If there’s one thing we can all agree on, Genshin Impact established many staples for the anime-themed realm of gacha. Most games of the genre include characters with over-the-top designs, flashy combat moves, and mysterious storylines that get unveiled as new versions launch. For the latter, there’s one thing where HoYoverse’s most successful game dropped the ball for players, and that is Paimon. She is a companion serving as the one who provides exposition for some convoluted plot points. Now, with the recent 2.0 version of Honkai Star Rail, Trailblazers are glad they don’t have a Paimon-like mascot around.
The Lack of a Paimon-like Character in Honkai Star Rail Lets Me Enjoy the Story More
Don’t get me wrong, I love Paimon; I even have merchandise with the emergency food plastered all over it, but if there’s one thing that annoys me, it’s that she steals screentime from the actual protagonist. Since I’m a huge HoYoverse fan, I play Honkai Star Rail, too, and let me tell you that the lack of a character like Paimon is refreshing in many ways.
For starters, ever since we all began our journey in Belobog, the Trailblazer had the chance to show their personality through many dialogue choices instead of having Paimon or another companion choose for them. A few mention March 7th as this character, but she is only around some of the time. And now, with Penacony finally here, I love that, through the version’s mysterious plot, I can understand it without needing a cast member whose work is to provide exposition or info-dumping for you.
Even if the main story for Penacony seems confusing, let’s remember that the developers said this is the longest one the game has had. It’ll develop throughout versions 2.0 through 2.3, so there’s plenty more to see. Still, with all the new characters thrown into the mix and the enigmatic feeling Penacony has, I was able to keep myself on track with every reveal and introduction. I still have some burning questions, but that happens in every HoYoverse game.
Finally, Genshin Impact needs a story log similar to Honkai Star Rail‘s. This function was added a few versions ago, and it is a fantastic way to keep track of every strange name, character, or dialogue I might’ve skipped accidentally. So, yes, Paimon is great, but I’m glad I don’t have a flying companion in the land of dreams, and I hope to all Aeons that we don’t get one in the future.
