HoYoverse
When I boot upHonkai : Star Railto try its 2.0 update , I immediately take off to its new planet , Penacony , the Land of Dreams . As soon as I check off into my hotel elbow room , an introductory chapter passes me between pretty , charming people who seem to ask me the same question at every turn : Are you sure you want to trustme ?
It ’s a question that ties in with the recurring theme of destinyStar Railsows in its prologue and strengthen it with narrative and gameplay recite over the course of Penacony ’s entry arc . WhileHonkai : Star Rail‘s side questshistorically do n’t interchange the destiny of playable quality , they can for less significant unity . Its 2.0 update take that one step further .
HoYoverse
Honkai : Star Rail2.0 highlights how instrumentalist ’ choices might not always be the right ace . That dynamic creates one of the mobile RPG ’s most thrilling chapter yet .
This clause contains pamperer forHonkai : Star Rail2.0 .
Setting the stage
The newfangled Penacony chapter is one big whodunnit where players come across suspicious strangers , each of whom has their own motives and is credibly lie about something . It gives players the weighty option to rely or not swear their new supporter . When it pull the curtain back on me at the end of the chapter , I feel I made the amiss conclusion . And I mean that in a unspoiled way .
The story kicks off when the Astral Express get an invitation to visit from the Family , the inscrutable organization of Harmony worshippers that typically do n’t rent anyone else into the roundabout . They , and even frown upon organizations like the Annihilation Gang , received invitation to Penacony ’s signature tune Charmony Festival .
Penacony introduces new characters from the arrogant IPC researcher Adventurine to the mysterious Memokeeper , Black Swan . Himeko and Welt , your senior Astral Express crew members , warn you that even well - think of people can be hiding something . It is n’t of necessity a spoiled thing to have a secret , but having one mean that the Sojourner Truth can be obnubilate truth if it think of someone wo n’t get what they require .
And what do the residents of Penacony want ? Freedom , cooperation , death … Whatever it is , it definitely is n’t your base hit or well - being .
Honkai : Star Rail ’s strength lie in the intersection between the secret plan ’s narrative and its machinist , and it especially succeeds when those tool align with the same aim . In the 2.0 update , that purpose is create a loss of control .
It does n’t toy out like a side quest . You ca n’t change the main news report ’s hand . I ’m say to make a conclusion that does n’t count , leaning into the dissonance I palpate when the Trailblazer inevitably witnesses a shocking accuracy . It ’s a chord that echo through my creative thinker mean solar day after , like Aventurine ’s declaration that he restate to the Trailblazer before the interlude : “ Allow me to make you an offer , one you ca n’t refuse , ” he say . “ No reason to prefer otherwise , and no other option . ”
Trapped as a bystander
My adventures on Penacony leave me reflecting on how I interpret what ’s come about inHonkai : Star Rail as a instrumentalist . I used to consider that the Trailblazer was supposed to be me . After reaching Penacony , I realized that they were more like a vessel for me to experience the account as a separate person . I can make my own decisions about who to trust , but Trailblazer will do whatever it takes to move the story forward because that ’s their job . In that compositor’s case , Trailblazer will always feel lead astray by the goal of this chapter .
I was surprised . However , when I reviewed the plot up until that point , I actualise that I ’d been give chance after luck to make up my own mind .
It was n’t unrelenting . When Adventurine appear in my way , I had the option to aggressively shoo off him away because I did n’t jazz him ( and he ’s not very gracious ) . When Acheron appear in my dream , she did n’t demand anything from me . She only enigmatically hinted at our impotence against the book of fate , which should sound familiar because of a certain Stellaron Hunter .
Star Rail‘s emphasis on choice started with Kafka ’s final password to the Trailblazer at Herta Space Station : “ When you have a chance to make a selection , make one that you know you wo n’t regret . ”
At that head , it seemed like I was supposed to make pick . Even though they were n’t big , they had a tangible impingement on the characters around me . Fast fore to Penacony , and that magic trick of selection is still there . you’re able to react in dramatically different ways , but they all push you toward the same chilling outcome .
By the closing of Penacony ’s first chapter , I ’m exhausted . I do n’t know who to trust . Everyone has told you since the beginning that you should abide vigilant . But I cerebrate , hey , this is a happy - go - lucky kind of game , right ? Is n’t at least one of them telling the truth ?
Star Railsuggests you not make those variety of judgments .
Honkai : Star Rail2.0is now available on PC , iOS , Android , and PlayStation 5 .
