scene told me that my adventure ahead would be depressing and murky. When I was in Inazuma, I said to myself many times, “Can’t you the fucking lighting and raining stop?” However, I must say the storytelling in Inazuma was way beyond my expectation. I respect that man warded off the fatal strike from the Electro Archon, I too shed tears when the uncountable light of souls flowing to the Grand Narukami Shrine.

At the time when I had set my foot on every corner of Inazuma, I was already an experienced old player. To be frank, the forth nation – Sumeru, despite having a story of grander world, did not attract me the same way as before. I used to play hours a day, but now I log in everyday only for finishing daily missions. I do not spend money on it like a billionaire anymore, and I think the money I have spent on it is not so worth of it. Hear me out. In every gacha game, there is always something new to maintain its user base, but people will eventually get tired. My Genshin friends have gradually stopped log in is a good example. If a game is a gacha game and I stick to it, time will bring me more reward than money.

Finally, I want to say thank you Genshin for bringing me joy, helping me learn English. Maybe two years in the future, when my Japanese becomes good enough, I, as a traveler from another world, will restart the journey of Teyvat and experience it again in Japanese.

PS:

Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG.

Bilibili (stylized bilibili), nicknamed B Site, is a video sharing website based in Shanghai where users can submit, view and add overlaid commentary on videos.

Paimon is the deuteragonist of Genshin Impact. She is an NPC who accompanies the Traveler throughout their adventure in Teyvat as their guide.

Teyvat is the world and continent that serves as the primary setting of Genshin Impact.

Hu Tao (Chinese: 胡桃 Hú Táo) is a playable Pyro character in Genshin Impact.

Each new update usually comes with new characters but also reruns of previously released ones for players to obtain.

Genshin Impact Banners are what you can spend your Fate currency on to Wish for characters and weapons.

Primogems are the premium currency in Genshin Impact.

Mondstadt is the region where the Traveler's journey in Teyvet with Paimon begins.

Liyue is the second nation that the Traveler can explore in Genshin Impact, with Geo as its primary element.

Dragon Spine is a vast mountain, engulfed with ancient ruins and snow-capped areas, and also containing the remains of Durin.

Inazuma (Japanese: 稲妻 Inazuma) is one of the seven regions of Teyvat.

The Grand Narukami Shrine is a religious organization that worships the Electro Archon and leads the Narukami people's faith.

Raiden Ei (Japanese: 雷電影 Raiden Ei), also known by her Goetic name Beelzebul, is the God of Eternity and the current Electro Archon who presides over Inazuma. She is a member of The Seven who also currently functions as the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma.

Sumeru is one of the seven regions in Teyvat.