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The journey is already halfway through, what's thrilling in the new version of "Genshin Impact"?

2K View2023-08-17

With the update of Genshin Impact 4.0, the borders of the Teyvat continent once again expand, and Fontaine officially joins the Seven Nations package. The wandering journey has entered its latter half, and the operation of Genshin Impact has officially entered its third year. By now, no one would doubt the continuous updates and content creation capabilities of Genshin Impact and miHoYo. At this point, the team is faced with only one question: How to surpass their past selves?

So, what is miHoYo's answer in the Fontaine version?

Underwater Map and New Mechanisms

The underwater map is undoubtedly the most attention-grabbing part of this update. Setting aside various background details, my impression of Fontaine's underwater map can be summarized as "joyful" and "gorgeous."

As a realm of water, Fontaine's waters possess a vibrant vitality, nurturing a rich underwater ecosystem. Prior to diving into gameplay, I am very curious about how underwater combat would be designed. Unlike on land, the underwater environment features low gravity and high resistance, providing a more liberated form of movement. New environmental conditions will naturally bring new obstacles. For some players, the most noticeable experience is 3D disorientation, as the consistent reference of gravity is lost underwater, making it easier to lose one's sense of direction and potentially experience motion sickness. Additionally, a portion of players may have Thalassophobia – a fear of the deep sea. Because of its realistic style, the underwater world is far from welcoming for these players. It's pitch black, surging with dark currents, and can easily evoke feelings of isolation and oppression.

However, the underwater segment of the game is bright, filled with dancing light, and imparts a sensation akin to the movie Finding Nemo– carefree and joyful. In my personal opinion, the most impactful design choice here is the removal of the oxygen bar, allowing free exploration of Fontaine's underwater realm. The underwater scenes maintain the consistent visual rendering style of Genshin Impact – high color saturation, transparency, and an absence of constriction. The development team of Genshin Impact has introduced new combat and puzzle-solving mechanisms. Travelers primarily interact with aquatic creatures, briefly borrowing their powers to perform actions like cutting through seaweed and gaining shields. Players can also replenish their underwater stamina using Turbulent Bubbles, truly delivering an immersive underwater gaming experience.

I really like the absence of stamina limitations. When moving through other bodies of water, stamina bars sometimes become a constraint on player actions. For instance, in earlier versions, before the introduction of portable waypoints, swimming to farm Noctilucous Jade from a fixed waypoint often meant swimming – the shortest path would deplete the entire stamina bar, and slightly deviating would lead to drowning at the island's edge. It was frustrating to perish so close to victory, and worse, by drowning. Fontaine's aquatic realm has fulfilled this desire of mine, so let's say thank you to the developers.

Of course, there are also relics underwater in the Teyvat continent, with air pockets where normal movement rules apply, similar to those on land. As someone who grew up with "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," I am willing to see more relics, chests, sunken ships, and ruins! It's said that the currently accessible content still belongs to Fontaine's "shallow water region." I wonder what kind of adventures the "deep water region" will hold. I hope the developers take note of these desires and bring them to us as soon as possible!

Fontaine stands out not only for its application of water mechanics but also for introducing new mechanisms on land. Fontaine boasts advanced technology, featuring a scientific system based on Arkhe. This power has two forms: Ousia and Pneuma. When these two energies collide, they generate tremendous annihilative force, which can be used for decryption or to disable patrolling machinery – a highly effective strategy. The new characters from Fontaine possess either the Ousia or Pneuma elemental attributes and even existing characters can collect Ousia and Pneuma energy clusters in the vast world, so there's no need to worry about them becoming obsolete.

Honestly speaking, the application of Ousia and Pneuma powers in combat doesn't compare to the substantial change brought by the introduction of the "Vision Hunt Decree" and the alteration of the elemental reaction system. If the Traveler can use these powers effectively, they could strategize more efficiently in the Fontaine region. We can't always expect major overhauls like "Inazuma," as frequent shifts to new environments could overwhelm both players and developers.

Land Cherished by the Fountain's Waters

Following the discussion of these noteworthy new gameplay mechanics, the visual aesthetic of the Fontaine region holds its own allure. In the world of Teyvat, Mondstadt embodies a Western fantasy style, where tales of dragons and poets reverberate throughout. Now, as Fontaine also embraces a Western or European theme, how does it distinguish itself through unique expression?

The developers respond to players' expectations by weaving together elements of "mechanics," "opera," and "courtly" themes. "Fontaine" likely draws inspiration from the real-world French region of "Fontainebleau". The original French meaning is "fountain" or "beautiful water." In French history, numerous monarchs established palaces and residences in the Fontainebleau region, making the actual Fontainebleau area a true "city of flowing waters."

The developers have blended the cultural essence of Maple and Dew, the canal designs of Italy's Venice, and a deluxe version of the "Gade Waterway Bridge" with its ancient Roman backdrop. In reality, the ancient Roman aqueduct bridge was essentially a water conduit and some segments are still in use to this day. However, in the game, it emphasizes its role in "connecting." Upon entering the Fontaine region, travelers will quickly come into contact with the "Sightseeing Boat" guided by Meiru Xin, which allows them to gather basic information about Fontaine during the journey.

I personally find the beginning of this journey quite pleasant, especially compared to the beginnings in a few other nations. Ever since arriving on the continent of Teyvat, we first witnessed the assassination attempt on the Archon, then clashed with the Electro General, and in Inazuma, we directly entered the Thousand Eternal Roses loop dream. It doesn't seem like a traveler's experience; it's more like being mistaken for a criminal from various nations in Teyvat. This boat journey is uniquely close to the experience of real boat tours with the rare moments of leisure.,

Upon reaching the main city of Fontaine, you will notice that people's attitudes towards the Hydro Archon are quite different. They treat the Water God with less reverence and awe. From a commoner's perspective, she is more like a celebrity. The relationship between humans and gods is once again expanded in Fontaine—In Mondstadt if you are stranded in the windless land, the Anemo Archon will protect you with the winds. In Liyue, even though the Geo Archon has withdrawn from worldly affairs, people still hold respect for him. Even in Inazuma or Sumeru, people speak of deities with varying degrees of reverence.

According to the information mentioned in the earliest released "Footprints" PV, the title for the Fontaine region is "Dance of the Sinners' Waltz". The newly added boss battle in the current version, "Icewind Sonata," skillfully blends elements of strength and elegance, packaging the concept of combat in the form of an opera performance. Now we know that in the Fontaine region, judgment is intricately linked with drama. The headquarters of the highest judiciary institution is located at the Opéra Omnia, and there's a peculiar mechanical "Sacrament Verdict Mechanism" that never renders unjust verdicts. Its power source is derived from the trials held in Fontaine, collecting the power of belief in justice.

The Hydro Archon thirsts for justice, even craving judgment upon the gods—so what force could compare to the Hydro Archon's own judgment? This is just my personal speculation about the plot, and the specific plot developments are still to be revealed by the development team. In the current version's information, the emphasized "Prophecy Crisis" seems to be the central plot conflict. Due to the threat of the Origin Waters, everyone will eventually dissolve in water. The seemingly inactive Water God and the struggling individuals—like Lini and Linette—how will they define their respective justice. As a player who loves storytelling and content, I am eagerly anticipating what kind of story will unfold on the stage of Fontaine.

Starting from 2020, our journey has continued for three years, and we've really come a long way. For me, "Genshin Impact" has evolved from initially stunning to consistently impressive, and now it's reached a point of stable performance with occasional surprises. This isn't to say that miHoYo's production capabilities have diminished, but rather our definition of excellence has been continuously redefined by miHoYo and "Genshin Impact".

From this year onwards, activities related to the entire "Genshin Impact" IP have been particularly frequent—various crossovers, offline events, exhibitions, concerts—there's no shortage. "Genshin Impact" is approaching players' lives in a more everyday manner, becoming a shared memory among us all.And this shared memory keeps getting updated. Since version 1.0, the only thing that has been able to redefine "Genshin Impact" is none other than "Genshin Impact" itself.

Despite numerous open-world releases, being free-to-play, continuously updated, and providing equal enjoyment to a broader audience, so far, only "Genshin Impact" has achieved this. Staying at the forefront of the industry requires treating player expectations as a goal and then, time and time again, striving to exceed those expectations.

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