Back when HoYoverse unveiled our destination after Nod Krai, I couldn’t help but feel bittersweet emotions. On the one hand, I’ve been waiting for Snezhnaya ever since I learned about the Archons and we went on a Teyvat-trotting adventure. On the other hand, I can’t help but feel a bit sad as this frozen region could mark the end of one of Genshin Impact‘s biggest story arcs so far. Still, once I stepped into this snow-covered land, I was overwhelmed by a flood of excitement, as Snezhnaya is everything I imagined, with many surprises that could make this the most beautiful and engaging region in Genshin Impact.
Into Snezhnaya
As someone who was there during Genshin Impact‘s first dawn, I couldn’t believe it when I got the opportunity to get some hands-on time with its Version 7.0 before launch.
This time, I got to experience the arrival of the Traveler and Paimon in Snezhnaya, which I won’t spoil, of course, as you all need to experience the beginning of this brand-new Archon Quest. What I will say, though, is how jaw-dropping Snezhnaya is from the first moment you step inside it.
After certain story events that serve to teach you the ropes of the new exploration mechanics, mainly the Eye of Graeae and Prime Ice Constructs, you step into this snow-covered wonderland, which is easily my favorite region in the game so far, and that says a lot after all the gorgeous zones we’ve had in previous expansions.
In terms of exploration, you’ll be able to board a new train taking you all across Snezhnaya and into some long-awaited locations, such as Snezhnograd, the capital, Tartaglia’s hometown, Morepesok, and many more that those following the Fatui’s machinations will love.
For those who prefer to do a bit more of “on-foot” exploration, Snezhnaya is once again a sandbox full of treasures, challenges, and mysteries, albeit with its region-specific gimmick, which is Prime Ice Constructs.
Initially, I wasn’t a big fan of this new system. In essence, you can build ice items to help you solve a few environmental challenges or puzzles, with Ice Constructs of all kinds, ranging from one that melts ice to one that can grapple with certain objects and pull them apart. After a while, however, I got the hang of it and really started enjoying it, especially due to how well-designed the new map puzzles are. Plus, the system is quite intuitive to use, and that is something I appreciate, as it lets you start going off the beaten path quickly in case you want to start farming a few Primogems before jumping back into the story.
Exploration aside, we also have new combat additions, mainly two new playable characters and a new reaction. For this build, I was able to use Odette and Alyosha, the new 5-star and 4-star, respectively.
Odette, who was my favorite and one I’ll definitely pull for now, literally dances around the battlefield applying Cryo reactions to enemies thanks to the clone she summons. Alyosha, on the other hand, works as a support character with some healing effects that I believe will be quite helpful in certain teams. We also have the new Stellar Swirl reaction, which combines Cryo and Anemo to create a devastating vortex. I really liked it and see it as something of a new meta reaction, but time will tell once more combat-focused content comes to the game.
Overall, Snezhnaya feels like the culmination of everything that HoYoverse has brought to Genshin Impact throughout the years. It is easily one of the most beautiful regions in the game, and a personal favorite, with so many things to discover and side activities that immerse you in those who inhabit this landscape. As someone who only imagined how Snezhnaya would look, HoYoverse has surpassed all my expectations and delivered the long-awaited seventh region in all its splendor.
A New Perspective
The reason I’ve been quiet about the new Third-Person Shooter mode of Genshin Impact, or TPS for short, is that I wanted to give it its own section to shine, as it is the highlight of this expansion.
When I saw the Traveler sliding and shooting with a magical assault rifle capable of triggering reactions, I couldn’t believe it. Frankly, I was a bit skeptical. “How will it work?” “Does it have a lore reason behind it?” “Will it be hard to control?” Those were some of the doubts I had when seeing the reveal, but after trying it, it is easily one of the best additions to the game.
After certain story events, you’ll unlock TPS, which, at least on a surface level, is as simple as aiming and shooting at enemies. However, the new system goes beyond that.
The Traveler starts with a Cryo assault rifle-like weapon and slowly builds their arsenal, with new weapons becoming available, including grenade-like items that trigger elemental reactions. This feature is the one that blew me away, as I was not expecting TPS to translate the on-field combat flawlessly. On top of that, there are many customization options, such as attachments, adding an extra punch to the firearms you’ll be collecting.
In encounters, you can start with your Cryo assault rifle and quickly switch to your Hydro Grenade Launcher to freeze enemies on the spot. If you want to cause bigger mayhem, just go for the good old Overload reaction—it all works as expected, and in an even more engaging way. While I do think the movement is a bit clunky at times and the camera can get all weird in certain angles, I had a literal blast playing some of the TPS sections, which aren’t exclusive to instanced areas, making it a superb region-exclusive addition, and one I hope HoYoverse expands upon, even beyond Snezhnaya.
The Traveler and Paimon’s Next Stop
While I would’ve loved to experience Snezhnaya way earlier, as many of us thought would happen, I’m glad we got to stop by Nod Krai first, as it has built the excitement and set the stage for what will happen in Teyvat’s seventh region. This new zone could easily surpass all others we’ve seen so far due to its frozen beauty, enthralling music, and the studio’s strong art direction in its expansion.
Still, I’m curious to see where the story will take us, especially since a lot is riding on Snezhnaya’s shoulders. We’ve all been preparing our winter clothes for this journey, which is finally around the corner. Still, if history has taught us anything, it is that HoYoverse knows how to wrap its story arcs in a compelling way, and I’m excited to see what’s next in this new chapter for the Traveler and Paimon.
