Genshin Impact PC & PS4 Review: Is It Worth It?

Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players have been in on the game’s impressive open-world gameplay since its release last September 2020. Still, there are many on the fence about whether the game is worth trying or what it is even about.

This guide gives you the rundown on the latest free open-world game that is taking the world by storm. Its popularity, graphics, and world-building are so good that it gets compared to The Legend of Zelda series.

But do these two games really only play the same note?

What Is Genshin Impact?

Game Format

Published by miHoYo, Genshin Impact is a role-playing action-adventure game that is free to play and open-world.

As this article proves, Genshin Impact is a game celebrated in its own right and identity. The game boasts stylish visuals, many characters to choose from, and imaginative scenery. Because of these, it creates a unique gaming experience that takes you to another world.

Genshin Impact uses all its features to serve small magical plots that are the bloodline of the game. It knows the appeal of the open-world genre and doubles down on it by leaving no stone unturned. As good as its technicalities are, Genshin Impact will not exist without solid plot structures.

With any action-adventure RPG, expect enchanting natural landmarks and villains of all creatures. Also, expect your Genshin Impact experience to be affected by over 24 characters to choose from. You can create your own Genshin Impact experience through multiplayer too.

Release and Availability

Genshin Impact has been available for download on iOS, Android, PC, and the PS4 since September 28, 2020.

Cost

Genshin Impact’s appeal not only resides in its stunning visuals, characters, and mini-plots. This game is free for everyone to download as long as they have a computer, phone, or PlayStation 4 to play on. Of course, as with any game, minimum systems requirements should be met to play Genshin Impact.

However, all Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players must know that being free does come with a price. While available for everyone to use, Genshin Impact is a gacha game—meaning, it will have in-game purchases in exchange for new characters, weapons, and powers.

Compared to other gacha games, however, Genshin Impact is not annoying with its monetization system. For those with experience on gacha, you may know how exasperating it can be to keep seeing your own game nag you about buying in-game currencies.

Get Genshin Impact Here

System Requirements for Genshin Impact

PC

For those planning to play Genshin Impact on PC, you must have Intel Core i5 or higher. You should also have at least 8 GB worth of RAM and 30 GB worth of free disk space at the very least. This game is also only playable for computers that use the Windows 7 OS and later Windows OS.

These are the minimum requirements, but Genshin Impact developers have recommended specs for a better experience of the game. If you want to invest in the ultimate Genshin Impact experience, you must have a CPU with Intel Core i7 or higher.

As for your RAM, Genshin Impact is best played with 16 GB worth of it. The storage space of 30 GB and the OS requirements remain the same.

Meeting these requirements should be the most of your problems when playing Genshin Impact. Once you have the system downloaded on your PC, PS4, or phone, it is all about the adventure from there. Genshin Impact PC players have a lot to look forward to.

If you’re looking for a brand-new gaming station, check out these prebuilt gaming PCs you can buy now.

PS4

For those planning to play Genshin Impact on PS4, you will need to free up at least 30 GB of space on your console. The download file size of Geshin Impact is 9.81 GB, but as your game progresses, it will consume much more memory.

This is free to play even on a major console such as the PS4. You can discover how the gameplay will be like through the PS4’s official trailer for Genshin Impact.

For an enhanced gaming experience, find out why the SCUF PS4 controller might be a good choice.

Genshin Impact Review for PC and PS4

Graphics

A game’s graphics molds every player’s first impression of the game. If an open-world aesthetic is what you are looking for, Genshin Impact delivers all that and more no matter where you are playing.

Of course, it is still best to follow their recommended systems, but playing under their minimal requirements will prove to be a good game too. Genshin Impact is a beautiful game with riveting graphics. It celebrates anime culture and knows its audience by doing so.

This game left no stone unturned in creating its open-world experience. The rivers, seas, castles, grass, and creatures are all bright and full of life. Genshin Impact is eye candy for all its players; you can tell that its details are cared for by miHoYo.

Enemies, designed in bright colors and sometimes doe eyes, command rooms and demand presence. They are intimidating in their own right, all while looking like your favorite anime leads.

Beyond its natural aesthetic, all the graphics for magical powers are great too. Each power cast is dazzling to the eyes without taking away from gameplay.

Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players should expect an anime-watching experience while playing the game. The visuals hook you further into the story and make you believe in its reality.

Gameplay

Open-world games take up a lot of time because of the sheer volume of possibilities. Those who have experience playing Legend of Zelda games and games like No Man’s Sky know that open-world games are exhaustive. There is always a new mission you can complete, new characters to unlock, and items you have not found yet. Not to mention, there are many small tasks underneath bigger tasks.

So, to complete the game, Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players should expect about 35 to 50 hours of gameplay. As this game offers online content and multiplayer levels, there are a lot of ways to finish it.

Moreover, there are many events you can partake in on Genshin Impact for PC and PS4.

If your interest lies in playing Genshin Impact with other people, know that you can play with up to four players online. For those who have started playing, you might find that you can switch characters. When going online, you distribute these characters to four other players.

When playing, Genshin Impact PC players can choose their regions. On the other hand, Genshin Impact on PS4 automatically assigns you to your own region.

Multiplayer mode for Genshin Impact PC and PS4 gamers are unlocked after Adventure Rank 16. This is not a hard task to complete, and once you have started Genshin Impact, you will realize that getting to this adventure rank is a breeze.

For a more in-depth look at how to play Genshin Impact on PC and PS4, we have an article to help you out.

Story

Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players are in for a riveting story. As people may know, sometimes graphics and stories are not equally celebrated. For Genshin Impact, the graphics and the story mold together to form a narrative that keeps you hooked.

Traveling with your twin, you stumble upon the beautiful fantastical world called Teyvat. With mountains to climb, castles to explore, and rivers to swim, Teyvat is a unique world to be in. Unfortunately, tensions arise as you and your twin separate because of a power-tripping goddess.

Now, you must find your twin in Teyvat. As you do this, you will uncover that there is more to Teyvat’s story than you thought. The journey will not be easy, as you meet suspicious and dangerous creatures along the way. However, the journey will also be beautiful: see Teyvat’s nooks and crannies and believe in the beauty of magic altogether.

The best part? You do not have to do it alone. Paimon, a bubbly spirit guide, will be joining you. The game can also accommodate up to four characters, so learn about the 24 you can choose from.

You are going to need all the help you can get to take on Teyvat, but you cannot do it with sheer luck. As the game progresses, so will your powers. Train and master the seven elements of Teyvat: Pyro (fire), Hydro (water), Electro (electricity), Anemo (air), Dendro (wood), Cryo (ice), and Geo (earth).

Combat

Using the Seven Elements

Genshin Impact is a game strongly rooted in its elements and natural setting. This is most apparent in the game’s combat choices.

Basically, Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players should expect smaller quests that add up together to create the main plotline. Because of these quests, your character/s are challenged to upgrade their skills and harness new powers.

Each character will specialize in one of the seven natural elements of Teyvat. As you play the game and gain more characters, you can plan your team of four better. Genshin Impact relies so much on its natural landscapes, so choose characters that match the game’s setting. For example, if you are off for a stamina-inducing journey, choose characters with wind specialties.

There are also cases where you have to adjust to the characteristics of your enemies. For instance, Cryo characters can take on “wet” enemies easier.

Other Combat Features

Other than these, you are also equipped with two combat skills. Characters will have their own sets of weapons and combat range. Some are better for long-range, while others for mid-range. There are also characters best used for close-range attacks.

Another great thing for Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players is that the game gives you the freedom to attack from wherever you choose. This opens doors for more strategic and planned combat, best if you have four characters to use at one time.

Take the high ground or do a sneak attack: it is you or your team’s choice. The monsters will put up a fight either way.

Replayability

As an open-world game with over 20 characters to choose from and seven elements to master, the replayability of Genshin Impact is high. Many characters and element combinations can reap different gameplay experiences.

Moreover, exploring Teyvat does not get old. There are many creatures to discover, items to collect, and combat to customize. Basically, Teyvat is what you make of it. By the time you finish the game, you will be so hooked on the world that you will think of new ways to enjoy it.

Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players will discover that the possibilities are endless in Teyvat. Despite being a gacha game, Genshin does not continuously distract your gameplay for crystal spending.

Value

Genshin Impact’s value will vary from player to player. To be frank, the number of high-tier characters you have, or the powers you possess, mold your Genshin Impact experience. For most, this means spending on game crystals.

Still, because Genshin Impact is such a customizable game, it is also possible to make the most out of it by simply playing it: no spending necessary. This choice will not take away from the beauty of the natural landscapes of Teyvat, nor will it affect your combat. The free-for-all characters are cute and powerful all on their own, and everyone gets to hang out with spirit guide Paimon anyway.

Best to note that there is no game quite like Genshin Impact as of late. Minimal microtransaction reminders are a small price to pay in exchange for a game with quality visuals and so many possibilities.

People compare Genshin Impact with the Legend of Zelda, but the game is worth celebrating in its own right because it changes gacha gaming as you know it.

How to Get High-Tier Characters

Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players will know that its characters are not all the same. They have different powers, weaknesses, goals, and motivations. Even the non-playable characters are commended for having pleasing personalities.

Still, people will have their favorites. More so, people will have their preferences, most of which will probably be Genshin Impact’s most powerful characters. But how can you get these high-tier characters?

Being a gacha game, Genshin Impact has a random character selection. Some report to get the same characters with each character-choosing roll, and that is not uncommon.

The High-Tier Characters

There are about five high-tier characters on Genshin Impact labeled as “rare.” These are Venti, Keqing, Mona, Duluc, Qiqi, and Jean. These characters are some of the most powerful in the game, with unique elemental abilities.

Venti, for example, has Anemo powers so strong that he can go through 10 enemies in two moves. He has strong bursts of wind that can hold enemies up in the air and then follows it with some bow and arrow action that destroys them quickly.

Getting These Characters

You can always buy these high-tier characters from the game. In fact, they are rare for monetary value. As a gacha game, you have no control over who you will get with each character roll.

Some players do re-rolls. These Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players create multiple accounts under one username and reroll their gachas until they get a high-tier character. To do this, you will need to use your miHoYo account and log into the game.

To re-roll, you will need the patience to go through the different levels of the game repeatedly. Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players will keep coming back to the gacha roll levels and continue to do this until they finally get a player that they want.

If you choose to do the re-rolling, remember to be careful because many players have been banned from playing Genshin Impact because of it.

Pros and Cons of Genshin Impact

For those interested in playing Genshin Impact on PC and PS4, there are a lot of factors to consider. As discussed above, the graphics, story, combat, and characters play a large part in what makes Genshin Impact valuable.

In this section, we will break down the pros and cons of Genshin Impact. Hopefully, this shapes your decision in playing or not playing the game. Mind you, it is not a 50/50 split.

Pros of Genshin Impact on PC and PS4

The biggest advantage to playing Genshin Impact is that there is nothing quite like it in virtual stores yet. Gacha games are a big turn-off to many, but Genshin changes how gacha is used. In Genshin, gacha plays second fiddle to the overall game. It does not explicitly force you into buying in-game currencies though it does mention in once in a while.

Another edge of the game is its graphic world-building. Open-world games have the responsibility to keep everything interactive and fun to keep players immersed. Genshin Impact boasts insurmountable and useful graphics. These are beautiful even when on the phone, though playing Genshin Impact on PC and PS4 is still the best.

The next beauty of the game is its characters and gameplay. Because there are seven elements to master and over 20 characters, there are so many ways to explore the world and battle villains. The game is also quite generous with its characters, giving you good ones even without purchasing.

With high replayability, Genshin Impact is a great way to begin your open-world fantasy experience. If this is not your first time playing this genre game, know that it is a treat to the senses and the mind. It also provides a multiplayer experience: no one has to enjoy their stunning world alone.

Cons of Genshin Impact on PC and PS4

Admittedly, the pacing for Genshin Impact’s storyline is off. While its side-quests and puzzles are interesting enough to keep you hooked, a lot of the game’s basic features do not appear until about 15 hours into the game. To speed up processes such as collecting characters and the like, you have to pay a fee. Its multiplayer setup can be faulty too, being an option only for later-level players.

Moreover, people have reservations about the game’s gacha system. Gacha is very much a game of chance, but too many players have been down on their luck. People will repeatedly get the same characters or items, which can be a waste of personal resources. Still, what is good about the game is that it does not force you into buying, unlike other gacha genres.

As for gameplay, a snag would be character navigation. Each character has a set bar for stamina, which is used for simple movements like climbing, swimming, and running. These three basic movements share that one bar for stamina. For other games, running is not treated as a privilege.

Genshin Impact vs. Other Free-to-Play Games

Runescape

When it comes to the open-world genre, no one does it quite like Runescape. Being the world’s most popular multiplayer online role-playing game, it will be surprising if you have not had a go of Runescape.

This free-to-play PC game shares similarities with the Geshin Impact PC experience. Both have large worlds to explore and many quests to uncover. Because of their relentless possibilities, your experiences on both are customizable.

However, if you are more of a plot-player, Genshin Impact would be a better choice for you. Runescape is an entire universe of its own, and being the world’s longest-running game means that it is less likely to have a satisfying “end.” This freedom is liberating to many gamers, but if you are the type to look for closure, giving Genshin Impact a run will not hurt.

If creativity and magnitude are what you are looking for, you can never go wrong with Runescape. This game is tried and tested, so it has years of features under its belt that Genshin Impact is yet to improve on.

Download Runescape

Dauntless

Dauntless and Genshin Impact share the same passion for giving players so many fantastic creatures to battle and interact with. While both present these creatures with crisp and bright colors, the former puts them in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Another difference between the two fantasy games is that Dauntless has so much less meat in its story than Genshin Impact. Dauntless is more focused on the combat of its game than the reasons why there are any. This is not to say that gaming has no space for this, though. Many players just want a good battle royale with fantastical beasts.

All in all, both games are great at zapping you into a different world. However, Genshin Impact is ahead of Dauntless by a small edge, since it boasts a running plot to its varied combat styles.

Download Dauntless

Blade and Soul

For a more East-Asian aesthetic, Blade and Soul can be compared to Genshin Impact. These are both unique fantasy worlds that borrow so much from their local cultures.

As Genshin Impact PC and PS4 players may know, anime influences a lot of the game’s aesthetic. For Blade and Soul, made in Korea, influences include local martial arts. Both have equally good graphics and visuals: their landscapes are eye candy and they take you immediately to their worlds. Blade and Soul was even handled by esteemed Korean artist, Hyung Tae Kim.

Both games have varied combat styles and a long-running plot, so players of one will for sure enjoy the other. The difference in gameplay boils down to Blade & Soul’s darker settings and training methods: you run around a lot of dark dungeons and train in different classes.

Moreover, there are differences between the two when it comes to their multiplayer setups. Blade and Soul uses a lot of player vs. player action, whereas Genshin Impact focuses more on teamwork.

Download Blade and Soul

Final Score: Is It Worth Downloading?

This free Genshin Impact PC and PS4 game is worth the download. There is just not a lot of gacha games that feel like they prioritize plot over monetary gain. Its stunning visuals, resembling countless anime, is only its first selling point.

The fact that it can be played on different platforms, without compromising its quality should also be celebrated. Mobile downloads for Genshin Impact reached 17 million in just four days.

In total, Robots.net is giving Genshin Impact an 8.5/10. There are definitely areas to improve on, especially its own gacha system and plot pace, but these are not noticeable to the common player. At its best, Genshin Impact is an immersive fantasy game that lets you enjoy the world of Teyvat however you like. You can bring three friends along with you, too.