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Despite its strengths, Genshin Impact is not a perfect game, and fans have several common complaints that are often brought up during discussions. If you are one of those people who are dissatisfied with the game, consider trying Arknights: Enfield. The game is not out yet since it is still in beta testing. However, this title may offer a fresh experience to those not happy with the current state of Genshin Impact or other HoYoverse games.
A Mature Story
Arknights: Enfield is a spin-off of the popular tower defense mobile game Arknights. I’ve actually played the original title, and while the gameplay is not the same as Genshin Impact, I have full faith in Hypergryph. My main reason for recommending this upcoming Gacha game is its story. Although the developer has yet to share much regarding the game’s plot, I’m familiar with Hypergryph’s writing style.
One of the most common complaints from Genshin Impact fans is the fact that the game’s story is rather sterile. Although HoYoverse sometimes dips their feet into dark topics, they never allow the game to fully explore those ideas. Perhaps they were trying to make their game as marketable to the widest demographic and that was why they continued to keep the tone of the story lighthearted and positive.
Hypergryph is different. Arknights‘ story is gritty and dark. The game isn’t afraid to plainly show the cruelty and horrors that exist in this world. While the main characters strive to make the world a better place, their fight isn’t easy. I’m sure Arknights: Enfield will follow its predecessor by telling a mature and deep story.
Unlike Genshin Impact, who seems to treat their players as children, Hypergryph doesn’t hold their punches and utilizes mature writing with plenty of sub-texts. The developer is also a master at world building, and they draw inspiration from various countries and cultures. For instance, in Arknights, the protagonist encounters multiple countries and factions on their journey. Yan is based on Chinese culture, Columbia is inspired by the USA, Siracusa is based on Itali and many more.
Besides making unique characters based on their place of origin, Hypergryph has a slightly more diverse cast of characters. Unlike Genshin Impact‘s baby-faced characters, Arknights: Enfield may feature more mature-looking units. Of course, you will still encounter a lot of pretty anime girls in this game, but at least I’m quite confident we may get an adult bearded male character sometime in the future.
Prepare To Build Your Base
I’m also looking forward to playing Arknights: Enfield due to its base-building mechanic. While the main gameplay feature is still team and character building, you can establish settlements on this planet by constructing bases and other structures. There is no preset establishment that you need to follow. You can actually place new structures yourself.
This is definitely refreshing since you can only tinker with the teapot realm in Genshin Impact. Although it’s nice, the feature is only an add-on that HoYoverse implemented due to fans demand. On the other hand, the base-building mechanic in Arknights: Enfield is tied deeply to its main story and gameplay. If you watch the gameplay demo videos on the official YouTube channel, you can even see the player building a traversal structure that helps them explore the world.
Besides building new structures, I appreciate how you can explore the world with the team members you pick. In HoYoverse games, only one character is allowed on the field, but in Arknights: Enfield, the other units you’re not controlling will follow you. This makes exploration feel much less lonely and more immersive. They will also help during combat, but you still need to control them to use their full power.
Ultimately, Arknights: Enfield will not be a Genshin-killer since I, frankly, dislike that term. However, Hypergryph may make an enjoyable game that will be a good alternative for fans who are tired of Genshin Impact. While there are similarities between these games, I trust that the developer will deliver a unique experience to many gamers.
