Many have compared Genshin Impact to Breath of the Wild due to their vibrant art styles and mix of open-world exploration and dungeon action. Unlike Link’s adventure, however, Genshin has drawn frequent criticism. That’s due to its gacha game mechanics that encourage players to drop real money in pursuit of new characters. However you may feel about this free-to-play RPG’s monetization practices, there’s no denying that HoYoverse has packed its game full of charm, and not just because of Paimon and Klee. Take a boat ride with Bosu and you’ll be treated to a song that shows why Genshin Impact is more than just another gacha game.
Bosu and Sun Rao’s Boat Ride Song
Travel to Qiaoying Village and enlist the aid of Bosu, the boatman. He’ll treat you to a song as you make your way downriver. Genshin Impact is a sprawling game with excitement around every corner, but the moment Bosu begins to sing, you’ll have a good reason to stay aboard. It’s quiet and relaxing, a welcome break from blasting monsters with ice shards and fireballs. Sun Rao, the Yilong Wharf boatman, will also treat the player to a song. Though the character of his voice is different, it’s no less pleasant. Genshin could’ve easily just let the player fast travel, but providing a fully animated boat ride and a song offers a far richer experience.
The song makes this Genshin Impact boat ride so enjoyable you might not even mind that you’re missing all the chests and puzzles. Though gacha games are rightly criticized for offering shallow and exploitative experiences, Genshin Impact has taken pains to offer players deep and rewarding gameplay. The sound of Bosu stirring the water as he pushes the boat is almost hypnotically soothing. Combine it with his singing, and you have something special. It’s not just a great moment for a gacha game; it’s a great moment period. If HoYoverse can keep delivering moments like this (and new waifus), it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Genshin Impact is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Android, and iOS.
