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Genshin Impact has always had a story that can tug on anyone’s heartstrings. Though, generally, Genshin has a decently lighthearted tone, every so often, a segment of the story can become very emotional. Although there have been a few of these moments so far, recently with the release of Genshin Impact Version 4.2, HoYoverse has showcased by far, what I believe to be the saddest moments in the game. Of course, as anyone who has played the update knows, Furina has absolutely stolen this patch with some stunning moments that made me, and probably many others start to cry. For players who haven’t played her story, this article will contain some spoilers.
Furina’s Tragedy
(Updated on August 12, 2024 – updated links and format)
This update reveals some huge plot points, uncovering some of Fontaine’s darkest and most well-kept secrets. Mainly, HoYoverse revealed that Furina was not the Hydro Archon that players had expected before. Instead, Furina is part of Focalor given human form and must live life among the mortals, acting as a representative Archon in the eyes of the people. The only people who would know that Furina isn’t the actual Archon would be herself and Focalor. Towards the end of the quest, this entire situation comes to light as the Hydro Archon is sentences herself to death in the Court of Fontaine. Here, we see the Traveler slowly learn the hardship that Furina had gone through for 500 years, while Focalors explains the entire situation to Neuvillette.
Both of these moments, when combined, create a beautiful, but sad scene that captures the pure melancholy of Furina and the Fontaine region. She goes through scenes on the stage describing her “greatest performance” as an Archon, revealing the tragic and trapped life she was living. For hundreds of years, she kept wearing this “mask.” If she didn’t, the Primordial Sea would disolve the people of Fontaine, leaving her alone. Due to this, she could only be alone as sharing her issues would only doom the citizens of Fontaine. Seeing her cry as she laments her loneliness was absolutely gut-wrenching. The music combined with Furina’s voice acting performance was enough to make tears start welling up in my eyes.
The Execution Is Full Of Emotions
The true suffering of Furina comes to a head when the execution of Focalor, the true Hydro Archon, takes place. The swelling music, combined with the beautifully animated dance, made tears start streaming down my face. After this, the scene reaches a climax when the execution happens, and Neuvillette flies to the air, forgiving the people of Fontaine of their sins. With Focalor gone, and the sins of Fontaine forgiven, Furina becomes a true human, and can now live her life as a mortal.
Though there have been tragedies in Genshin Impact so far, this moment showed that the series still has raw emotion that it can share with its players. The fanbase has responded well to moments like these as well. Most noticeably, the Furina’s emotional reveal helped change the Genshin community’s opinion of the character, from someone they once thought was spoiled and overdramatic, to being misunderstood and adorable. Genshin Impact, isn’t just another Gacha game, it has a sad and emotional story worthy of its popularity, and Furina is proof that it has the power to make me cry.
