Honkai: Star Railis making the jump from Version 1.6 to Version 2.0 with a new playable area to explore. As someone who playedStar Railat launch but dropped it soon after, I wanted to see if it was worth revisiting. Luckily, I was granted access to a preview ofHonkai: Star Rail’snewest update, so I hopped onto the Astral Express to check out the new area: Penacony, the Planet of Festivities.
A bit of background about me: I’m aGenshingirl. I started playingGenshin Impacton release day in 2020, and I’ve been smitten with Teyvat ever since. So when HoYoverse’s newest game,Honkai: Star Rail, debuted in April of last year, I eagerly waited at the login screen, rushing in just as the servers went online.
After completing the Trailblaze Missions available at launch, however, I was left twiddling my thumbs. Sure, there were events and repeatable combat activities, but without a massive open world to draw me in,Honkai: Star Raillost me after a few weeks. That was Version 1.0, though. Now, in the advent of Version 2.0,Star Raildeserves another look. Penacony’s dreamscapes are enchanting, and the witty writing is a reminder of just how entertainingStar Railcan be.
Upon arriving in Penacony, I sat through a few cutscenes and then entered a shared dreamscape called Golden Hour — which truly feels like navigating through a dream. You can walk on walls and ceilings. Objects float in the air, often upside down. I attempted to eat an ice cream cone, only for it to start pleading for its life. Being the kind soul I am, I spared it, and it gave me a hamburger in return.
It’s even possible to enteranotherdream within this dream,Inception-style. The dream-within-a-dream I experienced was about trash cans, and at one point, I even transformed into a trash can myself. While I didn’t needStar Railto tell me I was garbage, I couldn’t help but laugh my lid off.
This is what I love aboutHonkai: Star Rail:its writing. The dialogue contains plenty of fourth-wall-breaking jokes, yet they never feel excessive. There are running gags that weave their way into missions and environmental details, like the Trailblazer’s inexplicable fondness for trash cans. The wit and humor in the Trailblazer’s lines make me wishGenshin Impact’sTraveler got the same treatment.Honkai: Star Rail’s2.0 update takes the charming absurdity that was already present in the game and turns it up to eleven. In the dreamscapes of Penacony, anything can happen!
Of course, no new update would be complete without new characters.Honkai: Star Rail2.0 introduces newcomers Black Swan, Sparkle, and Misha. While I’m noStar Railtheorycrafter, I can at least attest to how fantastic these new characters look. Black Swan floats in the air with a menacing grace, surrounded by a halo of tarot cards. Misha leans into his role as a hotel busboy, dealing damage by crashing his luggage cart into enemies.
The flashy, theatrical performances from theStar Railroster is another one of those HoYo signatures, adding some extra flair that’s distinct fromGenshin’s.Star Railemploys turn-based combat compared toGenshin’sreal-time combat, allowingStar Railto showcase more elaborate Ultimate animations without disrupting the flow of combat. These animations are truly works of art and a delight to behold, even at 2x speed.
Is Penacony enough to bring aGenshin Impactloyalist back toHonkai: Star Rail? As aGenshindiehard, I say yes. Even if you don’t commit toStar Raillong-term, it’s definitely still worth giving it another shot. Compared to its state at release last year, the game has seen significant content additions. While there are still missions and events that encourage daily logins, I findStar Raildemands less of your time thanGenshindoes. At the very least, you may progress through the main story missions and auto-battle your way through the combat sections.
If you worry that you’ve missed a lot ofpast events, there’s good news!Honkai: Star Railallows you to replay flagship events from past Versions, and these never expire. You’re free to play through them at your convenience whenever you wish, though you still don’t get the limited-time rewards from when the events were live.
While I may always preferGenshin Impactdue to its stunning open world and plethora of activities, I’m warming up toHonkai: Star Railas well. I probably won’t play both games every day, but I’ll definitely check in onStar Railfrom time to time. Both games are free to play, with no paywall for story content, so it costs nothing to experience new missions and events before logging off until the next update. Whether you’ve been logging intoHonkai: Star Railevery day since launch or you’re a returning player, Penacony has something for everyone. Version 2.0 is out now, so happy dreaming, everyone!
