Honkai: Star Rail
Developer(s)miHoYo
Publisher(s)
  • CHN: miHoYo
  • WW: HoYoverse
Producer(s)David Jiang[1]
Composer(s)
  • Cui Hanpu
  • Cui Wei
  • Lin Yifan
  • Gong Qi
  • Wang Kexin
  • Wang Yujue
  • Wen Chi
SeriesHonkai
EngineUnity[2]
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, iOS, Android
  • April 26, 2023
  • PS5
  • October 11, 2023
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Honkai: Star Rail (Chinese: 崩坏：星穹铁道; pinyin: Bēnghuài: Xīngqióng Tiědào; lit. 'Honkai: Star Dome Railway') is a role-playing gacha video game developed by miHoYo, published by miHoYo in mainland China and worldwide by Cognosphere, d/b/a HoYoverse. It features the main character, referred to as the "Trailblazer", traveling across worlds resolving disasters caused by the "Stellaron". The first closed beta test was launched on October 27, 2021. It was publicly released internationally on April 26, 2023,[3] for Windows and mobile devices; with the PlayStation 5 port released on October 11, 2023. The PlayStation 4 version is still yet to be announced, as revealed at the latest Summer Game Fest with a trailer.[4] It is the fourth installment in the Honkai series, drawing on characters from Honkai Impact 3rd and gameplay elements from Genshin Impact (although with significant adjustments to the characters' background and personality and changes to the gameplay elements). It is miHoYo's first turn-based game.

Partially due to the popularity of miHoYo's previous game, Genshin Impact, the game received widespread expectations before its launch. It was nominated for the Most Wanted Game Award at the Golden Joystick Awards in 2022[5] and won the Best Popularity Award of World Science Fiction Game Annual Awards in 2023.[6]

Gameplay

A battle in Honkai: Star Rail, showcasing its turn-based combat system

Honkai: Star Rail follows the gameplay style of classic Japanese role-playing games: players build up a lineup of characters, and control a team of four in turn-based combat.[7][8] In addition to various stats that affect characters' strength, each character has an elemental affinity that affects their ability to deal damage to certain targets, a character class referred to as a "path" that defines their role in combat, and set of unique abilities used in combat.[9][10]

Elements of open-world and dungeon exploration are present, with multiple mechanics, including the gacha system, carried over from HoYoverse's previous action RPG Genshin Impact.[7]

Story and setting

Setting

The game is set in a science-fantasy universe in which humanity and non-human sentient beings follow the Paths of deity-like beings known as Aeons. Those who follow Paths are known as Pathstriders. The Paths are based on an ideal. For example, the Abundance is based on the view that immortality is a blessing and that healing and altruism should be valued as a top priority. The Destruction believes that civilization is cancerous to the universe, and seeks to eradicate all of civilization through the spreading of various disasters, such as the Stellaron, also known as the Cancer of All Worlds, which brings destruction to any planet it is placed on. The Path of Remembrance, run by the Aeon Fuli, is associated with ice, and has an obsession with memories that are either forbidden or memorable.

Some Paths were led by deceased Aeons, but the Paths continue to exist without the influence of the Aeons. The main characters in the game follow the Path of the Trailblaze, a Path created by the deceased Akivili. The Path of the Trailblaze seeks to "explore, establish, and connect" among different worlds.

Some Paths are seen as antagonistic, protagonistic, or neutral. The primary antagonist of the game is Nanook, who controls the Path of Destruction, along with the emanators of the Path of Destruction. Other paths, such as the Path of Abundance, are not necessarily seen as antagonistic, but are at rival with The Hunt and other Paths, who view the immortality granted by the Path of Abundance as a curse.

Aside from the Path of Destruction, the Stellaron Hunters are a major antagonistic group throughout the game, who search for and collect Stellarons across the universe, and claim to be able to see the future. The main characters are often at conflict with the Stellaron Hunters.

Story

LocationChapter(s)
Herta Space StationToday Is Yesterday's Tomorrow

A space station is seen being attacked by intergalactic monsters from the Antimatter Legion, followers of the Path of Destruction. Amidst the chaos, two Stellaron Hunters, Kafka and Silver Wolf, infiltrate the station and steal the Stellaron that was being safely held within it. Kafka takes hold of the Stellaron and inserts it into the body of an empty vessel generated by Silver Wolf (whose gender and name are chosen by the player). The vessel (known as the Trailblazer in English and various other names in other translations of the game) awakens, after which Kafka erases their memory, informs them of the future that lies ahead and leaves. They then fall unconscious.

A now-amnesic Trailblazer wakes up and meets March 7th and Dan Heng. Both are traveling on the Astral Express, a large cosmic train that travels the universe along the eponymous "Star Rail". After eliminating the remaining threats from the Antimatter Legion, the Trailblazer meets Himeko, the Astral Express's navigator, and Welt, an interstellar traveler originating from the world of Honkai Impact 3rd. In an attempt to discover their origins and eliminate the threats of the remaining Stellarons, the Trailblazer departs with the Astral Express crew.
Jarilo-VIIn the Withering Wintry Night and In The Sweltering Morning Sun
The Trailblazer, March, and Dan Heng arrive at Jarilo-VI, a planet that has been mostly ravaged by the Eternal Freeze, an uninhabitable winter caused by the power of a Stellaron, and the Fragmentum, a phenomenon that creates powerful monsters that work to injure or kill humans and destroy human-made creations. As the crew nears the capital city of Belobog to resolve the Stellaron affair, they are declared fugitives by Supreme Guardian Cocolia, after the Stellaron tells her to accuse them of attempting to overthrow Belobog's government. They escape the Belobog police and move to the Underworld below the planet, where they learn of the peacekeeping Wildfire and their ongoing conflict with Svarog, the leader of the robots, who has repeatedly rejected peace talks. After battling Svarog and learning new intelligence about the Stellaron, the crew returns to the surface to face Cocolia, who merges herself with the Stellaron and attempts to kill the Astral Express crew. The crew defeats her, and Bronya, Cocolia’s adopted daughter, takes her place as the new Supreme Guardian while announcing plans to bridge the Underworld and Belobog together.
The Xianzhou LuofuWindswept Wanderlust, Topclouded Towerthrust, and Obsequies Performed, A Long Road Ahead

The crew receives a signal from Kafka, who wants the crew to settle a Stellaron incident on the Xianzhou Luofu (Chinese: 仙舟：罗浮; pinyin: Xiānzhōu: Luófú; lit. 'Fairy Boat: Luofu'[11]), a planet following the Path of The Hunt. When Welt, the Trailblazer, and March 7th arrive, they are not permitted to assist in Stellaron affairs, but are instead tasked by Cloud Knight general Jing Yuan to weed out Kafka and her Stellaron Hunter cohort Blade, as the presence of the Stellaron Hunters on the ship is deemed a threat. The crew finds and defeats Kafka in battle, after which she reveals she was sent to lure the Astral Express crew to the Luofu to fulfill the prophecy laid out by the Stellaron Hunters' leader, Elio.

The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, a faction following the Path of Abundance, a rival Path to The Hunt, attack the Luofu in a conflict manipulated by Lord Ravager Phantylia, a leader of the Antimatter Legion. Dan Heng reveals that he is the reincarnation of a powerful exiled Vidyadhara criminal named Dan Feng during a battle with Blade, and assists Jing Yuan and the rest of the Astral Express in fighting the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus and Lord Ravager Phantylia, resulting in the temporary retreat of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus and Antimatter Legion. Jing Yuan formally creates an alliance between the Xianzhou and Astral Express and annuls the exile of Dan Heng's previous incarnation, granting him freedom onboard the Luofu.

After the Trailblazer and March return to the Express, Himeko tells the Trailblazer that their next stop is Penacony, the Planet of Festivities. Formerly a prison planet used by the Interastral Peace Corporation (IPC) to exile criminals, it had fallen under the control of Xipe, the Aeon of Harmony, some time ago, radically transforming the planet. Himeko explains that the Family at Penacony issued formal invitations to many galactic factions for the first time in history and among the invited factions were the IPC and the Astral Express.

Meanwhile, Luocha confronts Jing Yuan at the Shackling Prison alongside his former mentor Jingliu, proclaiming that they will put the Abundance in their grave.
Jarilo-VIJolted Awake From a Winter Dream
While waiting for the journey to Penacony to start, March 7th and the Trailblazer receive a message from Bronya inviting them to a festival in Belobog. Upon arriving, they learn that Topaz, an agent of the IPC, is attempting to collect an expensive debt from hundreds of years ago that was created prior to the planting and later elimination of the Stellaron on Belobog. March 7th and the Trailblazer attempt to negotiate the debt but fail to do so. IPC workers then invade the Underworld, but are defeated by the Trailblazer and March 7th. Topaz then tells the workers to stop the invasion. Bronya then considers accepting a proposal from Topaz to allow the IPC to take over Belobog but changes her mind once Himeko comes down from the Astral Express to inform Bronya that the IPC has been unsuccessful in managing the planets that accept the proposal approximately 20% of the time. The Trailblazer and March 7th start to fight with Topaz but stop after an intervention from Bronya. After being shown the progress of Belobog's citizens in reconstructing their planet, Topaz decides to leave the planet for the time being and receives a demotion from the IPC for failing to do her job.
The Xianzhou LuofuA Foxian Tale of the Haunted

After the events of Jolted Awake From a Winter Dream, the Trailblazer receives a message from Guinafen, and heads back to the Xianzhou Luofu to meet up with her. Upon arrival, Guinafen informs the Trailblazer about encountering "ghosts" with Sushang on the Xianzhou Luofu. The pair head over to Fyxestroll Garden, where they meet Hanya, Xueyi, and Huohuo, members of the Xianzhou Luofu government.

They inform the duo that what Guinafen and Sushang saw are heliobi, ancient ghost-like enemies of the Xianzhou Alliance, and warn the duo that staying in the garden is dangerous. Huohuo begins to escort Guinafen and the Trailblazer from the Fyxestroll Garden, but Guinafen suddenly disappears without a trace. The Trailblazer searches for Guinafen, but ends up getting trapped in a mirror, where they meet Cirrus, one of the many heliobi. They help the Trailblazer out of the illusion, only to be met with a new heliobus, Furynox. However, defeating Furynox led to Cirrus absorbing the remaining heliobi, and Cirrus uses this to attmept to defeat the Astral Express and take control of Fyxestroll Garden. The Trailblazer and their companions band together to fight Cirrus.

Guinafen, Sushang, Huohuo and the Trailblazer then gather the heliobi who escaped from Fyxestroll Garden and return them to the garden. While doing this, they learn that Huohuo had wandered off to search for her helibous friend, Tail, and had become possessed by an unrelated heliobus. When the crew recuses Huohuo and returns to Fyxestroll Garden, they learn that Cirrus had taken advantage of them being gone to repeat his previous plan, but is defeated again by the crew.

Development

Honkai: Star Rail was revealed in October 2021 at the end of the Honkai Impact 3rd online concert, Starfire Sonorant, then later on the game's official YouTube channel.[12]

The game entered its first closed beta testing later that month.[13] A second closed beta test was held between May and June 2022.[14] A final closed beta test was held in February 2023 and prior to the release of the game.[15] In April 2023, HoYoverse announced having 10 million pre-registered users.[16]

Distribution and promotion

Star Rail Train model in Xujiahui, Shanghai (left), Xiamen Metro themed train in-car advertisement (right)

The game was revealed in October 2021 at the end of the Honkai Impact 3rd online concert, Starfire Sonorant, then later on the game's official YouTube channel.[12] On October 27, the game launched its first closed test[13] and its second closed beta test on May 25, 2022.[14] On August 15 of the same year, the game received support from the "Special Fund for Cultural Development" issued by the Culture and Tourism Bureau of Xuhui District, Shanghai, where the developer is located.[17] On August 23 of 2022, a game story trailer was unveiled on the opening night of Gamescom 2022.[18]

On January 17, 2023, the mobile version of the game received the game version number approved by the National Press and Publication Administration, and the game was approved for distribution in mainland China[19][20] On February 10, 2023, the game conducted its third closed test[21] On the same day, the Apple App Store page revealed that the official launch date of the game was April 26.[22] In the international market, miHoYo launched more than 2,000 sets of ads on Google Play one month before the public beta of the game. The main advertising channel was Google AdMob[23] and the main advertising areas were Japan, Hong Kong, the United States, Vietnam, and Thailand.[24]

On April 25, miHoYo released the game's opening theme animation "Star Travel".[25] The game was officially launched globally on April 26.[3] On April 28, miHoYo held its first theme exhibition "Galaxy Gathering" in Xujiahui.[26] From April 29 to May 13, miHoYo undertook train advertisements on Xiamen Rail Transit Line 1 and jointly issued NFTs to promote the game.[27] On July 13, miHoYo launched a high-speed train named "Star Dome Railway High-speed Railway Brand Special Train" with an uncertain route, used to promote the game.[28]

Reception

Honkai: Star Rail received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[29]

Eurogamer recommended the game for its "delightfully goofy humour, charismatic voice cast, and truly magnificent combat", despite the writers' tendency to "give one sentence explanations for important details, yet spend eight paragraphs overexplaining the simplest plot twist".[36] Rock Paper Shotgun called the game "still in its early stages but (...) incredibly good fun to play", comparing it to "Star Ocean, but if everyone was hotter and you could gamble". The reviewer praised the combat system for being deep yet approachable, and noted that, like in Genshin, spending money was not necessary to progress, as all content in the game could be cleared with the characters players receive for free.[37] PC Gamer appreciated Star Rail's "impeccable visual style and strategic depth" and its "elastic tone, which fluctuates from the heroic optimism of a space opera, to the dark comedy of a Nier game, with a lot of Final Fantasy 14's soap opera storytelling mixed in". To the reviewer, the game's main draw was its "sheer creativity" and that it "distills what's most satisfying about turn-based RPGs: tactical, team-based decisions."[38]

However, some people have critcised the character designs, saying that they lack creativity, especially those of female characters, saying the outfits worn by females in Genshin Impact had more variety. [39]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2022 Golden Joystick Awards Most Wanted Award Nominated [5]
2023 World Science Fiction Game Annual Awards Best Popularity Award Won [6]
Google Play Awards Best Game Won [40][41]
Best Story Won [40][41]
Best for Tablets Won [40][41]
App Store Awards iPhone Game of the Year Won [42]
The Game Awards 2023 Best Mobile Game Won [43]
2024 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Mobile Game of the Year Pending [44]

References

  1. ↑ 崩壊：スターレイル [@houkaistarrail] (March 24, 2023). 【プロデューサー対談 近日公開！】 『崩壊：スターレイル』プロデューサー David Jiang とあの名作 RPG のプロデューサーによる対談が実現！ ゲーム開発の裏話と想いを開拓者の皆さまにシェアします！お楽しみに！ (Tweet) (in Japanese) – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (January 4, 2024). "Made with Unity: 2023 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Honkai: Star Rail official website | May this journey lead us starward". hsr.hoyoverse.com. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ Romano, Sal (March 24, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail launches April 26 for PC, iOS, and Android, later for PS5 and PS4". Gematsu. Retrieved March 24, 2023. Followed by PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 at a later date.
  5. 1 2 Loveridge, Sam (November 22, 2022). "Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2022 winners". Archived from the original on November 22, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  6. 1 2 猛鲨男鱼王 (October 23, 2023). "2023世界科幻游戏年度大奖：《崩坏: 星穹铁道》获最佳人气奖". 游民星空 (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Diaz, Ana (March 24, 2023). "Genshin Impact developer's new game will be released in April". Polygon. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Honkai Star Rail". Honkai Star Rail. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  9. ↑ Lee, Julia (April 25, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail terms and mechanics, explained". Polygon. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  10. ↑ Jain, Sanyam (April 28, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail - Complete Combat Guide". TheGamer. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ 《崩坏：星穹铁道》全面公测！五星希儿限时UP | HoYoverse银河冒险RPG. 崩坏：星穹铁道. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Shinha, Ravi (October 8, 2021). "Honkai: Star Rail Announced – New Strategy RPG Coming to PC, iOS, and Android". GamingBolt. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Agossah, Iyane (October 27, 2021). "Honkai Star Rail Beta Characters, Voice Actors, First Hours of Gameplay". DualShockers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Lada, Jenni (June 9, 2022). "Honkai: Star Rail Second Closed Beta Ends Next Week". Siliconera. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Honkai Star Rail beta release time, dates, and how to access the final closed beta". Eurogamer. February 10, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ Blake, Vikki (April 15, 2023). "Honkai Star Rail isn't out yet but already has 10 million users". GamesRadar. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. ↑ "米哈游新作《崩坏：星穹铁道》获扶持，但目前暂未获得版号 - IT之家". www.ithome.com (in Chinese). Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ Skrebels, Joe (August 23, 2022). "Genshin Impact Dev's Honkai: Star Rail Gets a Mysterious Story Trailer - Gamescom Opening Night Live". IGN. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "国家新闻出版署". www.nppa.gov.cn. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  20. ↑ "1月88款版号发放：崩铁、逆水寒、黎明觉醒均获批，米哈游腾讯网易赢麻了？ – 游戏葡萄". youxiputao.com. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Honkai Star Rail beta release time, dates, and how to access the final closed beta". Eurogamer.net. February 8, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  22. ↑ "米哈游新作《崩坏：星穹铁道》遭苹果商店背刺！意外曝出上线时间_网络游戏新闻_17173.com中国游戏门户站". news.17173.com. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  23. ↑ "新作《崩坏：星穹铁道》海外扫量，米哈游如何做广告投放？ - GameRes游资网". www.gameres.com. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  24. ↑ "《崩坏：星穹铁道》空降投放榜TOP 2，4月各厂商加大海外买量力度 – 游戏葡萄". youxiputao.com. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  25. ↑ "米哈游《崩坏：星穹铁道》公布片头曲动画"星间旅行"". 3DMGAME (in Chinese (China)). April 25, 2023. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  26. ↑ "TapTap". www.taptap.cn. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  27. ↑ 厦门地铁AMTR. "厦门地铁"星穹铁道"主题列车已到站，还有同款数字纪念票在等你！". 微信公众平台. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  28. ↑ "「星穹铁道高铁品牌专列」启程". Weixin Official Accounts Platform. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Honkai: Star Rail for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  30. ↑ Orr, Jessica (April 26, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail review - more than Genshin Impact in space". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  31. ↑ Taylor-Kent, Oliver (October 11, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail PS5 review: "A gorgeous RPG with inventive tactical combat"". GamesRadar. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  32. ↑ Reyes, Jess (May 10, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail Review - A stellar adventure". IGN. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  33. ↑ Colp, Tyler (April 26, 2023). "HONKAI: STAR RAIL REVIEW - A true Genshin Impact successor with impeccable visual style and strategic depth". PCGamer. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  34. ↑ Diaz, Ana (April 26, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail shows the value of walking the same path twice". Polygon. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  35. ↑ Coles, Jason (April 26, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail review: a slick, anime-infused RPG bursting with potential". RockPaperShotgun. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  36. ↑ Orr, Jessica (April 26, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail review - more than Genshin Impact in space". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  37. ↑ Coles, Jason (April 26, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail review: a slick, anime-infused RPG bursting with potential". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  38. ↑ Colp, Tyler (April 26, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail review". PC Gamer. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  39. ↑ https://gamerant.com/honkai-star-rail-update-version-1-6-banners-characters-bad/
  40. 1 2 3 "Google Play's best apps and games of 2023". Google. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  41. 1 2 3 Carter, Justin (November 29, 2023). "Honkai: Star Rail leads Google Play's Best of 2023 awards". Game Developer. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Apple unveils App Store Award winners, the best apps and games of 2023". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Honkai Star Rail wins Mobile Game of the Year at TGA 2023". Pocket Tactics. December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  44. ↑ "27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
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