Genshin Impact is the newest MMO-like sensation. The game recently launched for Android, iOS, PC, and PS4 to a surprisingly massive amount of support from the West. The game is known for being inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild, but fans of the game may be wondering just how alike the two are.
The general consensus is if you liked the exploration aspects of BOTW, then you're going to love the gameplay of Genshin Impact. Players should note that despite the game's similarities, there are quite a few things that are different from Zelda.
10 Is: Cooking
One of the most surprising additions in Breath of The Wild was Link being able to cook dishes. The same can be done in Genshin Impact; players can gather or buy ingredients to cook in the pots scattered about the world. Different foods have different effects, and some are used to revive or heal characters. The cooking mini-game is simple, and many players will spend a good portion of their time stocking up on dishes.
9 Isn't: Gacha
Gacha is a term used to describe random item and character pulls in-game. These pulls are done by using a currency you can either earn through naturally playing the game or buy if you don't feel like waiting. Genshin Impact gives players weapons, new characters, and experience books in it's pulled. This is something seen in many phone games but is a bit rarer to see in a console or PC title.
8 Is: Finding Waypoints
Waypoints are the way you unlock teleport destinations in different areas of the fields. There are normal waypoints that allow you just to fast travel and the statues of the seven, which will unlock the map for the area when found. This is very similar to how climbing towers works in Breath of The Wild.
Players also earn adventurer points for locating these waypoints, and the statues take offerings to give the player in-game stat boosts such as stamina.
7 Isn't: Dungeons
The dungeons in the game are similar to that of other MMOs. You unlock dungeons as the story progresses and can run them time and time again by returning to the entrance. Dungeons will lock you into your selected party; once inside, you will have to navigate it using those characters only. Dungeons are a mix of light puzzles, challenges, and battles. Like most MMOs, you are rewarded with a chest at the end.
6 Is: Trials
Genshin Impact will impose special trials on the character, like beating a certain number of enemies in under a minute. Other challenges are related to wiping out camps of Hilichurls, which are essentially the Moblins of the game, and learning to properly use a glider. These are reminiscent of some of the things that you can do in BOTW if you don't want to take on the main story.
5 Isn't: Co-op
Once gamers reach adventurer rank 16 in Genshin Impact, you will be able to unlock the co-op mode that lets players party up with up to four friends at a time. This is a limited multiplayer mode as players can't do story quests together and can't open chests in the game host's world. Players can do dungeons together, and the ability to play alongside four other characters makes dungeon runs particularly interesting.
4 Is: Field Exploration
One of the best things to do after Link finished a story quest was to wander around Hyrule Field. Just like in Hyrule Field, the outer areas of Genshin Impact are filled with things to do and secrets to find. Players can search for chests, statue tokens, strong bosses to fight, or simply work on mapping out the game.
This massive freedom to explore is what will draw in a large number of Breath of The Wild players.
3 Isn't: Switching Characters
Genshin Impact is a game all about getting new players to use on your team. At any given time, there will be a party of four different characters that fans can swap between. Each character has their own element and unique attack style that fans will need to get used to while playing. They all must also be leveled up individually, and players will need to keep up with their gear and friendship level.
2 Is: Stamina
One thing that really reminds players of Breath of The Wild is the game's use of stamina. Players have a stamina meter that will slowly deplete as they are running, swimming, climbing, and gliding. Once a player runs out of stamina, they will naturally slow down, or if in the water, drown. Players must keep a close watch on their meter when attempting to cross huge lakes or climb up the side of tall mountains in the game.
1 Isn't: Character Quests
Genshin Impact is packed full of quests that players can indulge in. Aside from the basic RPG quests, there are character quests that let players learn more and get closer to their party members. These quests will naturally unlock as gamers increase their adventurer rank and progress through the story. Character quests range from looking for treasure to going on dates where you pick out gifts for your party member.